Which Brands Are Hidden Behind Costco’s Kirkland Label?

Kirkland Name: Kirkland Signature Espresso Blend
Kirkland Price Per Unit: $14.89*
Verdict: Confirmed

Starbucks is a gargantuan coffee chain. While their stores are popular, so are their take-home products, including their ground beans. Customers can get their hands on a 2 and a half-pound bag of Kirkland’s Espresso Blend “Custom roasted by Starbucks” for just $14.89. 

Starbucks Coffee @Edeka Gehrke/Facebook | ©eBay

Buying a similar product straight from the coffee house would cost you significantly more, which is why Costco struck gold with this one. It comes in medium roast, dark roast, and decaf medium roast to cater for all tastes. Buyers say it’s just as good and a fraction of the cost. 

This is another example of a partnership that’s mutually beneficial for both Costco and a big company like Starbucks. Costco gets to leverage the tried and tested Starbucks name, while the coffee chain also gets a slice of the pie. Or, in this case, a cup of the freshly-brewed java.

Kirkland Name: Kirkland Signature (KS9) 9.0 Digital Hearing Instruments
Kirkland Price Per Unit: $1,499*
Verdict: Confirmed

For those hard of hearing, Costco provides a free of charge hearing test in their stores. This is a great way to entice customers to spend money on their own products while they’re at their appointment. Those making a purchase can also rest assured that they’re getting top quality. 

Sonova Hearing Aids © indiamart.com @Doctor Cliff, AuD / Youtube.com

Sonova produces Costco’s Kirkland Signature (KS9) 9.0 Digital Hearing Instruments. This was confirmed by the brand a couple of years ago as they are listed as the manufacturer on the leaflet. Walmart sells a pair of hearing aids for $600, but are they as good? Unlikely. 

According to the NIDCD, nearly 30 million Americans could benefit from a hearing aid but only a fraction of that number actually wears one. It could be down to the cost, or simply fear of the unknown. Kirkland’s Signature Hearing Aids are easy on the eye which certainly makes them more appealing.

Kirkland Name: Kirkland Signature Alkaline AA Batteries
Kirkland Price Per Unit: $16.99*
Verdict: Confirmed

Batteries are always handy to have lying around in the house, even in this digital age where most things are rechargeable. Thankfully, Costco has got us covered. Customers can purchase a 48-pack of Kirkland Signature Alkaline AA Batteries for just $16.99. Some cheap batteries can run out quickly, but these have the same power as Duracell. 

Duracell Batteries jadimages/shutterstock.com | @hip2save/Pinterest

Costco’s CEO Craig Jelinek let the cat out of the bag back in 2016 when he confirmed that Berkshire Hathaway’s Duracell was the manufacturer of the Kirkland brand. Considering a pack of 48 Duracell batteries will cost almost $10 more, it seems like a great deal. 

Consumers don’t want to pay more for a product that is exactly the same, no matter what the name on it is. Sometimes name brand items like batteries get a bad rep when they shouldn’t, just because there isn’t enough transparency about how – or where – they’re made.

Kirkland Name: Kirkland Signature Small Dog
Kirkland Price Per Unit: $24.99*
Verdict: Unconfirmed

Pet owners like to think that feeding their four-legged friends expensive food makes a difference, but that isn’t always the case. Some cheaper brands, like Costco’s Kirkland Signature Small Dog, are even made by the same companies. Customers are just blissfully unaware.  

Diamond Naturals Dog Food @longviewmill/@Couple Minds Online Shop - Baguio & La Union Edition/Facebook

It’s likely that Schell and Kampeter Inc.’s Diamond Pet Foods is behind Costco’s brand. Although it’s never been confirmed, when there was a recall of Diamond’s dog food in 2012, the Kirkland brand was recalled too, with Costco even named in a subsequent lawsuit. 

If there was no link between them, that would never have happened. The companies may be staying quiet on the subject for now, but all evidence points to there being a link once, if not now. Many pet owners are more than happy with Kirkland Signature dog food for their four-legged friends.

Kirkland Name: Kirkland Signature Aged Balsamic Vinegar of Modena
Kirkland Price Per Unit: $6*
Verdict: Confirmed

Partnerships can be lucrative for everyone involved, so Costco tries to seal the deal on as many as possible. A few years ago they shook hands with Acetum Balsamic Vinegar to produce a Kirkland-branded product called Aged Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. The 100-year-old dressing is a big hit. 

Acetum Balsamic Vinegar @shopify/@thekitchn/Pinterest

Other stores like Amazon’s Whole Foods might market Acetum’s version, but they don’t have the same connection that Costco did. For just a few bucks customers can get the product that has Acetum’s name on it, in just a slightly different style of packaging. 

At $6 a pop, Costco’s version is much less pricey than Acetum which retails at Walmart at $16.12 for a small 8.5 ounces. This is an amazing deal and a wonderful partnership for consumers that love to cook up a storm in the kitchen without breaking the bank.

Kirkland Name: Kirkland Signature ProCare
Kirkland Price Per Unit: $37.99*
Verdict: Confirmed

It’s important to consider quality when selecting baby formula, but just because something is cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not as good. When it comes to Kirkland Signature ProCare, it was made by Abbott Laboratories AKA the people behind Similac. 

Perrigo Infant Formula /Sheila Fitzgerald / David Tonelson / Shutterstock.com

The partnership between Costco and Abbott Laboratories was longlasting, but it’s now looking like Perrigo has taken the lead on this one. It’s a publicly-known fact that Perrigo and Costco are in business together, which might explain the change of packaging. It’s still a fantastic product that helps families across America. 

The average child gets through around 75 ml a day for every pound of their body weight. Formula costs soon add up, especially in those early months before they’ve moved onto solid food. Costco’s ProCare has an impressive four-star rating on the website, proving it’s just as good as any other leading brand.

Kirkland Name: Kirkman Signature Organic Greek Yogurt
Kirkland Price Per Unit: $3.80*
Verdict: Unconfirmed

Greek yogurt is a popular refrigerator staple, so it’s no surprise that there are multiple brands out there. Picking up a tub of Ehrmann’s from Kroger might be the easiest option for many, but it’s cheaper elsewhere – it’s just hidden in plain sight. 

Ehrmann Yogurt @minutritionist/@thekitchn/Pinterest

It’s likely that Costco’s Kirkland’s Organic Greek Yogurt is actually made by the same company behind such products as Yoginos and LACTO Zero. According to businessman Peter Cohan, the yogurt giant supplied numerous stores with the same products to trade under different names. Not only does Costco do it, but so do some other US retailers who know a deal when they see one.  

Most of us wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the brands in a blind taste test, so buying Costco’s version seems like a no-brainer. Do we need this to be confirmed if the product is still just as good anyway? Logic dictates otherwise when it comes to this!

Kirkland Name: Kirkland Signature Full Synthetic SAE 54-30
Kirkland Price Per Unit: $24.39*
Verdict: Confirmed

Motor oil can be a saturated market, leading many to just grab the nearest one they see and hope for the best. In reality, a lot of different brands are made by the same company. In Costco’s case, their oil is manufactured by Warren Oil.

Warren Motor Oil @Walmart / Pinterest.cm | David Tonelson / Shutterstock.com

Warren also supposedly produces Amazon’s AmazonBasics motor oil. It’s confirmed in writing on the back of the jug, so we don’t need any more proof. The product sells well for Costco, which is unsurprising given the price tag. At just $24.39 for five quarts, it’s a bargain purchase that will last. 

Just make sure that you don’t let it linger in your garage forever. Even motor oil has a use-by date. Once opened, motor oil should be replaced every five years, no matter how much you’ve got left in the bottle. That being said, $24.39 every few years isn’t going to break the bank.

Kirkland Name: Kirkland Signature Jelly Belly Gourmet Jelly Beans
Kirkland Price Per Unit: $16.99*
Verdict: Confirmed

Jelly Belly jelly beans are the perfect way to satiate sweet cravings, but they can be very expensive. Safeway sells nine ounces of the candy for $5.49, but why pay that when you can get exactly the same thing at Costco for a fraction of the price? Kirkland’s Signature Jelly Belly Gourmet Beans come in at $16.99 for four lbs. 

Jelly Belly The Image Party/melissamn / Shutterstock.com

This partnership may be one of the most beautiful things to come out of Costco yet. These huge tubs come with 49 flavors that are both fat-free and kosher, which is a candy lover’s dream come true. Now just try to guess how many Kirkland Signature jelly beans fit in that jar!

They’re perfect for parties, special occasions, Christmas, or even just a Friday night in front of the TV. Plus, with a tub this big everyone can get a decent amount and not fight over them, which is a bonus. This partnership is beneficial for your wallet and peace of mind.

Kirkland Name: Kirkland Signature Super Premium Ice Cream
Kirkland Price Per Unit: $12.99*
Verdict: Confirmed

Ben and Jerry’s might be the quintessential American ice cream, but what about Humboldt’s? Sadly, Humboldt Creamery has been through the wringer as a company over the last decade, filing for bankruptcy in 2009 and going on to sell to Crystal Creamery. As a result, the business needed to look at other ways to make money. 

Humboldt Creamery Ice Cream @Humboldt Creamery / Facebook | The Image Party/Shutterstock.com

Back in 2016, it was revealed that Kirkland Signature’s Super Premium Vanilla Ice Cream was made by Humboldt – but it doesn’t really take a detective to figure that out. The packaging is very similar to the original design and holds the same “super-premium” name. 

The ice cream industry has some fierce competition from companies like Unilever, but when you’ve got a product this good it’s only natural that consumers keep on buying it. At $12.99 for a half-gallon tub, Costco’s version won’t break the bank, but it will keep the whole family happy – at least for a little while.

Kirkland Name: Kirkland Purified Water
Kirkland Price Per Unit: $5.79*
Verdict: Confirmed

Niagara Purified drinking water can be bought at other retailers like Walmart for $3 for 32 bottles, so there isn’t much difference in the way of price in this one. Kirkland Signature Purified Water is from Niagara Bottling, but it’s $5.79 for 40. 

Niagara Bottled Water @WoodmansFoodKenosha/Facebook | John Mantell / Shutterstock.com

This partnership is acknowledged on the bottle, so rather than being a sneaky under-the-counter trade-off it’s just a straight-forward arrangement. For shoppers already making their way around Costco, it seems like a good deal and it’s not that far off the going rate. What’s more, it’s got the same smooth taste as the bottles you would buy at Walmart.

Many families opt to drink bottled water only and avoid the tap altogether, so finding a decent type that you can buy in bulk is always a win. Even though it might not be the cheapest on the market, it’s a high-quality product that can be picked up alongside the rest of your groceries.

Kirkland Name: Kirkland Signature Chinet Plastic Big Red Cup
Kirkland Price Per Unit: $11.79*
Verdict: Confirmed

Costco is the place to go to stock up on party supplies, mostly because they do large quantities of products at very good prices. Everyone knows that a party requires plenty of plastic cups. In another lucrative partnership, Costco coupled up with Chinet to produce the Kirkland Signature Chinet Plastic Big Red Cup. 

Chinet Cups The Image Party/Shutterstock.com

The price is just as attractive, coming in at $11.79 for 240. Chinet has been going for almost a hundred years and can also be found in other superstores like Target, although perhaps not quite as cheap. 

As a pop-culture staple the red cups can be spotted in numerous movies and TV shows, making them somewhat of a national institution. In reality, they’re strong, sturdy, and able to withstand a night or two of raucous partying, which is more than can be said for most of us!

Kirkland Name: Kirkland Signature Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice
Kirkland Price Per Unit: $0.71*
Verdict: Confirmed

Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice is the creme de la creme of juice drinks, but it can be pricey. However, if you hop over to Costco, you can pick up a 6-pack of their cranberry juice for a fraction of the price at other retailers.While it may be called Kirkland Signature Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice, it’s exactly the same product – just much cheaper.

Ocean Spray Juice ©calimedia | ©David Tonelson / Shutterstock.com

For a pack of four Ocean Spray Juice Cocktail at Walmart it’s $11.92.  At Costco, a pack of six will set you back just $4.29, working out at around $0.71 per unit. It may have Kirkland Signature stamped above it, but this product still has the Ocean Spray branding so you know it’s just as good. 

It’s not uncommon for stores like Costco to partner up with big brands, but it’s pretty rare for them to mix their Kirkland label with the original brand names. This is a union that obviously works well for the businesses and the consumers, so everyone’s winning when it comes to this product.

Kirkland Name: Kirkland Signature Parmigiano Reggiano
Kirkland Price Per Unit: $11.89*
Verdict: Confirmed

Like many retailers, Costco sells a lot of different cheeses, but few are quite as good as their Kirkland Signature Parmigiano Reggiano. The hard cheese is imported from Italy, which is why it can hold the esteemed name and not simply be dubbed “Parmesan.” 

Formaggi Zanetti Parmigiano Reggiano Cineberg/The Image Party/Shutterstock.com

As it turns out, Costco sources their cheese through Formaggi Zanetti. Not only does Zanetti make cheese, but it specializes in sending it out around the world for other companies to sell. That way, profits stay up and customers stay happy – it’s a win-win. Both brands don’t look exactly the same, but the taste is very close.

Parmigiano can be used on anything from pizza to pasta and everything in between, so it’s a wise purchase. When you factor in the enticing $11.89 per unit cost compared to other brands pedaling the same product it’s clear Costco made the right move by partnering up with Formaggi.