NEW YORK – From the cradle to the grave. You can buy baby food, groceries, computers, furniture and a whole host of things at Costco — now you can even find caskets at some of its stores.
The world's largest warehouse club operator said Tuesday it began a test program that offers caskets at two of its Chicago area stores.
Issaquah, Wash.-based Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST), known for selling most of its products in bulk quantities, said the two stores are now offering 6 different models of steel caskets that are made by Universal Casket Co. (search) based in Michigan.
"We are just trying to offer value to our customers, just like everything else that we do," said Gina Bianchi, a Costco spokeswoman.
Bianchi said the company has not determined how long the test program will last. She declined further comment on details.
Shares of Costco, which operates 438 warehouses in the United States and overseas, closed up 49 cents at $41.31 on the Nasdaq (search).
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