Brandwave

How popular isCostco?

In September 2026, people searched for Costco by name about 68,600 times in New Zealand, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 4.2% of all New Zealand supermarket searches, placing Costco fourth out of eight supermarkets. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about supermarkets, Costco did not appear in any of the answers.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Costco is the fourth most searched of 8 competitors and not listed in any AI answer.

  1. WoolworthsShare of searches 40.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. PAK’nSAVEShare of searches 30.9%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. New WorldShare of searches 18.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  4. CostcoShare of searches 4.2%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. FreshChoiceShare of searches 3.7%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th

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Top supermarkets in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Costco did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. PAK’nSAVE1st
  2. Woolworths2nd
  3. New World3rd
  4. Four Square4th
  5. FreshChoice5th
  6. Costco–
  7. Night 'n Day–
  8. SuperValue–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Woolworths5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • PAK’nSAVE5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • New World5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Four Square5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • FreshChoice2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Costco0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Night 'n Day0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • SuperValue0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about supermarkets

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Which supermarkets compete with Costco?

Costco against supermarkets in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Woolworths, PAK’nSAVE, New World, Costco, FreshChoice. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthWoolworthsPAK’nSAVENew WorldCostcoFreshChoiceFour SquareNight 'n DaySuperValue
Oct 202533.9%36%20.2%3.9%3.3%1.8%0.82%0.11%
Nov 202536.1%34%19.1%4.3%3.1%2.4%0.89%0.09%
Dec 202534.8%32.8%22.5%3.6%3%2.3%0.87%0.1%
Jan 202635.9%33.9%19.1%3.6%3.8%2.4%1.1%0.1%
Feb 202637.4%30.9%21.2%3.3%3.5%2.6%1.1%0.08%
Mar 202634.9%33%22.7%3.4%3%2%0.89%0.08%
Apr 202635.7%33.7%19%4.3%3.8%2.5%0.95%0.1%
May 202635.8%32.5%21.5%4%3.5%1.6%0.93%0.1%
Jun 202635.8%35.1%19%3.6%3.8%1.7%0.9%0.09%
Jul 202634.1%33.5%22.2%4.1%3.6%1.6%0.78%0.06%
Aug 202636.8%33%20.9%3.8%3.4%1.3%0.71%0.08%
Sep 202640.1%30.9%18.6%4.2%3.7%1.6%0.77%0.08%
  1. 1.Woolworths

    40.1%

    Held 1st. 653K estimated branded searches, -<0.01% vs prior month. Share +3.3 points.

  2. Held 2nd. 503K estimated branded searches, -14% vs prior month. Share -2.1 points.

  3. 3.New World

    18.6%

    Held 3rd. 303K estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -2.3 points.

  4. 4.Costco

    4.2%

    Held 4th. 68.6K estimated branded searches, +1.4% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  5. Held 5th. 60.8K estimated branded searches, -0.11% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  6. Held 6th. 26.8K estimated branded searches, +16% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  7. Held 7th. 12.6K estimated branded searches, +0.4% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  8. 8.SuperValue

    0.08%

    Held 8th. 1.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Costco and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Costco

13 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Costco changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Costco in New Zealand held steady, from 71K to 68.6K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Costco’s share of searches among supermarkets in New Zealand peaked at 4.3% in November 2025 and was lowest at 3.3% in February 2026.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand supermarkets in September 2026?

6 changes
  1. In September 2026, Woolworths gained share of searches among supermarkets in New Zealand, from 36.8% to 40.1%.

  2. In September 2026, New World lost share of searches among supermarkets in New Zealand, from 20.9% to 18.6%.

  3. In September 2026, PAK’nSAVE lost share of searches among supermarkets in New Zealand, from 33% to 30.9%.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for SuperValue in New Zealand fell 30.3% over 12 measured months, from 1.9K to 1.4K in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Four Square in New Zealand fell 17.5% over 12 measured months, from 32.5K to 26.8K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Night 'n Day in New Zealand fell 16.9% over 12 measured months, from 15.1K to 12.6K in September 2026.

How are Costco’s branded searches counted?

15 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Costco’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • costco
  • costco chocolate
  • costco delivery
  • costco foodservice
  • costco groceries
  • costco hot dogs
  • costco hours
  • costco hours today
  • costco next
  • costco pizza
  • costco tires
  • costco tv
  • costco tyres
  • costco warehouse
  • costco westgate

Do you work for Costco? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Costco compete?

Costco is ranked in two competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Supermarkets4th of 84.2%Shown above
Wholesale and cash and carry stores1st of 747.5%Show ranking
Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Is Costco your brand?

Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.