Costco Supplier Inclusion Program: How Small and Diverse Suppliers Get an Introduction

Oct 25

4 min read

Small business owner completing an online application on a laptop beside product samples

The Costco Supplier Inclusion program is one of the few places on Costco’s website where a new supplier is invited to fill in a form instead of just being told to call a number. If you are a small or diverse business with a product Costco members might love, it can be a useful door. It is not a shortcut, and Costco says so plainly.

Today is October 25, 2026. This guide is based on Costco’s own Supplier Inclusion page, which we read directly, so quoted wording below comes from that page.

What Costco Says the Program Is

Costco’s page states that its buying teams “often seek to work with small businesses and diverse suppliers to bring unique items into our locations.” It lists two goals:

“Work with qualified small and diverse suppliers in our communities, to provide introductions to do business with Costco.”
“Partner with community organizations to identify qualified small and diverse suppliers to support our business.”

Note the word “introductions.” The program is described as a way to meet Costco’s merchandising teams, not as a purchase commitment.

Who Can Apply

The only eligibility criterion shown on the page is an intake question: “Is your company owned and operated in the US?” The page also tells applicants to “ensure that you or your company meet all program qualifications,” but it does not list them. It does not define “small,” “diverse” or “qualified.” Costco also says it is “unable to process requests that do not meet the established eligibility criteria.”

Because the criteria are not spelled out, the safest path is to email supplierinclusion@costco.com, the address on the page, and ask before you invest time in an application.

How to Apply

Complete the intake form on Costco’s Supplier Inclusion page.
The page says to use Google Chrome for “full functionality of our intake form.”
Questions can go to supplierinclusion@costco.com.
After you submit, “a member of our merchandising team will contact you should additional information be required.”

The page gives no response time and does not say what happens if Costco does not contact you.

What Costco Says It Will Not Do

Three statements on the page matter for managing expectations:

“Completing the application does not guarantee a business partnership with Costco Wholesale.”
“Costco Wholesale does not make purchasing decisions based on race/ethnicity, gender, age, or any other protected characteristic.”
Purchasing decisions “do not incorporate the use of quotas.”

The page also says “All suppliers must meet exacting Costco Wholesale standards for quality, value, and service.” In other words, the program may open a conversation, but your product, price, food safety, insurance and delivery still have to hold up.

How the Program Connects to the Rest of the Process

The Supplier Inclusion form is an alternative or addition to contacting a regional buying office, which is covered in our regional buying offices guide. A separate Costco contacts page lists phone numbers for corporate (with weekday hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific) and several regional offices. Two cautions: that page lists the same number (714-534-7080) for both Northern California and Los Angeles, and it differs from the Northern California number on Costco’s Vendor Inquiries page. Check by phone before relying on either.

Your Costco Supplier Inclusion Program Checklist

Confirm that your company is owned and operated in the U.S., since that is the question on the form.
Email supplierinclusion@costco.com with your eligibility question before applying.
Prepare your company story: ownership, location, products, years in business.
Document your product’s proof: sales, reviews, retail partners, awards.
Know your numbers: cost, retail price, capacity, lead time and minimum order.
Get your compliance file ready: insurance, food safety audit or certification, and your supplier code of conduct documentation.
Use Chrome and keep a copy of what you submit.
Set a follow-up date for a few weeks out, and use the phone numbers for the right region if you hear nothing.
Keep working on other paths, including regional buying offices and roadshows.
Be ready for a fast “yes” with samples and a pricing sheet at hand.

Common Mistakes

Treating the form as a guarantee.
Applying before your food safety and insurance files are ready.
Claiming a status you cannot document.
Ignoring the “owned and operated in the US” question.
Waiting for the program while skipping other paths.
Having no follow-up plan.

Why This Is a Brand Strategy Issue

Your ownership story can be part of your brand, but Costco is clear that it buys on quality, value and service. A strong application tells a short, true story and backs it with numbers.

The brands that benefit most are the ones that are ready when the introduction arrives.

Work With Fractional Brand Managers

FBM helps emerging brands prepare their story, documents and pricing for Costco, whichever door they use. If you are planning to apply through Supplier Inclusion or contact a buying office, we will help you get ready.

Call 732-433-7873 | info@fractionalbrandmanagers.com | www.fractionalbrandmanagers.com

This article is general information, not legal advice. It summarizes Costco’s Supplier Inclusion page as read on October 25, 2026; the page may change. Confirm eligibility and process with Costco. We are not affiliated with Costco Wholesale.

Summary

Purpose: introductions to Costco’s merchandising teams for qualified small and diverse suppliers
How to apply: online intake form (Chrome recommended)
Stated eligibility: a question on U.S. ownership and operation; full criteria not listed
Guarantee: none
Contact: supplierinclusion@costco.com