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...Retailer magazine's 2003 Meat Retailer of the Year, not only has a growing meat business featuring an impressive variety of high-quality, value-added beef, pork, lamb, and poultry products for its almost 40 million members, it also has a strong food-safety program in place.
Costco sells a mind-boggling array of products ranging from perishable food to appliances, wine to automotive supplies, and clothing to office equipment, just to mention a few--and all products are "100-percent satisfaction guaranteed."
Meat and poultry play a prominent role in the continuing success of this powerhouse chain, which is the third-largest supermarket retailer in the country superceded only by Kroger and Wal-Mart, and the largest warehouse club store in the world. Currently operating 418 warehouses worldwide, including 309 in the United States and Puerto Rico, Costco reported net sales of $41.70 billion for the 52-week fiscal year ended August 31, 2003--a 10 percent increase from the prior fiscal year.
What's driving Costco's financial success is consistently providing its members with high-quality products at substantially lower prices.
"Costco is able to offer lower prices and better values by eliminating virtually all the frills and costs historically associated with conventional wholesalers and retailers, including salespeople, fancy buildings, delivery, billing, and accounts receivable," explains Jim Sinegal, Costco president and chief executive officer. "We run a tight operation with extremely low overhead, which enables us to pass on dramatic savings to our members."
Fueling the meat machine
Behind the reins of Costco's successful meat operation is a team of talented corporate managers and local staff.
"We report to Tim Rose, senior vice president of fresh foods," says Charlie Winters, vice president of Costco's fresh meat operations. With Costco since 1987, Winters is credited for creating the company's fresh meat program.
"Our goal is to deliver quality products at the very lowest price," he adds.
Winters and Jeff Lyons, vice president/senior general merchandise manager of fresh foods/corporate foods, report to Rose; fresh meat operations managers report to...
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