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Costco Wholesale Corporation engages in the operation of membership warehouses. The company offers branded and private-label products in a range of merchandise categories. Its product categories include candy, snack foods, tobacco, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, and cleaning and institutional supplies; appliances, electronics, health and beauty aids, hardware, office supplies, cameras, garden and patio, sporting goods, toys, seasonal items, and automotive supplies; dry and institutionally packaged foods; apparel, domestics, jewelry, house wares, media, home furnishings, and small appliances; and meat, bakery, deli, and produce. The company also engages in the operation of gas stations, pharmacies, food courts, optical dispensing centers, one-hour photo centers, hearing aid centers, and print shops and copy centers; and car wash and travel businesses. In addition, it provides business and gold star (individual) membership services. As of November 28, 2012, the company operated 618 warehouses, including 447 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 84 in Canada, 32 in Mexico, 22 in the United Kingdom, 13 in Japan, 9 in Taiwan, 8 in South Korea, and 3 in Australia. Further, it is involved in online businesses at costco.com in the United States and costco.ca in Canada. The company was formerly known as Costco Companies, Inc. and changed its name to Costco Wholesale Corporation in August 1999. Costco Wholesale Corporation was founded in 1976 and is based in Issaquah, Washington.