Kirkland Signature Brands: Who Makes Them in 2026 — The Complete Confirmed Reveal

There is a reason Kirkland Signature generates $90 billion in annual sales and commands more consumer loyalty than most of the national brands it sits beside on the warehouse floor. The reason is not just that Kirkland products are competitively priced. The reason is that many Kirkland products are not generic alternatives to famous brands — they are, quite literally, made by those famous brands.

The short answer is that Kirkland Signature, Costco's exclusive private-label brand, is made by a diverse array of top-tier national and global manufacturers. While Costco owns and manages the Kirkland Signature brand, it doesn't own the factories; instead, it partners with well-known companies to produce these high-quality goods at a lower price. Tasting Table

Think of Costco as a general contractor for its own brand. They design the specifications, set rigorous quality standards, and then find the best possible manufacturer to build the product for them. The list of manufacturers is a "who's who" of consumer goods. The manufacturer for a given product can change over time — Costco is always looking for the best quality and value. Tasting Table

This guide is the complete, sourced, rumor-separated-from-fact investigation into which famous brands are behind your favorite Kirkland Signature products — and which viral claims simply are not true.

Why Famous Brands Agree to Make Kirkland Products

Before the reveals, understanding why nationally recognized brands agree to manufacture products for Kirkland Signature — often products nearly identical to their own branded versions — explains the entire model's commercial logic.

For the manufacturers, producing for Costco allows them to run their factories at full capacity, generating massive revenue without devaluing their own premium brand. If everyone knew that a certain diaper was identical to Huggies but 30% cheaper, it could cannibalize the sales of their flagship product. Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are standard practice. For Costco, it keeps the focus on the Kirkland Signature brand itself. They want members to trust Kirkland, not just the famous name behind it. This strategy also gives Costco immense negotiating power and the flexibility to switch suppliers without confusing customers. Tasting Table

In some cases, the relationship is public — like the Kirkland Signature coffee roasted by Starbucks, where the bag proudly displays both logos. In others, it is private label manufacturing — a major brand agrees to produce a product to Costco's exact specifications without their name appearing on the product. You might be getting a product made on the same assembly line, by the same people, using many of the same ingredients as a famous brand — without paying for that brand's marketing and advertising budget. Tasting Table

The Confirmed Kirkland Manufacturers — No Rumors, Only Sources

☕ Coffee — Starbucks

Several varieties of Kirkland Signature coffee are custom-roasted by Starbucks Coffee Company. In particular, they include the 2.5-pound Kirkland Signature Espresso Blend Coffee, Decaf House Blend Coffee, and Regular House Coffee. jhu

This is one of the most publicly visible manufacturing relationships in the Kirkland portfolio — the Starbucks logo is printed directly on the Kirkland coffee packaging alongside the Kirkland Signature name. A member who purchases the Kirkland Signature House Blend or Espresso Blend is purchasing Starbucks-roasted coffee at approximately half the per-ounce price of buying the equivalent Starbucks bag at a grocery store.

🔋 Batteries — Duracell

In a 2016 interview, Costco CEO Craig Jelinek revealed that Duracell is the manufacturer of Kirkland Signature Batteries. A 48-count package of Kirkland Signature AA Alkaline Batteries costs $16.49, or $0.34 per battery. jhu

The Duracell manufacturing relationship — confirmed by the CEO himself — is the single most commercially significant Kirkland manufacturer revelation for most households. Kirkland batteries consistently perform as well as Duracell batteries in third-party testing because they are Duracell batteries, manufactured to the same specifications, at 20 to 35 percent lower per-battery pricing.

🍶 Aluminum Foil — Reynolds

Reynolds' name is proudly displayed on the Kirkland packaging. The price per square foot for Costco's heavy-duty brand is $0.05, compared to Reynolds at $0.07. jhu

The Reynolds co-branding on Kirkland foil is one of the most visible manufacturer acknowledgments in the warehouse — both logos appear on the packaging simultaneously, making this one of the most transparent Kirkland partnerships. The same Reynolds manufacturing quality. A meaningfully lower per-square-foot price.

🐾 Dog and Cat Food — Diamond Pet Foods

Diamond Pet Foods makes all of the Kirkland Signature dry pet foods, and it's even all-American: All the food is made in company-owned facilities in the U.S. jhu

Kirkland Signature Dog Food is manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods, also known as Schell and Kampeter, Inc. Kirkland Signature Adult Formula is sold in a 40-pound bag for $49.99. MOJO

Diamond Pet Foods is a significant player in the premium pet food manufacturing space — producing food for multiple respected brands in addition to Kirkland. The all-American manufacturing (company-owned U.S. facilities) adds a domestic sourcing credential to the value proposition.

🍬 Jelly Beans — Jelly Belly

Kirkland openly teamed up with candy company Jelly Belly to sell its signature "gourmet" jelly beans. The Jelly Belly logo is prominently placed on the Kirkland Signature 4-pound jelly bean barrel available at the store, with each container holding 49 of the candy manufacturer's distinctive flavors. costco

Jelly Belly's logo is prominently placed on the packaging — the price per ounce at Costco is $0.34, compared to a Jelly Belly branded container at $0.86 per ounce — more than double. jhu

A product bearing Jelly Belly's name and using Jelly Belly's proprietary flavor recipes, at 60 percent lower per-ounce pricing. One of the most dramatic individual price differentials in the confirmed Kirkland manufacturer list.

🥫 Tuna — Bumble Bee

Kirkland Signature's Albacore Solid White Tuna is made by global seafood company Bumble Bee. Costco sells the 7 oz. 8-count for $19.99, or $0.36 per ounce, while the equivalent Bumble Bee product can cost as much as $0.49 per ounce. jhu

🍼 Baby Formula — Perrigo

Costco's Kirkland Signature baby formulas are made by pharmaceutical brand Perrigo, which has its own line of baby formulas. The Perrigo-Costco partnership is a tried-and-tested one and has existed and expanded for some time. costco

Perrigo CEO Joseph C. Papa stated: "Our acquisition of the infant formula business last year has been a great growth driver for our Company. The addition of Costco's Canada business will create even more opportunities to help consumers save money on quality, affordable healthcare." Tasting Table

👶 Diapers — Kimberly-Clark (Huggies manufacturer)

Costco finance chief Richard Galanti confirmed in a 2017 interview with the Wall Street Journal that Kimberly-Clark — the same company that makes Huggies — is the manufacturer of Kirkland Signature Diapers. Kirkland Signature diapers are available for $0.18 per diaper compared to Huggies at $0.24 per diaper. jhu

Costco had asked both Kimberly-Clark and rival corporation Procter & Gamble to produce diapers under the Kirkland brand, however only the former agreed. Parents will notice that the only name brand diapers sold at Costco are Kimberly-Clark's Huggies. Procter & Gamble's Pampers are nowhere in sight. GOBankingRates

It was found that Kirkland Signature diapers have a more flexible waistband and more mobile tabs than Huggies diapers, which could make them a snugger-fitting choice. costco

🍹 Cranberry Juice — Ocean Spray

Kirkland Signature cranberry juice is made by powerhouse brand Ocean Spray, using all North American cranberries with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. jhu

The Ocean Spray logo appears on the Kirkland cranberry juice packaging — another transparent co-branding relationship where both companies benefit from the association.

🐟 Fish Oil Supplements — Trident Seafoods

Kirkland Signature's fish oil tablets are manufactured by Trident Seafoods. The company primarily makes food, but it also has its own range of fish oil supplements made from pollock and salmon oil. This would all be a closely guarded secret if it wasn't for a 2017 class action lawsuit filed against both companies. costco

🍰 Vanilla Ice Cream — Humboldt Creamery

Humboldt Creamery has been manufacturing vanilla ice cream for Costco under its Kirkland Signature house brand, as reported by ABC's KRCR News in 2016. GOBankingRates

🎉 Party Cups — Chinet

Chinet isn't quite known for solo cups — more for the brand's small crystal and coffee cups — but Costco is stocking every college party full of red cups with its help. The Chinet logo is printed on the Kirkland packaging alongside the Kirkland Signature name. aol

🥂 Scotch Whisky — Alexander Murray

For those who fancy a single malt or blended Scotch whisky, the Kirkland Signature variety means you're getting a product sourced from Alexander Murray & Co. — a Scottish expatriate-founded bottling business in Calabasas, California. A beautiful 12-year-old Scotch that only costs $25. FinanceBuzz

🌿 Tequila — Corporate Distillery Santa Lucia

Kirkland's tequila brand is manufactured at the Corporate Distillery Santa Lucia in Mexico, which uses 100% blue agave in its production process. FinanceBuzz

👁️ Contact Lenses — CooperVision

Costco's contact lenses are manufactured by CooperVision. Out in the real world, you won't be able to get your hands on a box of CooperVision lenses for less than $80. But at Costco? Less than $60. aol

🛏️ Mattresses — Stearns & Foster

Stearns & Foster makes Costco's mattresses, and is nothing short of a luxury brand. That means you're getting your mattress at Costco prices, and when sleep is already a costly expense, this is a very good thing. aol

🍺 Beer — Gordon Biersch (West Coast) and Matt Brewing (East Coast)

Each side of the country has its own Kirkland Signature beer, with the San Jose, CA-based Gordon Biersch brewing beers for the West Coast and the Utica, NY-based Matt Brewing handling things on the East Coast. aol

🫙 Balsamic Vinegar — Acetum

Modena-based company Acetum makes the Kirkland Signature balsamic vinegar. The logo appears on the packaging. aol

🍤 Shrimp — Kader Exports

A 2020 recall over salmonella contamination concerns revealed that Mumbai-based marine products manufacturer Kader Exports was the supplier behind Kirkland Signature cooked, peeled and deveined shrimp. Reader's Digest

🍵 Green Tea — Ito En

Costco offers a co-branded Kirkland Signature and Ito En 100-count box of green tea bags, which feature a blend of sencha and matcha. Ito En is a Japanese multinational drinks company. Reader's Digest

🔧 Motor Oil — Warren Distribution

Costco's motor oil is "Manufactured by Warren Distribution," as stated on the packaging itself. aol

The Rumors We Can Definitively Address

The Kirkland Vodka / Grey Goose Rumor — NOT CONFIRMED

Plenty of people will tell you with confidence that Costco's vodka is a duplicate of Bacardi's Grey Goose, produced in France. GOBankingRates

The infamous Kirkland Signature/Grey Goose vodka situation is only an unfounded rumor. FinanceBuzz

This is the most persistently circulated Kirkland manufacturer claim in the entire internet discourse around this topic — and it is unconfirmed. Grey Goose and Costco have not confirmed any manufacturing relationship, and the geography and production specifics of Kirkland vodka point elsewhere. Kirkland vodka is good. It is not confirmed Grey Goose.

The Kirkland Bourbon / George Dickel Rumor — UNCONFIRMED but plausible

Rumors have long persisted that the Kirkland Signature Premium Small Batch Bourbon is made by the eminently popular George Dickel brand. The bourbon rumor has not been officially confirmed, but the geography of the production and the spirit profile are consistent with this attribution. FinanceBuzz

The Kirkland Laundry Detergent / Persil Rumor — UNCONFIRMED

The German company Henkel that produces Persil is rumored to be the manufacturer of Costco's UltraClean line. We are big-time fans of Persil, so when we heard that the Kirkland version is possibly made by the same company, we were stoked! The Daily Meal

Rumored but unconfirmed — the performance of Kirkland laundry detergent is generally excellent in member reviews, consistent with quality manufacturing, but no confirmed sourcing exists in the public record.

The Kirkland Leggings / Lululemon Rumor — UNCONFIRMED

Rumor has it that Kirkland Signature leggings are of identical quality to Lululemon, with the same logo placement, thick Lycra spandex fabric and an additional rear key pocket with a zipper. The Daily Meal

Member enthusiasm for Kirkland leggings is genuine. A confirmed Lululemon manufacturing relationship is not documented in any public source.

The Commercial Principle That Makes This All Work

It's a fascinating business model built on a simple premise: offer products that are as good as, or better than, the leading national brands, but at a significantly lower cost. In this definitive guide, we're going to pull back the curtain. You might be getting a product made on the same assembly line, by the same people, using many of the same ingredients as a famous brand. The key difference is you're not paying for that brand's marketing and advertising budget, which translates into major savings at the checkout. Tasting Table

The Kirkland Signature model is commercially elegant in a way that most private label programs are not: it removes the two dimensions of brand pricing that do not contribute to product quality — the marketing spend and the retail channel margin — and passes the savings directly to the member. The coffee is still Starbucks-roasted. The batteries are still Duracell-made. The foil is still Reynolds-quality. The member pays for none of the premium that those names command at competing retailers.

At MOJO Sales & Branding, we study Kirkland Signature's manufacturing model with the same intensity we bring to every competitive development that affects our clients' Costco channel positions.

Contact us at 732.433.7873 or Susan@MOJOSalesandBranding.com.

Confirmed Kirkland Signature Manufacturers — Quick Reference:

Kirkland Product	Confirmed Manufacturer	Source
Coffee	Starbucks	Printed on packaging
Batteries	Duracell	CEO Craig Jelinek interview, 2016
Aluminum foil	Reynolds	Printed on packaging
Dog/cat food	Diamond Pet Foods	Multiple industry reports
Jelly beans	Jelly Belly	Printed on packaging
Tuna	Bumble Bee	Industry reporting
Baby formula	Perrigo	CEO statement
Diapers	Kimberly-Clark	CFO Richard Galanti, WSJ 2017
Cranberry juice	Ocean Spray	Printed on packaging
Fish oil	Trident Seafoods	Class action lawsuit, 2017
Party cups	Chinet	Printed on packaging
Scotch whisky	Alexander Murray	Industry reporting
Tequila	Santa Lucia Distillery	Industry reporting
Contact lenses	CooperVision	Industry reporting
Green tea	Ito En	Printed on packaging
Motor oil	Warren Distribution	Printed on packaging
Beer (West)	Gordon Biersch	Industry reporting
Beer (East)	Matt Brewing	Industry reporting
Balsamic vinegar	Acetum	Printed on packaging

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