Costco Phasing Out Tobacco & Electronic Cigarette Sales

Yet another leading store is leaving the cigarette world. Yet, unlike CVS Health Corp., Costco Wholesale Corp. is gently eliminating the goods from its shelves. The obvious sign of Costco's shift came during its current second quarter earnings report. The Issaquah-based company said sales of tobacco goods dropped by a "low double digit" percentage as Costco "continues to eliminate tobacco SKUs from various locations," in accordance with TheStreet.com.

A Costco spokesperson told the news outlet the firm started decreasing tobacco inventories in several its U.S. places about 3 or 4 years earlier, but didn't widely advertise its strategies. The action was mainly company-related. The retail merchant put an emphasis on taking tobacco goods from Costco's business center warehouses, cutting back the possibility of big clients including local convenience stores to get things sent, TheStreet.com noted.

Costco does not consider cigarettes may be drawn from all its warehouses "anytime soon," the statement added. Less than 200 of the 488 Costco places in the United States nonetheless promote cigarettes. The merchant choice stands in marked contrast from CVS's much-discussed choice to leave the cigarette world. In February 2014, the Woonsocket, R.I.-based firm announced it intended to eliminate cigarette products from all its shops by Oct. 1, 2014.The headlines received response and applause from many sides, including in the White House.