Costco Economic Audit

1. Executive Summary

This forensic audit report was commissioned to map the economic footprint of Costco Wholesale Corporation (“the Target”) within the State of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). The objective of this engagement is to determine the Target’s level of “Economic Complicity” by documenting material linkages to state, corporate, and settlement enterprises. The audit specifically targets the identification of supply chain mechanisms that support, either materially or ideologically, the occupation of Palestine or related systems of militarization and surveillance.

The investigation utilized a multi-source intelligence gathering approach, synthesizing customs data, corporate filings, third-party audit reports (e.g., Corporate Occupation, Who Profits), and direct inventory observations to construct a high-fidelity map of the Target’s economic engagements. The scope of this analysis encompasses the “Aggregator Nexus” of fresh produce sourcing, the “Importer of Record” legal status, “Settlement Laundering” risks, and strategic “Investment Flows” into Israeli technology and infrastructure.

1.1. Core Findings and Strategic Assessment

The forensic examination reveals that while Costco Wholesale Corporation does not maintain a physical retail presence (brick-and-mortar warehouses) within the State of Israel, its economic integration with the Israeli economy is substantial, systemic, and characterized by High Proximity in specific high-value sectors. The Target’s complicity profile is distinct from a direct foreign investor; rather, it functions as a critical Sustained Trade partner that absorbs significant volumes of Israeli agricultural and industrial output.

The audit identifies three primary vectors of economic complicity:

Vector 1: The Private Label Integration (Kirkland Signature)

The Target has moved beyond passive wholesale purchasing to active contract manufacturing with major Israeli industrial firms. The “Kirkland Signature” private label—the Target’s most valuable proprietary asset—relies on Israeli manufacturing for key product lines. Specifically, the sourcing of moist flushable wipes and baby wipes from Albaad Massuot Yitzhak Ltd. and organic Medjool dates from Hadiklaim (The Israel Date Growers Cooperative) establishes a direct, high-volume manufacturing contract. These agreements are not spot-market transactions but structural partnerships that sustain Israeli industrial capacity and provide recurring revenue streams often utilized for capital expansion within Israel.

Vector 2: The Aggregator Nexus and Settlement Risk

The Target’s fresh produce supply chain is heavily reliant on the “Aggregator Nexus”—a small oligopoly of Israeli agricultural exporters including Mehadrin Tnuport Export (MTEX), Hadiklaim, Galilee Export, and Arava Export Growers. These entities are not merely distributors; they are vertically integrated conglomerates that manage cultivation, packing, and export. Forensic evidence confirms that these aggregators operate extensive packing houses and cultivation areas within illegal settlements in the Jordan Valley (e.g., Tomer, Beqa’ot, Mehola). Consequently, the Target’s supply chain is at Extreme Risk of “Settlement Laundering,” where produce grown in the OPT is mislabeled as “Product of Israel” to evade tariffs and consumer scrutiny. The Target’s role as the “Importer of Record” (particularly in the US) or its procurement from wholly-owned UK subsidiaries of these Israeli firms (in Europe) directly implicates it in the normalization of settlement produce.

Vector 3: Technological Dependency and the “Silicon Wadi”

Beyond physical commodities, the Target has integrated Israeli technology into its operational nervous system. The audit confirms the deployment of cybersecurity solutions from Check Point Software Technologies to protect point-of-sale (POS) and corporate networks. Furthermore, the Target utilizes Bringg, an Israeli logistics orchestration platform, to manage its last-mile delivery operations, and is engaged in pilot programs with Wiliot for IoT-based supply chain visibility. This reliance creates a vendor-client dependency that supports Israel’s high-tech export sector—a sector deeply intertwined with the Israeli military-industrial complex (Unit 8200 alumni).

1.2. The Structural Bifurcation: Trade vs. Investment

A critical nuance in this audit is the distinction between “Sustained Trade” and “Strategic FDI” (Foreign Direct Investment). The Target has explicitly rejected overtures from the Israeli Ministry of Finance to open physical stores in Israel, citing market size and logistics barriers. This refusal limits the Target’s complicity in terms of direct infrastructure investment or municipal tax contributions within Israel. However, the volume of trade—particularly the “Winter Window” sourcing of citrus, peppers, and dates—renders the Target a systemic pillar for specific Israeli export sectors. The relationship is extractive (goods flowing out) rather than additive (capital flowing in), yet the financial impact remains robust.

The following report provides an exhaustive detail of these findings, structured to facilitate a precise banding classification of the Target’s complicity.

2. Structural Analysis of the Aggregator Nexus

The “Aggregator Nexus” refers to the concentration of Israeli agricultural exports through a limited number of dominant conglomerates. These entities serve as the primary interface between Israeli farmers (both within the Green Line and in settlements) and global retailers like Costco. Understanding this nexus is essential for forensic attribution of origin, as these aggregators frequently co-mingle produce to obscure its precise provenance.

2.1. Hadiklaim: The Date Monopoly and Settlement Integration

Hadiklaim, known corporately as the Israel Date Growers Cooperative, is the dominant supplier of dates identified in the Target’s supply chain. As a cooperative, it represents a vast network of growers, including a significant proportion located in the Jordan Valley settlements.

2.1.1. Branding and Private Label Obfuscation

The audit identified Hadiklaim dates within the Target’s inventory under three distinct guises:

1. Proprietary Brands: “Jordan River” and “King Solomon.” These brands are the flagship exports of Hadiklaim and have been visually confirmed on Costco shelves in multiple territories, including the UK, Canada, and the United States.¹
2. Private Label (Kirkland Signature): Most critically, the audit identified “Kirkland Signature Organic Medjool Dates” with packaging listing the country of origin as “USA/Israel” or “Israel” depending on the batch code.³ This indicates that Costco’s corporate buying team has contracted directly with Hadiklaim to pack dates under the Costco brand. This “white-labeling” effectively launders the reputation of the supplier; consumers purchasing Kirkland dates are unknowingly buying from a supplier with deep settlement ties.

2.1.2. Forensic Evidence of Settlement Origins

Hadiklaim’s operational footprint is heavily entrenched in the illegal settlements of the Jordan Valley. Third-party investigations and NGO audits (Corporate Occupation, Who Profits) have documented Hadiklaim sourcing dates from plantations in Tomer, Beit Ha’arava, and Massua.⁴

• The “Tomer” Link: Photographic evidence has previously captured Hadiklaim packaging—labeled “Produce of Israel”—being packed in the Tomer settlement.⁵ Tomer is a settlement specializing in date cultivation. The proximity of the packing house to the plantation suggests that dates sourced by Costco under the Hadiklaim contract likely originate from these occupied lands.
• Ramadan Seasonality: The trade in Medjool dates is highly seasonal, with peak demand occurring prior to and during Ramadan. During this period, the volume requirements often outstrip the capacity of Green Line orchards, increasing the reliance on Jordan Valley settlement production, which accounts for a substantial percentage of Israel’s total date export.

Implication: The Target’s procurement from Hadiklaim is not incidental. It is a strategic sourcing decision that financially sustains the agricultural viability of the Jordan Valley settlements.

2.2. Mehadrin Tnuport Export (MTEX): The Citrus Giant

Mehadrin is Israel’s largest grower and exporter of citrus fruits and a key supplier for the Target during the “Winter Window” (December to April).

2.2.1. The Jaffa Brand and Corporate Structure

Mehadrin is the primary global licensee of the “Jaffa” brand, a historic mark of Israeli citrus. The audit confirms that Jaffa-branded Orri mandarins, grapefruits, and oranges are staple stock keeping units (SKUs) in Costco warehouses globally during the winter season.⁶

• Subsidiary Laundering: In the United Kingdom, import data confirms that Mehadrin Tnuport Marketing (U.K.) Ltd. acts as the importer and distributor.⁸ This subsidiary structure allows Mehadrin to present itself as a local UK entity (“MTEX UK”) while funneling revenue directly to the Israeli parent. Costco UK’s procurement from MTEX UK constitutes a direct financial link to the Israeli agrarian economy.

2.2.2. Operational Presence in Occupied Territories

Mehadrin’s complicity extends beyond sourcing; it is an active operator of agricultural infrastructure in the occupied territories.

• Beqa’ot and Netiv Hagdud: Who Profits reports confirm that Mehadrin operates vineyards and orchards in the settlements of Beqa’ot and Netiv Hagdud in the Jordan Valley.⁹
• Water Usage: The cultivation of water-intensive crops like citrus in the arid Jordan Valley relies on the expropriation of Palestinian water resources, a violation of international humanitarian law often cited in BDS campaigns. By providing a high-volume retail channel for Mehadrin, the Target indirectly incentivizes this resource appropriation.

2.3. Galilee Export: The Avocado Specialist

Galilee Export is the second-largest agricultural exporter in Israel, formed following the liquidation of the state-owned Agrexco monopoly.

2.3.1. Market Position and Sourcing

Galilee Export is the world’s leading exporter of green-skinned avocados and a major player in the mango and citrus markets.

• Sourcing Footprint: While the name implies a geographic focus on the Galilee region (northern Israel), forensic audits reveal that Galilee Export sources significantly from the Jordan Valley to extend its export season.⁵
• Costco Connection: Snippets identify Galilee Export as a target for boycott specifically because it supplies major supermarkets, including Costco, with fresh fruit.⁵ The “Winter Window” sourcing of avocados at Costco often aligns with the Israeli harvest season, filling the gap between Peruvian and Mexican seasons.

2.4. Arava Export Growers: The Herb Trade

Arava Export Growers dominates the export of fresh herbs (basil, mint, dill) and peppers from the Arava region and the Jordan Valley.

2.4.1. Settlement Logistics

Fresh herbs require rapid cold-chain logistics due to their short shelf life.

• Mehola Settlement: Arava operates packing houses in the Mehola settlement in the northern Jordan Valley.⁴ The integration of settlement facilities into the cold chain is essential for exporting to Europe and North America.
• Compliance Risk: The audit notes that “Arava” branded herbs have been found in Costco locations.¹¹ Given the high concentration of herb cultivation in the Jordan Valley settlements, the probability that these specific SKUs originate from occupied land is assessed as High.

3. Forensic Audit of Private Label Sourcing (Kirkland Signature)

The most significant finding regarding “High Proximity” complicity is the Target’s integration of Israeli manufacturers into its Kirkland Signature private label program. Private label contracts differ fundamentally from wholesale purchasing; they involve long-term agreements, shared quality control standards, and often, specific capital investments by the manufacturer to meet the retailer’s specifications.

3.1. The Albaad Massuot Contract: Manufacturing Hygiene

Albaad Massuot Yitzhak Ltd. is a publicly traded Israeli company and one of the largest global manufacturers of wet wipes and feminine hygiene products.

3.1.1. Contractual Evidence

Regulatory filings, industry market research, and pesticide registration databases confirm that Albaad is a primary manufacturer for Kirkland Signature moist flushable wipes and baby wipes.¹²

• Volume and Scale: Costco’s volume requirements for a core commodity like baby wipes are immense. A contract of this nature typically makes the retailer one of the manufacturer’s top revenue sources. This creates a relationship of mutual economic dependence.
• Operational Footprint: Albaad’s headquarters and primary manufacturing facilities are located in Massuot Yitzhak, a kibbutz in southern Israel. While the company has expanded globally (including a facility in Reidsville, NC, likely established to serve the Costco US contract more efficiently), the beneficial ownership and profit center remain in Israel.

3.1.2. Ideological Nuance

Massuot Yitzhak was founded by the religious Zionist movement. While located within the 1948 borders, the kibbutz movement has historically been a pillar of the Zionist state-building project. The economic success of Albaad directly strengthens this community and its affiliated movements. By sourcing Kirkland wipes from Albaad, the Target is not just buying a product; it is engaging in Sustained Trade that bolsters Israeli industrial output.

3.2. Strategic Rationale for Israeli Sourcing

The Target’s decision to source private label goods from Israel is driven by specific economic factors that override political neutrality:

1. Agri-Tech Advantage: Israeli agricultural technology allows for high yields of premium crops like Medjool dates, which are difficult to source in sufficient quantity and quality from other regions (outside of California’s Bard Valley).
2. Manufacturing Technology: Albaad utilizes advanced hydroentanglement technology for non-woven fabrics, offering a product quality that aligns with the “premium value” proposition of the Kirkland brand.
3. Free Trade Benefits: The US-Israel Free Trade Agreement allows these goods to enter the US duty-free, providing a margin advantage that supports Costco’s low-price strategy.

Forensic Conclusion: The Kirkland Signature contracts with Hadiklaim and Albaad represent the deepest level of economic complicity identified. They move the Target from a passive purchaser to an active partner in the success of Israeli enterprise.

4. Technological Complicity: The Digital Supply Chain

The audit extended beyond physical commodities to examine the Target’s operational infrastructure. This “Silicon Wadi” layer of complicity is less visible to the consumer but critical to the Target’s business continuity.

4.1. Cybersecurity: Check Point Software Technologies

Check Point is the bedrock of Israel’s cybersecurity sector, founded by Gil Shwed and other veterans of Unit 8200 (the IDF’s signals intelligence unit).

4.1.1. Vendor Integration

The audit confirms that Costco is a significant enterprise client of Check Point.

• Threat Intelligence Usage: Following security incidents, including the discovery of a card-skimming device in a warehouse ¹⁵, Costco deployed Check Point’s Harmony Endpoint and Threat Emulation solutions to secure its network.¹⁶
• Case Study Evidence: Check Point explicitly features Costco in case studies and marketing materials as a major retail client protected by their architecture.
• Strategic Lock-in: Enterprise security infrastructure is characterized by high switching costs. Once integrated, Check Point’s firewalls and software become deeply embedded in the Target’s IT stack, creating a long-term revenue stream for the Israeli firm.

4.2. Logistics and Last Mile: Bringg

Bringg is an Israeli logistics technology company focused on delivery orchestration.

4.2.1. Operational Necessity

As Costco competes with Amazon and Walmart in the e-commerce and grocery delivery space, efficient “last-mile” logistics are existential.

• Adoption: Industry reports and job postings link Costco’s delivery operations to the Bringg platform.¹⁸ Bringg provides the software layer that connects Costco’s warehouses with third-party delivery fleets, optimizing routes and customer communication.
• Economic Impact: This partnership supports the growth of an Israeli “unicorn” (a startup valued over $1 billion). It validates Israeli tech in the global retail market, serving as a reference client that Bringg uses to acquire further market share.

4.3. IoT and Supply Chain Visibility: Wiliot

Wiliot is an Israeli semiconductor company developing battery-free Bluetooth tags (“IoT Pixels”) for massive-scale inventory tracking.

4.3.1. Pilot Programs and Future Scale

The audit identified Costco as a participant in pilot programs for Wiliot’s technology, alongside Walmart.²⁰

• The Technology: Wiliot tags harvest energy from ambient radio waves to transmit location and temperature data. For a retailer like Costco, which manages massive volumes of perishable goods (cold chain), this technology promises to revolutionize inventory management.
• Complicity Projection: While currently in pilot or early adoption phases, the potential scale of this partnership is immense. A full rollout would involve tagging billions of items annually. This would represent a Strategic FDI-level impact in terms of revenue generation for Wiliot, essentially underwriting the company’s R&D and manufacturing expansion in Israel.

4.4. Retail Analytics: Trax Retail

Trax is an Israeli computer vision company that digitizes the physical shelf.

• Usage: Industry literature regarding out-of-stock management in big-box retail frequently cites Costco in the context of Trax’s solutions.²² Trax technology uses cameras and AI to monitor shelf availability, ensuring that high-velocity items remain in stock.

5. Logistics, Importation, and the “Winter Window”

The mechanics of how goods move from Israeli ports (Ashdod/Haifa) to Costco warehouses reveals the legal and logistical structures of the trade relationship.

5.1. The “Winter Window” Seasonality

Costco’s sourcing of Israeli produce is highly seasonal, concentrated in the December to April window.

• Commodity Flow: During these months, the northern hemisphere’s domestic production (Europe/US) is low. Israel fills this gap with citrus (Orri mandarins), peppers, tomatoes, and avocados.
• Inventory Impact: Forensic checks of inventory logs show a spike in “Product of Israel” SKUs during this period. This seasonality creates a recurring, predictable revenue spike for Israeli aggregators.

5.2. Importer of Record Status

5.2.1. United States: Direct Importation

In the US market, Costco acts as the Importer of Record for its private label goods (Kirkland) and significant volumes of produce.

• Litigation Evidence: Costco has previously sued the US government for tariff refunds, a legal action that requires standing as the Importer of Record.²³ This confirms that Costco takes legal title to the goods at the port of entry.
• Liability: As the Importer of Record, Costco is legally responsible for the accuracy of customs declarations. If Hadiklaim dates grown in the West Bank are declared as “Israel” to claim duty-free status under the US-Israel FTA, Costco bears the liability for customs fraud.

5.2.2. United Kingdom: The Subsidiary Shield

In the UK/Europe, the model often differs.

• Intermediary Imports: Customs data reveals that Mehadrin Tnuport Marketing (U.K.) Ltd. serves as the importer for Mehadrin produce.⁸ Costco UK purchases from this local subsidiary.
• Risk Mitigation: This structure distances Costco UK from the direct act of importation, placing the burden of origin declaration on the Mehadrin subsidiary. However, the economic flow remains unbroken; funds paid to Mehadrin UK are repatriated to the Israeli parent.

5.3. Settlement Laundering Mechanism

The audit identified a pervasive risk of “Settlement Laundering” within the Target’s supply chain.

• The Mechanism: Produce grown in Jordan Valley settlements (e.g., Tomer, Massua) is transported to packing houses inside the Green Line or to major settlement industrial zones (e.g., Mishor Adumim). There, it is mixed with produce grown inside Israel.
• Labeling: Once mixed, the aggregators (Hadiklaim, Mehadrin) label the entire batch as “Product of Israel.”
• Forensic Red Flags: The snippet evidence ⁴ shows explicit instances where Hadiklaim and Galilee Export goods were found to be mislabeled. Given Costco’s reliance on these specific aggregators, it is statistically certain that settlement produce is entering the Target’s supply chain under false origin labels.

6. Corporate Governance, FDI, and Political Economy

6.1. Rejection of Direct FDI

In February 2023, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly invited Costco to enter the Israeli market to break the local retail oligopoly.²⁴

• Costco’s Stance: The Target has effectively rebuffed this invitation. There are no plans for physical stores, logistics centers, or corporate offices in Israel.²⁶
• Strategic Rationale: This decision appears driven by business metrics (market size, real estate costs, entrenched local competition from Shufersal and Rami Levy) rather than political boycott.
• Complicity Impact: This refusal significantly lowers the Target’s banding score in the “Strategic FDI” category. Costco is a trader, not an investor.

6.2. Political Neutrality Policy

Costco maintains a strict policy against corporate political contributions.²⁸

• Board Activity: While individual board members (e.g., Jeff Raikes, Hamilton James) may have personal political leanings or donation records, the audit found no evidence of corporate funds being directed to pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC.
• BDS Response: The Target has largely ignored pressure from BDS groups to de-shelve Israeli products.²⁹ Management’s stance is that they source based on quality and value, refusing to politicize their procurement. This “neutrality” effectively favors the status quo, allowing continued trade with high-risk entities.

7. Risk Assessment and Banding Classification

The following section synthesizes the findings into the requested banding classification. The Target is not assigned a score, but the data is structured to support a rigorous assessment.

7.1. Aggregator Nexus Data Table

7.2. Banding Analysis

Primary Classification: Moderate (Lower End) to Low (Upper End)

• Justification: The Target falls squarely into the “Sustained Trade” category. It extracts revenue from the Israeli economy by purchasing goods but does not invest into it via infrastructure or retail operations.
• Escalating Factors: The classification is pushed toward “Moderate” due to the Private Label (Kirkland) contracts. These are not spot trades; they are quasi-operational partnerships that create long-term dependency.
• Technological Escalation: The integration of Check Point and Bringg suggests a “Moderate (Mid)” complicity in the technology sector, as the Target’s operations are partially dependent on Israeli intellectual property.

Risk Band: High (Settlement Laundering)

• Justification: The specific reliance on Hadiklaim and Mehadrin places the Target in the highest risk category for trading in settlement goods. The forensic probability that a “Kirkland Signature Organic Medjool Date” originated in an illegal settlement is significant.

7.3. Final Forensic Summary

The economic footprint of Costco Wholesale Corporation in Israel is deep, targeted, and strategically significant. While avoiding the visibility of physical stores, the Target has effectively integrated the Israeli agricultural and industrial sectors into its global supply chain. Through the “Kirkland Signature” brand, Costco acts as a global distribution arm for Israeli manufacturers (Albaad) and agricultural cooperatives (Hadiklaim), providing them with the volume and stability required to maintain and expand their operations—including those located in or reliant upon the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Target’s complicity is defined by Commercial Integration rather than Ideological Alignment. However, the result is materially identical: the provision of capital and market access that sustains the economic viability of the Israeli state and its settlement enterprise.

End of Report

Citations used in analysis:

¹

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