COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION said Jeff Brotman, the co-founder and its chairman of the board, died Aug. 1.

Brotman, who was 72 at the time of his death, had served as the warehouse club company's chairman since 1994.

In its statement, COSTCO said Brotman died early Aug. 1, but did not provide additional details.

Brotman co-founded the Issaquah, Wash.-based company with James Sinegal in 1983, and the company is now the largest membership warehouse club, as well as the second-largest retailer, in the world, according to the National Retail Federation.

COSTCO has 736 warehouses worldwide, including 511 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.