COSTCO CANADA LIQUOR INC.

What COSTCO CANADA LIQUOR INC. does

Costco Canada Liquor Inc. is a private Alberta-incorporated corporation and a subsidiary of Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd., operating 15 warehouse-style liquor retail stores exclusively within the Province of Alberta. The retail footprint spans major Alberta population centers including Calgary (three locations), Edmonton (two locations), Red Deer, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, Sherwood Park, St Albert, Rocky View, Okotoks, Nisku, and Tsuut'ina, with consistent hours Monday-Sunday and acceptance of Mastercard, debit, and cash. The company retails beer, wine, spirits, and ready-to-drink cocktails, with a portfolio anchored by the Kirkland Signature private-label brand across wines (Prosecco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Rioja Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon, Moscato D'Asti), spirits (Tequila Blanco/Reposado/Añejo, French Vodka, Irish Cream), and pre-mixed cocktails (Sangria, Golden Margarita, Mimosa), alongside select third-party brands.

The business operates a hybrid physical-and-digital retail model: in-store point-of-sale complemented by an Instacart delivery integration accessible via the company's website, with no proprietary e-commerce storefront or mobile application of its own. Supporting infrastructure includes a gift card program (denominations $10-$2,000, reloadable in-store, no expiry, $10,000 daily purchase cap) and integration into Costco's broader Executive Membership rewards program, under which Executive Members earn 2% annual rewards (capped at $1,250) on alcohol purchases.

Revenue mechanics derive from one-time retail alcohol sales and gift card loading, with loyalty economics layered through Costco's recurring Executive Membership. Customer access is gated by Alberta provincial liquor retail licensing, restricting the addressable market to Alberta residents and Canadian customers. There is no disclosed headcount, revenue, founding date, or standalone financial reporting, and the entity is not separately listed; growth capital and operational support flow through its parent within the Costco Wholesale corporate structure.

Name

COSTCO CANADA LIQUOR INC.

Legal name

Costco Canada Liquor Inc.

Website

https://costcocanadaliquor.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Costco Canada Liquor Inc., a subsidiary of Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd., operates 15 warehouse-style liquor retail stores across Alberta, Canada, selling Kirkland Signature and third-party wines, spirits, and ready-to-drink cocktails to Costco members, with Instacart-enabled delivery and a gift card program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Liquor Sales

NAICS

Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)

akta.pro primary industry

Liquor Stores (General Off-Premise) (CRANAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alcoholic Beverage Brand Owners & Holding Companies (Multi-category Portfolios) (CRADAIAL), Online Alcohol Retail & Ship-to-Consumer (CRANAAAG)

Keywords

• Retail liquor sales
• Wine and spirits
• Warehouse liquor stores
• Private label beverages
• Case discount sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Medicine Hat

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Retail Alcohol Sales: Physical retail sales of wines, spirits, and ready-to-drink cocktails through Costco Canada Liquor storefronts in Alberta. Revenue generated through in-store purchases.
2. Gift Card Sales: Sale of Costco Canada Liquor Gift Cards in denominations from $10 to $2,000, with a daily purchase limit of $10,000. Gift cards can be reloaded at store locations.
3. Executive Membership Rewards: Executive Members earn 2% annual reward (up to $1,250) on most Costco purchases including alcohol, driving membership loyalty and recurring engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Costco Canada Liquor Inc. operates a chain of 15 warehouse-style retail liquor stores across Alberta, Canada, selling beer, wine, spirits, and ready-to-drink cocktails. The assortment is anchored by the proprietary Kirkland Signature private label brand, complemented by select third-party brands, with payment via Mastercard, Debit Card, and Cash in-store and Instacart-powered online delivery.

Product overview

Costco Canada Liquor operates a chain of retail liquor stores across Alberta, Canada, offering a curated selection of wines, spirits, and pre-mixed cocktails. The company primarily carries its Kirkland Signature private label brand (wines including Prosecco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Rioja Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Moscato D'Asti; spirits including Tequila Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo, French Vodka, and Irish Cream; and cocktails including Sangria, Golden Margarita, and Mimosa), along with select third-party brands such as MamaMango and Valle Del Maule. Additional services include a gift card program, an Instacart delivery integration, and an Executive Member reward program offering 2% annual rewards on purchases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kirkland Signature: Kirkland Signature® wine and spirits are highly crafted treasures. The Kirkland Signature® brand stands for quality above all else. Every product that carries the Kirkland Signature label is custom created by a dedicated team of experts.

Products and services

• Kirkland Signature Wine and Spirits (Brand Line) Proprietary private label brand encompassing wines (Prosecco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Rioja Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon, Moscato D'Asti), spirits (Tequila Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, French Vodka, Irish Cream), and pre-mixed cocktails (Sangria, Golden Margarita, Mimosa) sold to Costco members and Alberta retail consumers.
• Kirkland Signature Sangria 1.5L Private label Spanish red sangria made with fine grapes, Mediterranean spices, and Valencia orange essence, sold in 1.5L format at Costco Canada Liquor locations for individual consumers.
• Kirkland Signature Golden Margarita 1.75L Private label ready-to-serve margarita with lime and orange flavors, packaged in 1.75L format for consumers seeking convenience cocktail options.
• Kirkland Signature Prosecco Rose 750mL Private label sparkling rose wine with tropical fruit, white flower, berry, and red fruit flavors, sold in 750mL format.
• Kirkland Signature Prosecco 750mL Private label Prosecco with apple skin, citrus, and honey brioche aromas, sold in 750mL format.
• Kirkland Signature Mimosa 750mL Pre-mixed sparkling cocktail combining three parts white sparkling wine and two parts orange juice, sold in 750mL format.
• Kirkland Signature Tequila Reposado 1L Private label reposado tequila with caramel, honey, vanilla, sweet agave, and barrel-aged oak flavors, sold in 1L format.
• Kirkland Signature Tequila Blanco 1.75L 100% Blue Weber Agave Blanco Tequila distilled from fully matured estate-grown agave, sold in 1.75L format.
• Kirkland Signature Tequila Añejo 1L Aged private label añejo tequila with sweet caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, floral notes, and lingering oak, sold in 1L format.
• Kirkland Signature French Vodka 1.75L Private label French vodka with a clean, smooth finish and balanced style, sold in 1.75L format.
• Kirkland Signature Pinot Grigio 750mL Private label Pinot Grigio with crisp apple and white flower aromas, bright acidity, and clean refreshing finish, sold in 750mL format.
• Kirkland Signature Pinot Grigio 3L Large-format private label Pinot Grigio with crisp pineapple, grapefruit flavors, and a hint of minerality, sold in 3L box format.
• Kirkland Signature Ti Point New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 750mL Private label New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with tropical fruit, vibrant lemon-lime citrus, and crisp acidity, sold in 750mL format.
• Kirkland Signature Malbec 750mL Private label Malbec with deep purple color, plum and cherry fruit notes, and oak spice from 12 months of French oak aging, sold in 750mL format.
• Kirkland Signature Moscato D'Asti 750mL Private label medium straw-colored Moscato D'Asti with citrus, rose, and orange blossom aromas and a pleasantly sweet palate, sold in 750mL format.
• Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva 750mL Private label ruby-colored Rioja Reserva with spicy aromas, licorice hints, and vanilla flavors, sold in 750mL format.
• Kirkland Signature Irish Cream 1.75L Private label rich, smooth Irish cream liqueur blending fresh dairy cream, Irish whiskey, and spirits with caramel and chocolate notes, sold in 1.75L format.
• Kirkland Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 3L Large-format private label Cabernet Sauvignon with juicy dark and red fruit flavors and a soft finish, sold in 3L box format.
• MamaMango Moscato 750mL Third-party branded bubbly Moscato infused with pure mango purée, combining mango aromas with tropical fruit, coconut, honeysuckle, and apricot jam notes, sold in 750mL format.
• Valle Del Maule Carmenere Malbec 750mL Third-party branded Chilean red wine with floral, brambly characteristics, boysenberry and waxberry notes, and firm linear tannins, sold in 750mL format and currently featured on case sale discount.
• CCL Gift Cards Prepaid CCL gift cards available in denominations from $10 to $2,000 with a daily purchase limit of $10,000. Cards have no expiry date, can be reloaded at any Costco Canada Liquor location in Alberta, and balances can only be applied to in-store purchases at Costco Canada Liquor stores.
• Instacart Online Ordering and Delivery Delivery service enabling customers in Alberta to order Costco Canada Liquor wine, spirits, beer, and ready-to-drink cocktails online via Instacart for home delivery.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• InstacartminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInstacart provides online ordering and delivery services for Costco Canada Liquor products, enabling customers to shop digitally and receive orders at their doorstep. The partnership extends the reach beyond physical retail locations.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Drizly: Online alcohol delivery marketplace (now part of Uber). Comparable through its role as CCL's Instacart integration parallel — provides a digital, ship-to-consumer alcohol channel that competes for the same at-home alcohol purchase occasion.

Broad incumbents

• Total Wine & More: Largest US independent wine and spirits retailer operating superstore warehouse-format locations. Highly comparable in bulk-purchase model, private-label emphasis, and broad SKU assortment, though operating in a different geography.
• Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC): Provincial regulator and operator of Alberta's Connect Logistics wholesale system plus a retail website. Sets the wholesale pricing baseline against which all Alberta private retailers, including Costco Canada Liquor, compete.

Direct peers

• Spec's Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods: US-based warehouse-style wine and spirits retailer offering deep selection at competitive pricing. Comparable in large-format liquor-only retail concept, Kirkland-style value positioning, and broad third-party plus private-label SKU mix.
• Wine and Beyond: Alberta-based private liquor chain (Sobeys affiliate) offering premium wine, spirits, and beer in large-format warehouse stores. Directly comparable in store format, geography, and customer demographic.
• Liquor Depot: Alberta-based private liquor store chain owned by Sobeys/Empire, operating dozens of stores across the province. Direct competitor in the same warehouse-style, value-priced liquor retail format targeting bulk buyers in Alberta.
• BevMo!: US specialty retailer of wine, beer, and spirits operating warehouse-style storefronts. Directly comparable in retail format and assortment breadth, though smaller scale and primarily West Coast.

Regional players

• The Beer Store: Ontario-anchored beer retailer (now partially owned by Labatt/Molson) operating warehouse-style outlets. Comparable in alcohol-only warehouse retail format, but primarily serving a different Canadian province.
• Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ): Quebec government-operated alcohol retailer and wholesaler. Comparable in scale of Canadian liquor retailing and broad assortment, but provincial monopoly operating outside Alberta.
• BC Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB): British Columbia government-operated liquor retail network. Comparable as a large-format liquor retailer in Canada, but operates in a different province under a different regulatory regime.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about COSTCO CANADA LIQUOR INC.