The Name Brands Hiding Behind Costco's Popular Kirkland Products

Costco is a force of nature (well, figuratively speaking). Sure, very little appears to distinguish the big box warehouse chain from its wholesale-centric competitors like Sam's Club or BJ's Wholesale Club, other than the fact it doesn't call itself Costco Club. But if you look closely, there's a penchant for superior quality from Costco that seems to set it apart. At least, it does when it comes to its beloved (and generic) in-store brand, Kirkland Signature.

Now, Costco isn't the only business known to offer deeply discounted generic items to its customers. And while the price of Kirkland Signature products is undoubtedly enticing — with those items costing 20% less (or more) than similar, name brand alternatives at Costco (via CNN) — the exceptionally high quality seems just as responsible as the price for members' sustained loyalty. Of course, there's a not-so-secret reason why Costco's Kirkland brand inspires such joy and devotion in consumers: Many of those items are simply name brand products sold under the Kirkland banner.

In fact, while many Kirkland-brand items disguise the original manufacturer, other Kirkland Signature products are almost stunningly honest about the (often well-known) companies manufacturing them. Frankly, there's a seemingly never-ending list of name brands masquerading as Costco's generic, in-house products. From coffee to batteries to numerous types of alcohol, we've gathered some of the more notable examples, and present those name brands hiding behind Costco's popular Kirkland products.

While we understand the convenience factor of a single-cup coffee maker like Keurig, we tend to find it's more trouble than it's worth. Between the excessive cost and the devastating environmental impact caused by used and discarded K-Cup pods (via USA Today), we've generally opted to brew whole pots of coffee instead. Of course, we're not here to lecture anyone about their caffeine preferences; we're here to reveal that Green Mountain coffee has been producing some of the Kirkland Signature K-Cups since 2012 (via Reuters).

As Green Mountain told Reuters in 2012, the decision to partner with Costco on the production of two of its generic, Kirkland-brand K-Cups — like the 120-count Breakfast Blend K-Cup box — was driven by a desire to "create more options for value-oriented consumers." But facing an increasingly crowded K-Cup market at the time, the need to help its own bottom line clearly played a factor as well.

Since the coffee company found its stock shares boosted by 9% in the immediate aftermath of the announced deal with Costco, it's no wonder the partnership continues more than a decade later. We may choose whole bean, brewed coffee. But if you love K-Cups, save yourself some cash with the Kirkland brand.

Of all the generic food items we've purchased and sampled through the years, the most consistently decent product, across the board, was canned tuna. In that sense, we wouldn't expect anything less than excellence when it comes to Kirkland Signature tuna products — and that was before we learned Kirkland's solid white albacore canned tuna is made by Bumble Bee seafoods (via CNN).

Now, while the general rule of thumb dictates that any Kirkland Signature product will be cheaper than its name brand counterpart, that hasn't always been the case when it comes to solid white albacore canned tuna. In fact, in 2003, Bumble Bee solid white albacore canned tuna somehow cost nine cents less per can than Kirkland Signature.

While we'd usually urge you to obtain a name brand at discounted, Costco prices, that may not be possible when it comes to solid white albacore tuna. But since Bumble Bee tuna is an American institution itself, there's nothing wrong with sticking to the yum yum brand when you're craving tuna.

We can't say we always comprehend the logic behind certain companies agreeing to manufacture Kirkland Signature products. Additionally, since we clearly aren't privy to the structure of these corporate deals — or precisely how Costco makes it financially worthwhile to (insert name brand company) — it's likely more profitable than we're imagining. In other words, it shouldn't take a financial wizard to understand why Blommer Chocolate Company has provided the chocolate for certain Kirkland Signature products since at least 2013 (via Costco).

Now, we can't say with complete certainty which Kirkland Signature chocolate products are made with, or feature, Blommer chocolate. But based on the October 2013 edition of the Costco Connection newsletter, it seems Blommer is the likely chocolate found in Kirkland chocolate-covered almonds, chocolate-covered raisins, and macadamia clusters, among others.

More than anything, Blommer's commitment to impeccable quality and customer satisfaction seems to make it a perfect match for Costco's Kirkland brand. Of course, being a rich, decadent chocolate doesn't hurt its cause, either.

It can be tricky purchasing generic meat, particularly depending on the store. Of course, while some chains have a plethora of skippable generic items — for instance, you shouldn't buy Great Value frozen shrimp from Walmart — Costco doesn't offer many subpar products in any capacity. Now, that comes as no surprise, of course, just as it can't be shocking to learn we've often enjoyed Kirkland Signature's farm-raised frozen shrimp. But that may be, in part, because Costco's generic farm-raised frozen shrimp is produced by Kader Exports (via FDA).

Actually, considering the verifying source for this name-brand-masquerading-behind-Kirkland product is an FDA recall notice from August 2020, perhaps we should be a bit more cautious the next time we purchase a bag of generic frozen shrimp from Costco. Then again, while a salmonella risk is unquestionably cause for alarm, it's a fairly standard food-based concern — and it doesn't appear like anyone became ill (mildly or otherwise) as a result of the potentially-contaminated products. 

On second thought, then, we feel fairly at ease about the general safety of Kirkland's farm-raised, frozen shrimp products. And perhaps you should, too.

In some ways, we'd have to imagine a non-U.S.-based company has more incentive to partner with Costco (and slyly produce a Kirkland-brand product) than a domestic one might. After all, the logistical challenges of exporting foods into the U.S. are daunting enough on their own. Any opportunity to ease the transition into American markets, then, may be welcomed with open arms. In that vein, it's no surprise the France-based Isigny Sainte Mere produces Kirkland Signature Imported French Brie for Costco.

With more than 120 million members worldwide (via Costco), there's no shortage of potential new (and recurring) customers for Isigny Sainte Mere to obtain through its Kirkland Signature production. Additionally, the fact the French dairy cooperative doesn't have to compromise on any brand credit when its brie is sold under the Kirkland name only further illustrates the appeal. The company's logo is square in the middle of every circular package, after all.

As for consumers, you never know when you'll be able to indulge in the unparalleled creaminess of brie cheese — let alone an authentically imported variety. So we can't deny it's nice having Kirkland's imported brie as a standard, affordable option to turn to.

Who actually makes Kirkland wine is a question many consumers have found themselves asking through the years. Of course, while some speculation is bound to lead nowhere, other hunches are right on point. This includes the presumptive origin of Kirkland Signature Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, which, according to Reverse Wine Snob, is produced by the New Zealand-based Ti Point.

Now, if you remain unconvinced about the vineyard of origin for the generic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from Costco, consider the eye test. In other words, take a long look at the logo on the Kirkland Signature bottle of the white wine, then compare it to the logo on Ti Point's own Sauvignon Blanc, as seen on Wine-Searcher.

Does the plus-sign-and-oval illustration being replicated on both bottles definitively prove Ti Point produces Kirkland's similar white wine? Maybe not. But we see no reason to dismiss the notion — and, frankly, wholeheartedly accept that the name brand vineyard is behind Costco's popular Kirkland product.

Before we go any further: no, batteries are not a food, and batteries aren't the first item to spring to mind when kitchen-based needs are discussed. But it's not as though batteries are useless in a culinary context — and, quite frankly, are often found in kitchen junk drawers across the U.S. Of course, while Kirkland Signature batteries don't come right out and say they're manufactured by Duracell, Costco's CEO Craig Jelinek did, telling WSB-TV as much in 2016.

While Jelinek was somewhat forthcoming with the fact Duracell makes Kirkland batteries, he was also quick to note Costco didn't "advertise (the batteries), it's just a brand." This allows the chain to control its overhead costs battery-wise, keeping the price low while concurrently increasing the profitability of each package of batteries.

Frankly, it always helps to have batteries on hand at one's house. After all, you never know when you'll lose power — which, thanks to climate change, may happen more frequently in coming years (via The Boston Globe). But with Kirkland Signature batteries, you can ensure you'll have plenty of high-quality, long-lasting batteries if the need arises, and never end up crawling in the dark.