COSTCO

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp.'s sales increased 8% to $7.58 billion in February, the club retailer said Thursday.

For the 26-week period that ended Sunday, the chain reported sales of $51.35 billion, a 9% increase over February 2012. Comps for the company's U.S. stores increased 6% during the month and also during the past 26-week period.

WASHINGTON — Club retailer Costco Wholesale is throwing its support behind a bill introduced in Congress Tuesday to raise the federal minimum wage.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Several pharmacy retailers got top place in a recent consumer satisfaction survey.

A report released Tuesday by the American Customer Satisfaction Index ranked Rite Aid at the top among drug store chains, with a score of 77, a 3% improvement over last year. Walgreens gained 1%, for a score of 76, while CVS ranked 75, a 3% gain. The survey noted that CVS hit a low two years ago due to cost-cutting efforts.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Health insurer Aetna is offering individual health insurance plans to Costco members in Florida, the insurer said.

The Costco Personal Health Insurance program includes five plans and offers medical benefits, dental options, a network of doctors and hospitals and other services, as well as lower copays on prescriptions at the club retailer's pharmacies.

NEW YORK — Jewelry maker Tiffany & Co. is suing Costco Wholesale, alleging that the club retailer falsely marketed diamond engagement rings as coming from the New York-based jeweler, according to published reports.

News media reported that Tiffany filed suit against Issaquah, Wash.-based Costco in the Federal District Court in Manhattan.

NEW YORK — The investment groups of billionaires Warren Buffett and Jorge Paulo Lemann will buy H.J. Heinz for about $23 billion, according to published reports.

Bloomberg reported that Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and Lemann's 3G Capital would buy the condiment maker for $72.50 per share, and the deal includes $12 billion to $13 billion from Buffett's group. Heinz also owns the Ore-Ida potato chip brand.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp.'s sales increased 7% in January compared with January 2012, the club retailer said Thursday.

Costco reported sales for the five weeks that ended Sunday of $9.35 billion, compared with $8.74 billion a year ago. The month was one day shorter than last year due to the timing of the New Year holiday, which reduced total and same-store sales by about 2%, the company said. Comps in U.S. stores were up by 6%.

NEW YORK — Costco will replace Coke with Pepsi at its in-store lunch counters, according to published reports.

Costco will start selling Pepsi instead of Coca-Cola products at its food courts starting in April, news media reported. Stores in two of its eight regions already had switched to Pepsi. The company has long sold a $1.50 hot dog-and-soda combination meal at its stores.

According to reports, the switch was not related to a dispute between Costco and Coca-Cola in 2009, when the club retailer temporarily stopped carrying Coke products in its stores.