Kirkland is the signature label used at Costco. It’s well-known for selling third-party products for as much as 20% less than their competitors. In Costco, there’s a little bit of mystery regarding which manufacturers are responsible for each individual product. Sometimes, the product turns out to have been made by Kirkland the entire time. But other times it’s a complete mystery as to who the original maker was. Let’s look into what’s actually a Kirkland product and what isn’t.
Kirkland Signature Coffee
As it turns out, Starbucks is responsible for roasting some of Kirkland’s coffee flavors. Not all of them though. If you’re a fan of Starbucks, then you can save some money getting a few of these flavors. They include Espresso Blend Dark Roast, House Blend Medium, and Decaf House Blend Medium.
Kirkland Signature Greek Yogurt
Kirkland sells three pound tubs of Greek yogurt. And it’s likely that this tub is produced by Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy. They’re well known for creating and supplying yogurt to other private labels. Kirkland yogurt is USDA certified and is considered Kosher. So if you like yogurt, this can save you some cash.
Kirkland Signature Chocolate
Costco had teamed up with the Blommer Chocolate Company. They have a sustainable source of cocoa from the Ivory Coast in West Africa. Of course, that’s also where Kirkland’s brand of chocolate gets its cocoa from too. Not only is this a cheaper option for you, but the arrangement also helps local workers receive fair wages and provides funds for local services.
Kirkland Signature Tuna
Costco works with Bumble Bee for canning tuna. And that tuna’s a lot more substantial than the flakier stuff you get from other generic brands. Not to mention, it’s still significantly cheaper.
Kirkland Signature Cranberry Juice
Kirkland’s cranberry juice is produced by Ocean Spray. It provides 100% of the daily allowance of vitamin C. It also has no added sugar, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. All that with it being a cheaper option.
Kirkland Signature Purified Bottled Water
If you like the Niagara Bottling company’s water then you’ll probably like Kirkland’s purified bottled water. Water can have a lot of different flavors based on the bottler, but you’ll likely notice no difference between these two brands. That’s the benefit to having a good company bottle your water for you.
Kirkland Signature Pet Food
While Costco has stated that another company exclusively produces Kirkland’s pet food, they hadn’t publicly stated who that was for a while. But people were able to figure it out in 2012. The FDA had issued a recall for Diamond Naturals pet food and the Kirkland brand. Both companies were also named in to law suit claiming pets had received Salmonella food poisoning from eating the pet food.
Kirkland Signature Wines
You can find out the bottler, importer, and origin of Kirkland wines just from looking at the label. They have a variety of different wines, with their signature being the Napa Valley Red Blend. Invented by Glenn Hugo, the wine itself is bottled by DC Flynt MW Selections. Brunello’s win is imported by Ethica Wines and was created by Gianni Maccari.
Kirkland Signature Batteries
It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that Kirkland’s battery provider is Duracell. They are the most well-known manufacturer of batteries there is. The CEO of Costco even confirmed this in 2016. Buying the Kirkland brand will save you money and you won’t be sacrificing any quality for the price.
Kirkland Signature Balsamic Vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is a great ingredient to spice up your dish. However, it can get a little expensive at other place. Fortunately, Costco’s Kirkland brand can help you out with that problem. The company Acetum actually produces balsamic vinegar Acetum’s known to age its balsamic vinegar for 60 days and has earned an official certification for being produced in its home of Modena, Italy. You’ll be getting quality balsamic vinegar without having to break the bank.
Kirkland Signature Ultra-Clean Laundry Detergent
It hasn’t yet been confirmed what company makes the Kirkland brand of laundry detergent. However, an ongoing theory is that it’s made by Henkle, the same company that makes the famous detergent brand Persil. However, neither Costco or Henkle have confirmed this to be true.
Kirkland Signature Jelly Beans
If you like jelly beans, then you’ll probably love the Kirkland brand. They’re produced by the same company that makes Jelly Belly Gourmet jelly beans. The Kirkland brand has 49 flavors and you get to save money by getting them at Costco. Every jar even comes with a color menu and recipe card.
Kirkland Signature Plastic Cups
Chinet is responsible for producing the 18-ounce red solo cups of Kirkland Signature. They’ve been producing cups since the 1930s and have been making more sustainable products since the 80s. Their cups are 80% recycled, compostable materials.
Kirkland Signature Gasoline
The Kirkland brand of gas has been confirmed to not be from Mobil. However, it’s still a high-quality gas that fuel experts say passes governmental additive requirements in the U.S. and Canada. Gs prices fluctuate, but Costco’s able to keep their prices low for the most part.
Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whiskey
While many rumors relating to the which companies produce other liquors under the Kirkland brand have been debunked, there is truth in relation to who bottles their whiskey. That would be the independent bottler Alexander Murray. It was revealed in an interview with Market Watch Magazine by the CEO and Murray, himself, that they’ve been bottling Kirkland’s brand since 2007. Not to mention, the Alexander & Co. Ltd. label is on the back of every bottle.
Kirkland Signature Vodka
For some time, there were rumors that Grey Goose had actually been bottling the vodka for Kirkland. However, that proved to be nothing more than that, a rumor. Fortunately, in blind taste tests, the Kirkland brand vodka normally outperformed Gray Goose. It’s also a third of the cost.
Kirkland Signature Rotisserie Chicken
A three-pound roasted rotisserie chicken has often been a favorite product at Costco. They actually established their own chicken processing facility in Nebraska. This led to the creation of Lincoln Premium Poultry to manage the new facility in 2016. Unfortunately, Lincoln’s been under scrutiny in the last couple of years. It’s had a negative impact on the environment in the Omaha region. Additionally, they’ve been accused of animal cruelty in regard to the treatment of their chicken.
Kirkland Signature Tequila
Kirkland’s tequila is actually made by the same distillery that makes Cielo Tequila. The distillery is located in Jalisco, Mexico and is called Fabrica de Tequilas Finos. It’s made from the highest quality, hand-picked Agave plants they have access to. Considering this and the tequila’s reduced price, it’s certainly worth the price.
Kirkland Signature Shampoos And Conditioners
When it comes to saving money, you should definitely get the Kirkland Signature brand shampoo and conditioner. Produced by Pureology Hydrate it’s a reduced price for a great product. Not to mention, it’s dye-free and 100% vegan.
Kirkland Signature ProCare Formula
The Kirkland brand of infant formula, ProCare, has actually had a few producers over the years. The original one was produced by Enfamil, but that duty has since been taken over by Kirkland Signature ProCare Formula. As formulas are regulated by the FDA and meet the same standards, so when it comes to price with this one, it’s certainly worth it in comparison to other premium brands.
Kirkland Signature Ice Cream
The Kirkland Signature ice cream bars have been having infrequent appearances on Costco’s shelves. This would be because Humboldt, the company that made Kirkland’s ice cream, filed for bankruptcy and was purchased by Crystal Creamery. While the ice was delicious, at best people can only hope that it eventually makes a return.
Kirkland Signature Diapers
A long-running rumor of who produced the Kirkland diapers was that they were made by Kimberly Clark, the creator of Huggies. And in 2017, that was confirmed to be true! The Kirkland diaper is, as such, a just as comfortable diaper for your child at a lower cost. To get the deal, Costco agreed that they’d only allow one other type of diaper to be on their shelves, that being Huggies.
Kirkland Signature French Brie
The French brie cheese sold at Costco is a product of the Cooperative Isigny Sainte-Mère. They are a well-known butter, cream, and cheese maker native to France. This allows you to get the same buttery flavor of brie without burning a hole in your wallet.
Kirkland Signature Motor Oil
Warren Oil is the producer of the Kirkland motor oil. They are the largest independent lubricant manufacturer in the U.S., so you know it’s a good product. They produce and package motor oil for several other private labels as well, but, of course, the Kirkland brand will save you more money.
Kirkland Signature Hearing Aids
Did you know you can get hearing aids at Costco? You can actually get a free hearing test if you’re a Costco member. The store partnered with Sonova in order to produce a range of hearing aids and other audiological care products. Kirkland hearing aids offer Bluetooth functions and stereo-quality sound. They even automatically adjust to your environment and have universal connectivity.
