As the nation’s third-largest grocery store by sales, Costco Wholesale has a cult-like following. A large part of the draw— aside from the massive variety of products and quality goods — is Costco’s private label brand, which will ensure you don’t miss out on deeper grocery discounts.
The company, which is based just outside Seattle in Washington state, operates more than 600 Costco stores in the United States. Three percent of the warehouse stores are within New York, with four locations in Westchester and Rockland.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is Costco’s private label brand?
Costco has one main private label brand: Kirkland Signature, which launched in 1995.
While Costco only carries one private label brand, the Kirkland Signature brand covers a wide range of products, including:
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Diapers, formula and other baby care products
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Health care and beauty products
Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand chicken sits out for customers during the grand opening of the store on the east side of Evansville, Ind., Friday, June 28, 2019.
The brands behind Costco’s Kirkland Signature
Many of the Kirkland Signature brand products were actually created by much larger well-known name brands, which means that, on top of the savings, you’re getting quality goods. Personal finance resource Cheapism identified several Kirkland Signature products that are manufactured by big-name competitors:
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Kirkland Signature batteries: manufactured by Duracell
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Kirkland Signature ground coffee: roasted by Starbucks
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Kirkland Signature pet food: manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods
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Kirkland Signature tuna: supplied by Bumble Bee Foods
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Kirkland Signature organic cranberry juice cocktail: supplied by Ocean Spray
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Kirkland Signature diapers: manufactured by Kimberly-Clark — the same company that produces Huggies.
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Kirkland Signature aluminum foil: supplied by Reynolds
Where to find Costco stores in New York
There are 19 Costco warehouse stores in New York. Use the store locator tool on Costco’s website to find a store nearest you. Here are locations in Westchester and Rockland:
How much does a Costco membership cost?
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The Executive-level membership costs $130 per year, plus tax.
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The Gold Star-level membership costs $65 per year plus tax.
Members must scan their membership card when entering the warehouse store and also at checkout.
Contributing: USA TODAY network.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand is hidden gem for savvy shoppers
