If you’ve ever shopped at a discount grocer like Aldi, you may have noticed that many of the brands that appear on the shelves are ones you’ve never heard of.
And there’s a reason for that. Aldi intentionally stocks lesser-known brands so it can pass savings onto its customers.
See, the brands people tend to know and love often gain popularity as a result of expensive marketing campaigns and fancy packaging. But that can drive the cost of those products up. As such, it often pays to choose generic brands over name-brand products in the course of your shopping for food and household essentials.
If you’ve ever done any shopping at Costco before, you’ve probably seen the Kirkland name on a host of products. Kirkland is Costco’s signature brand, and loading up on Kirkland items will often result in a lower credit card tab than buying those well-known brands whose manufacturers tend to do a lot of advertising.
But let’s face it — consumers tend to take comfort in the brands they’re already familiar with. And here’s some good news in that regard. A number of the Kirkland products you might come across at Costco are actually made by brands you most likely already know. Here are a few that fall into that category.
1. Kirkland coffee
People tend to be picky about their coffee, and that’s understandable. But you may find it interesting to know that a number of the coffee offerings you’ll see from Kirkland are actually made by none other than Starbucks. Examples include Kirkland’s Signature Espresso Blend Coffee, Dark Roast and Signature House Blend Coffee, Medium Roast.
2. Kirkland cups
Many people recognize Chinet as an established name in the world of disposable plates, bowls, and cups. But Kirkland’s iconic 18-ounce red plastic cups — the ones you’ll often see at parties and barbecues — are made by Chinet, so you can rest assured that they’re bound to be high in quality (or as high in quality as a plastic cup is capable of being).
3. Kirkland aluminum foil
Aluminum foil is a staple item in many households, and you may be eager to save money the next time you need to buy some. But if you’re worried that buying Kirkland aluminum foil is going to result in a product that gives out on you in exchange for that lower price point, fear not. Kirkland’s Signature Foodservice Foil is actually made by Reynolds, who wrote the book on aluminum foil that holds up.
4. Kirkland jelly beans
Jelly beans make an excellent snack, and the more variety you get, the better, right? You can buy a massive jar of Kirkland jelly beans that gives you access to 49 distinct flavors to tickle your taste buds. And if you’re worried about taste, rest assured that Kirkland’s jelly beans are made by none other than Jelly Belly, a fan favorite.
5. Kirkland cranberry juice
When you think of cranberry juice, you probably think of Ocean Spray — it’s been a leading juice cocktail brand for years. Well, you may be happy to know that Kirkland’s cranberry juice is made by Ocean Spray, so you’ll get the same sweet, tangy taste you’ve come to enjoy, whether as a drink on its own or as part of a concoction.
So there you have it. When you buy these Kirkland products in particular, you can rest assured that you won’t be compromising on quality.
That said, even those Kirkland products that don’t have a recognizable name behind them may be products worth bringing home. Remember, Costco prides itself on customer service and is so committed to member satisfaction that it will pretty much take back any item that doesn’t meet your expectations. So you can rest assured that the Kirkland products it puts out are high in quality in their own right.