Costco's New Business Hub Promises to Reshape Winnipeg Commerce

WINNIPEG, MB – March 27, 2026 – Costco Wholesale has officially opened the doors to its eleventh Canadian Business Centre today, marking the retail giant's first foray into this specialized format in Manitoba. The 137,000 square-foot facility, located at the former warehouse site at 1315 St. James Street, brings a new model of wholesale shopping to the region, creating 190 local jobs and offering a tailored experience for local business owners.

This opening represents more than just a new store; it's a strategic conversion of a site that served Winnipeg members for 35 years. After the original Costco relocated to a new, larger facility on Portage Avenue West, the company repurposed the St. James location, signaling a continued investment in the community and a new chapter as a dedicated hub for commerce.

A New Arsenal for Local Entrepreneurs

The core difference between a traditional Costco and the new Business Centre lies in its inventory and services, which are laser-focused on the needs of commercial clients. Over 70 percent of the products on its shelves are unique to this format, targeting restaurants, offices, and convenience stores with a vast array of industrial-sized and business-specific items.

For restaurateurs and food service operators, the facility offers professional-grade kitchenware, bulk ingredients, and a massive 14,000 square-foot cooler stocked with produce, dairy, and meat. Exclusive opening week promotions, such as $40 off per unit of Canada ungraded beef tenderloin, highlight the focus on commercial food supply. Unique, large-format items like a full 13-month aged wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese or a 208-litre barrel of Terra Delyssa Extra Virgin Olive Oil are now accessible to local businesses, providing economies of scale previously difficult to achieve.

Office managers and small business owners will find an expanded selection of office supplies, furniture, and breakroom essentials. A Sagetra 3-tier wire basket cart, offered with a $30 discount during the opening, exemplifies the type of practical equipment available. The centre also includes a full-service Costco Pharmacy, operating on the same business-friendly schedule as the warehouse.

Perhaps one of the most significant advantages for busy entrepreneurs is the enhanced convenience. The Business Centre operates on an extended schedule, opening its doors at 7 a.m. from Monday to Saturday. Furthermore, a dedicated next-day delivery service, powered by a fleet of six trucks, is available for businesses within a designated delivery zone across Winnipeg, streamlining logistics and saving valuable time.

Reshaping Winnipeg's Economic Landscape

The arrival of the Business Centre is poised to have a significant economic impact beyond the direct creation of 190 jobs. By repurposing a major retail site, Costco has prevented a large commercial property from sitting vacant, a move seen by local observers as a strong vote of confidence in the Winnipeg market. The decision to reinvest in the St. James location, a landmark for local shoppers for over three decades, has been viewed as a commitment to the area's continued economic vitality.

The facility enters a Manitoba wholesale trade sector that has seen modest but steady growth. However, it also introduces a formidable new competitor for existing local wholesale suppliers who have long served the city's restaurants, independent grocers, and offices. The Business Centre's model, which leverages Costco's immense purchasing power and efficient supply chain, will likely intensify price competition and challenge established players to refine their own value propositions.

This development also comes as Winnipeg's broader retail sector navigates post-pandemic shifts, including recent employment declines. The new jobs and the B2B-focused commerce generated by the centre could provide a welcome boost, supporting the small and medium-sized enterprises that form the backbone of the local economy.

A Strategic Play in the B2B Market

The Winnipeg opening is not an isolated event but a key part of Costco's broader, highly successful strategy to capture a larger share of the business-to-business market. Marc-André Bally, Senior Vice President for Western Canada and Business Centres, noted that the "Costco Business Centre concept is already a resounding success in other parts of the country," and the company is confident it can replicate that success in Manitoba.

This specialized model allows Costco to leverage its powerful brand recognition and massive membership base—over 17 million in Canada—while serving a distinct market segment. By stripping away consumer-focused categories like apparel, jewelry, and seasonal decor, the Business Centre optimizes its floor space for high-volume, commercial-grade products. This differentiation is crucial, as it allows the company to cater to business needs without diluting the appeal of its traditional consumer-oriented warehouses.

The model proves particularly effective by being accessible to all existing Costco members. A small business owner with a standard Gold Star membership can walk in and purchase bulk supplies for their company, creating a low barrier to entry and seamlessly integrating the B2B offering into the existing Costco ecosystem. This strategy of dual market service—catering to both households and businesses through slightly different formats—is a key driver of the company's robust financial performance, which saw global revenues climb to nearly $270 billion (US) in its last fiscal year.

Local Flavour Meets Bulk Buying Power

While Costco is a global behemoth, the new Winnipeg location demonstrates a savvy understanding of the local market by incorporating regional favourites into its product mix. Alongside pallets of industrial cleaning supplies and commercial cooking equipment, members can find distinctly Manitoban products. The inclusion of items like 11.4-litre tubs of Prairie West ice cream and cases of Farmery Craft Soda signals a strategic effort to connect with local tastes and support regional producers.

This approach serves a dual purpose: it makes the store more appealing to local business owners looking for familiar products their own customers love, and it forges valuable partnerships within the provincial supply chain. By providing a high-volume distribution channel for local brands, the Business Centre can act as a growth catalyst for Manitoba-based companies, integrating them into a powerful retail network. This blend of global scale and local sensitivity is a key element of the Business Centre's value proposition as it establishes its roots in the community.

Access to the new Business Centre is available to anyone with a valid Costco membership, which includes the $65 Gold Star or Business tiers, as well as the $130 Executive Membership. All memberships are valid at every Costco location worldwide, including the online portal at Costcobusinesscentre.ca, where members can browse inventory and place orders for next-day delivery.