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They say not to judge a book by its cover, but if that's true, what are you supposed to do at the grocery store? You can't pry open that cracker box and try a few; neither do grocery store personnel take kindly to customers sampling a spoonful of every ice cream in the freezer. All you have to go on is a picture, a name, and a list of ingredients. The national brand is twice the price of the store brand: Is it worth it? Does it taste good? Is there a darned good reason to pay an extra $1.59 to buy it?
This is the first in a series in which we crack open those packages and compare what's inside to the competition. We will be visiting every grocery store chain we can (got any suggestions?), and we decided to start with Costco. The big-box retailer is known for having a large number of store-brand items that are sold at rock-bottom prices and in large quantities. If you're going to shell out for 112 ounces of mustard, you want it to be good, right? So we bought Kirkland Signature products at the San Francisco Costco, along with similar products at a Bay Area gourmet grocery. They were tasted by a three-person panel.
Kirkland Signature Super Premium Vanilla Ice Cream, $8.79 for two half-gallons, vs. Häagen-Dazs Five Vanilla Bean, $4.39 for 14 ounces
When compared to the H-D, the Kirkland had a lusher, creamier, more velvety mouthfeel, which makes sense since its first ingredient is cream (compared to Häagen-Dazs's skim milk). The flavor of the Häagen-Dazs vanilla was slightly more pure and noticeable, but the Kirkland was certainly a huge improvement on gummy, overly sweet supermarket brands. Both were about the same level of sweet; Kirkland is obviously a bargain for a crowd (but dangerous for a solo ice-cream-eater), and was our overall favorite.
Advantage: Kirkland
Kirkland Signature Organic Creamy Peanut Butter, $8.59 for two 28-ounce jars, vs. MaraNatha Organic Crunchy Peanut Butter with a Hint of Sea Salt, $5.39 for a 16-ounce jar
When opened, the MaraNatha jar was topped with a vast slick of oil; it took a bit of stirring to get into it. The Kirkland jar was topped with loose, greasy peanut butter, which also had to be stirred. Once stirred, the MaraNatha butter was a bit runnier, and lighter in color. The taste of both was absolutely fantastic: fresh, powerful, salty, peanutty goodness, with a silky, not gritty, texture. But the Kirkland had just a bit more roast-y dark flavor, making it the panel's favorite.
Advantage: Kirkland
Kirkland Signature Extra Virgin Olive Oil Toscano, October/November 2010 Harvest, $9.99 for 1 liter, vs. Bariani California Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Fall 2010 Harvest, $14.99 for 16.9 ounces (500 milliliters)
The oils were similar green-gold hues, and both were labeled as California/Tuscan origin. But the flavor differences were clear at first dip: Bariani was lighter, smoother, more floral; Kirkland was more assertive, bitter, pungent, and had vegetal/green notes. The tasting panel preferred Bariani, but wouldn't be ashamed to have the Kirkland on the table, and some people may even prefer its pushier, stronger flavor.
Advantage: Bariani (just barely)
Kirkland Signature Organic Salted Butter, $8.59 for two pounds, vs. Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter, $2.69 for 8 ounces
While the Kirkland butter was decent and tasty, the Kerrygold was so round and full in flavor that everyone on the tasting panel had to briefly shut their eyes in pleasure. The Kerrygold won out and isn't even that much more expensive, pound for pound. Worth it!
Advantage: Kerrygold (conclusively!)
Kirkland Signature Green Tea Matcha Blend, $12.89 for 100 tea bags, vs. Tazo Organic Green Tea, $4.29 for 20 tea bags
Kirkland's green tea is beloved by Chowhounds, and produced not-so-privately by well-regarded Japanese tea maker ITO EN (it says it right on the box!). The tea has a beautiful grassy green color, and a taste that's lighter and more floral than other green teas. It also has a bit of a pleasant fishy/seaweed taste and aroma, and a roasted aftertaste that's reminiscent of barley. The Tazo, on the other hand, was described by one member of the tasting panel as "Chinese restaurant green tea." It was darker brown in color, smokier, more roasted, and a bit more bitter. Not a bad tea at all, but the panel preferred the Kirkland.
Advantage: Kirkland
Kirkland Signature Cheese Pizza, $9.99 for four 16.95-ounce pizzas, vs. Red Fork Thin and Crispy Margherita Pizza, $6.99 for one 13-ounce pizza
One thing's for sure: Kirkland has the more honest photo of its product on the package. When baked, the Kirkland pie looked exactly like the rather undistinguished version on its box, while the Red Fork pizza didn't look a durned thing like its package. The tomatoes and herbs were brown rather than bright red and green, and the mozzarella was dolloped over it unevenly. Looks aside, the pizzas each had virtues: Kirkland's had a vastly superior crust, crunchy and pebbly on the bottom and tender within, while Red Fork's crust was dry and crackery. Red Fork's toppings, however, were of much better quality, with tastier tomatoes, richer cheese (though less of it than Kirkland's pie), and sauce with some zing. We'd buy Kirkland's for a big party, Red Fork for our own dinner.
Advantage: Red Fork
Kirkland Signature Solid White Albacore in Water, $11.99 for eight 7-ounce cans, vs. American Tuna, $4.99 for 6 ounces
When opened, the can of Kirkland tuna looked like regular, cat-foodish grocery tuna, all a sort of beige-y pinkish-brown, while the American Tuna looked like, well, a fillet of tuna, brown and gold outside, pink inside. The differences didn't stop there. Kirkland, again, tasted like regular old bland tuna that wanted some oil or mayonnaise to jazz it up. American had a velvety, sexy mouthfeel. It practically melted on your tongue and begged you to take another bite. No contest.
Advantage: American (by a mile)
Kirkland Signature Organic Chicken Stock, $6.99 for six 32-ounce cartons, vs. Imagine Organic Chicken Cooking Stock, $3.69 for one 32-ounce carton
The Kirkland stock poured up golden and viscous, the Imagine light yellow and thin, so I was sure Kirkland's would be more flavorful. Wrong. The Kirkland broth had a funny, wheaty smell and a flavor reminiscent of bad wonton soup. Imagine tasted more like chicken. Not like chicken, exactly, but like chicken bouillon. This reminded me why I make my own chicken stock.
Advantage: Imagine (but both were pretty awful)
I almost forgot about the Kirkland Extra Lean Ham. I'd consider ham to be a salty product and it is but compare the salt on this to regular packaged lunch meat at the grocery store and I've found it does not really have more salt, in general and less that other ham. The cost comparison to the grocery store on items that I buy at Costco has Costco winning in quantity, price, and quality...+READ
I almost forgot about the Kirkland Extra Lean Ham. I'd consider ham to be a salty product and it is but compare the salt on this to regular packaged lunch meat at the grocery store and I've found it does not really have more salt, in general and less that other ham. The cost comparison to the grocery store on items that I buy at Costco has Costco winning in quantity, price, and quality comparison. I basically grocery shop for everything that I can at Costco which includes mostly Kirkland Signature.-COLLAPSE
I buy Kirkland Signature Products all of the time. They rock! They are likely made by a brandname type successful manufacturer of the item and then relabeled as Kirkland Signature. I noticed that Jelly Belly still has their name on the beans but it is a Kirkland Signature item. The price of the Jelly Belly container is better per pound than even at the factory in Fairfield, CA. The Kirkland Vodka...+READ
I buy Kirkland Signature Products all of the time. They rock! They are likely made by a brandname type successful manufacturer of the item and then relabeled as Kirkland Signature. I noticed that Jelly Belly still has their name on the beans but it is a Kirkland Signature item. The price of the Jelly Belly container is better per pound than even at the factory in Fairfield, CA. The Kirkland Vodka is likely Grey Goose as rumored on the internet but at almost two-thirds the price. It is worth it. I haven't tried the wine because there are better deals for awesome wines are the Costco's in Northern California. I'm not sure that I am ready to give a gift of wine to someone with the Kirkland Signature Label on it when I can buy a known label for the same or less. The Kirkland baby wipes are the best I've ever, ever used or found. Other awesome Kirkland Signature items that I buy and am extremely happy with are the Organic Salsa, Balsamic Vinegar, Olive Oil, and the 4 pack of frozen pizzas.-COLLAPSE
This is a great piece! I love it! Kirkland foods are never mentioned in reviews so it's hard to know which items are worth trying (although eGulleters turned me onto the Toscano a few years back). And the items are so large that I hate to risk it if it's terrible, even though Costco has a generous return policy (although, just like Trader Joe's, a sadly wasteful one where they must toss the food...+READ
This is a great piece! I love it! Kirkland foods are never mentioned in reviews so it's hard to know which items are worth trying (although eGulleters turned me onto the Toscano a few years back). And the items are so large that I hate to risk it if it's terrible, even though Costco has a generous return policy (although, just like Trader Joe's, a sadly wasteful one where they must toss the food item you deemed offensive enough to return).-COLLAPSE
Ppl: $50 for a free amex card is worth the price of admission. that is, if you ever order anything online.
dtremit,
costco's icecream is haagendasz whole. check the calories.
Brooke,
Which Pittsburgh costco? Do you mean the Kosher one?
The Costco in Pittsburgh, PA seems to care about quality. ie: I can get organic veggies there that are fresh the day that i buy them..Also, i like that I can get gas there. It's usually a few cents cheaper at Costco then at BP or Citgi, etc.....
Brooke from the Folgers K Cups website
Please check out Whole Foods, i drive almost 2 hours to shop there always fresh produce, meats love shopping there, must take 3 large food containers to keep fresh,
I love the choices of Organic foods and vegitables we found in Connecticut. Visiting my sister we only shop Coscos for their Organic Vegitables and meats.
I live near lake City Florida, looking for Orgaqnic Vegitables, only choice Publix, I really don't trust the so called over priced organic Produce, lettuce from Mexaco, very dirty, yes dirt in the bag, brown bottoms not fresh.
Yes please do...+READ
I love the choices of Organic foods and vegitables we found in Connecticut. Visiting my sister we only shop Coscos for their Organic Vegitables and meats.
I live near lake City Florida, looking for Orgaqnic Vegitables, only choice Publix, I really don't trust the so called over priced organic Produce, lettuce from Mexaco, very dirty, yes dirt in the bag, brown bottoms not fresh.
Yes please do an articl on this market.
The North has a better choice and less expensive-COLLAPSE
The nice thing about buying from Costco is you can get the Kerrygold butter in bulk, for about 2/3 the price of what it costs from the grocery chains.
Nothing really compares to Kerrygold butter anyway...
I have not bought tuna in about a year but the Kirkland I had would lift out with a fork in a large fillet chunk. I also used to demo the items at costco and think their lasagne tastes more like home made than any I have tasted. I would trust most of their items as a first taste. The Irish butter is like heaven and showing me the economics of it lets me take advantage of that piece of heaven.
Just two comments. First, the Costco tuna, while still better than the other mass-market brands (Bumblebee, etc.), is not what it used to be. It used to be much more like you described the American tuna (which I've never had), but has been dumbed down over the past few years.
Second, the butter comparison is a little unfair. No U.S. butter will show well next to an Irish butter.
We are two people and usually buy at Publix but also have a Costco card. We usually buy the same few items. We probably don't get our membership fee back in savings, but I don't care. The things we buy there I would not buy anywhere else. I love their packaged sliced ham. The Kirkland brand mayonnaise, which they didn't have for a while recently, is just the best I've ever tasted. It tastes...+READ
We are two people and usually buy at Publix but also have a Costco card. We usually buy the same few items. We probably don't get our membership fee back in savings, but I don't care. The things we buy there I would not buy anywhere else. I love their packaged sliced ham. The Kirkland brand mayonnaise, which they didn't have for a while recently, is just the best I've ever tasted. It tastes home-made. I have never been unhappy with their Kirkland products. Anything with the Kirkland brand is probably going to exceed a national product. Now they even have the Splenda-like sweetener, and it is waaaaay cheaper than Splenda. Their 4 cheese ravioli in a bag is to die for. The only trouble is sometimes we don't buy things cause they're too big and it would spoil before we get to finish it. Not everything freezes well!!!-COLLAPSE
I'll have to keep an eye out for American Tuna, which I've never seen. We thought Kirkland tuna was a huge improvement over the regular grocery store offerings, so if American is that much better than Kirkland it will be worth the money.
Cat story alert: Our cat Molly never begged for Starkist or Chicken of the Sea (which is a good thing, since canned tuna isn't good for cats except as a very...+READ
I'll have to keep an eye out for American Tuna, which I've never seen. We thought Kirkland tuna was a huge improvement over the regular grocery store offerings, so if American is that much better than Kirkland it will be worth the money.
Cat story alert: Our cat Molly never begged for Starkist or Chicken of the Sea (which is a good thing, since canned tuna isn't good for cats except as a very rare treat.) The first time I opened a can of Kirkland, she practically climbed up my leg wanting a taste and then gobbled down her two tablespoons in one gulp. So there you have it, straight from the cat's mouth.-COLLAPSE
I liked this article -- if only for the evidence that Kirkland produces good store label products. Dear Hubby and I are avid Costco fans. And in the last several years being apartment dwellers we've reevaluated our membership several times and it has always proven useful. Yes, we have to drive there. No we don't have a mini-van or suburban, but the deals we've snagged on our huge plasma, infant...+READ
I liked this article -- if only for the evidence that Kirkland produces good store label products. Dear Hubby and I are avid Costco fans. And in the last several years being apartment dwellers we've reevaluated our membership several times and it has always proven useful. Yes, we have to drive there. No we don't have a mini-van or suburban, but the deals we've snagged on our huge plasma, infant car seat (over 50% off retail!!), excellent milk/ produce/ meat and cheese prices, ability to buy a huge bag of organic carrots for soup or baby food is much better than anything I can get at Lucky/Safeway/TJ's and while I'd prefer to frequent Whole Foods more often, fact is I'd spend more money paying toll/gas to get to the local branch. Also, gas alone at Costco is very appealing - especially if you use their AmEx / or Executive card. We get our rebates which offsets the membership prices. We only have to buy toilet paper 1-2x a year and that alone reduces our carbon footprint by not having to run out once a month (or more) for emergency restocking or spend time comparing supermarket prices.
As for the people who spend too much money buying huge quantities of things they didn't intend to – I have a sneaky suspicion that this echoes into the rest of their lives as well, but it is most evident at Costco since the purchase usually come directly out of a debit account. We don't use credit cards and never overspend unless we are going to pay with cash. So while we may drool over the garden shed for our new house, do we have the cash? No? Okay, move on.
Both my mom and sister work at Costco and they do treat their employees very amicably. Kudos to Costco. And thank you for attempting to broach the subject of Kirkland products.-COLLAPSE
For olive oil, why compare a product from Tuscany to one from California? That's not an apt comparison at all. Compare the Kirkland Tuscan olive oil to some other Tuscan (or at the very least, Italian) olive oil. They're different products.
San Francisco Costco, along with similar products at a Bay Area gourmet grocery - why are you comparing them to products carried in a gourmet store instead of a regular grocery store. Kirkland products are not the best but in my opinion they are better then many store brands
An informative, if imperfect, article. I agree that Bumblebee or StarKist would have been a better comparison for the Kirkland tuna. Ditto with Challenge or Land o' Lakes for the butter.
As to including club fees in the costs, it simply isn't possible to do so accurately. First, the fee has to be spread across a year's purchases, and each person's total annual buying is different. Second, an...+READ
An informative, if imperfect, article. I agree that Bumblebee or StarKist would have been a better comparison for the Kirkland tuna. Ditto with Challenge or Land o' Lakes for the butter.
As to including club fees in the costs, it simply isn't possible to do so accurately. First, the fee has to be spread across a year's purchases, and each person's total annual buying is different. Second, an Executive membership pays a 2% cash rebate, which offsets the fees that are charged. If a year goes by and all you've bought from Costco is a tube of toothpaste, then your membership fee makes that some really expensive toothpaste. But if you buy most of your groceries, liquor, electronics, and office supplies there, and happen to need a set of tires to boot, that membership fee becomes much more reasonable.
Sourcing is another issue entirely. Most Costco product have at least some sourcing information available. No, you're not going to learn the name of the chicken you're eating or have an opportunity to visit the farm where it was raised, but how is that different than any other grocery store? For that matter, how is it different than most specialty shops?
Finally, while there are legitimate criticisms that can be and have been leveled at this article, the fact that most people have to drive to Costco is not one of them. Most Americans can't walk to a corner store that sells gourmet ice cream, extra-virgin olive oil, and organic peanut butter. The notion that the article is flawed because it fails to take into account one commentator's individual circumstances is just stupid.-COLLAPSE
the supermarket brands that were used for comparison purposes were not well-selected, imho.
for instance, for the peanut butter selection, given the panel's preference for a darker roast, the proper comparison brand should have been SANTA CRUZ ORGANIC peanut butter DARK ROASTED variety.
for the buttter, if you are going to use the Kirkland ORGANIC butter, then you should at least have selected...+READ
the supermarket brands that were used for comparison purposes were not well-selected, imho.
for instance, for the peanut butter selection, given the panel's preference for a darker roast, the proper comparison brand should have been SANTA CRUZ ORGANIC peanut butter DARK ROASTED variety.
for the buttter, if you are going to use the Kirkland ORGANIC butter, then you should at least have selected an ORGANIC butter for comparison (such as Whole Foods 365 brand organic butter).
many of the brands that were selected to be used for the comparison i've never seen nor heard of, so practically the whole article is worthless to me.-COLLAPSE
We love Kirkland's Four Cheese Ravioli.
It's odd---to say the very least---to compare prices without mentioning annual club fees. Or the cost difference in basically having to use a car to shop at Costco versus walking to the corner store. And, really, no discussion of ingredients or sourcing on a "foodie" site?
This article would be super-useful if I owned an SUV, didn't care where my food came from or what it contained, and...+READ
It's odd---to say the very least---to compare prices without mentioning annual club fees. Or the cost difference in basically having to use a car to shop at Costco versus walking to the corner store. And, really, no discussion of ingredients or sourcing on a "foodie" site?
This article would be super-useful if I owned an SUV, didn't care where my food came from or what it contained, and someone else offered to pay for my Costco club membership. Thanks.-COLLAPSE
The one thing I've found with Kirkland brands is that they are tooth-achingly sweet. The other problelm is that the store will have some products for only a very limited time. I found some smoked bacon once, that was fantastic. Next trip to the store, it was gone (and hasn't been back in two years). So I tried a Kirkland 'natural, apple-smoked' bacon. It was as if it was encased in a sugar shell....+READ
The one thing I've found with Kirkland brands is that they are tooth-achingly sweet. The other problelm is that the store will have some products for only a very limited time. I found some smoked bacon once, that was fantastic. Next trip to the store, it was gone (and hasn't been back in two years). So I tried a Kirkland 'natural, apple-smoked' bacon. It was as if it was encased in a sugar shell. Even after washing the strips, it was still nasty-sweet. I tried Kirkland yogurt - same uber-sweetness. So far they don't seem to have added sugar to the canned tuna, so I still buy that. It's fine for tuna salad. And the unsalted butter is a good price, but it's not premium quality 83%-COLLAPSE
Why did you compare Kirkland's Matcha to Tazo's Green (which is basically Jasmine) tea? Why not Matcha to Matcha?
Agreed. Wouldn't it be of more value to compare different store brands to each OTHER? Target to Walmart to Costco etc. It would be a more useful comparison to know which storebrand tuna is the least like catfood than to compare one to something that costs ten times as much.
@midlife - I was thinking the same thing as you. This article is more about comparing apples to oranges, or rather china to a paper plate. there is a time and place for fine china but I'm not going to use it everyday when I have 4 kids under the age of 8 sitting at the table. This article could have been more helpful had it compared kirkland brands to other store brands, not to the BEST of each...+READ
@midlife - I was thinking the same thing as you. This article is more about comparing apples to oranges, or rather china to a paper plate. there is a time and place for fine china but I'm not going to use it everyday when I have 4 kids under the age of 8 sitting at the table. This article could have been more helpful had it compared kirkland brands to other store brands, not to the BEST of each category.-COLLAPSE
I agree completely with dtremit. Haagen Dazs' vanilla is 1st choice of the widely available supermarket brands. By a mile.
I'd like to see some comparisons of Wegmans brands vs. their competition.
Um-m-m-m-m ..............."Kirkland Signature Solid White Albacore in Water, $11.99 for eight 7-ounce cans, vs. American Tuna, $4.99 for 6 ounces"????????????
That's 83 cents an ounce vs. 21.4 cents an ounce !!! FOUR times the price. An S500 Mercedes is probably a lot better than my Prius but the Prius is just fine with me. Kirkland tuna is as good or better than any SIMILAR brand of tuna and...+READ
Um-m-m-m-m ..............."Kirkland Signature Solid White Albacore in Water, $11.99 for eight 7-ounce cans, vs. American Tuna, $4.99 for 6 ounces"????????????
That's 83 cents an ounce vs. 21.4 cents an ounce !!! FOUR times the price. An S500 Mercedes is probably a lot better than my Prius but the Prius is just fine with me. Kirkland tuna is as good or better than any SIMILAR brand of tuna and is a really good value. I'd rather eat a steak at Ruth's Chris too, but my local steak house is just fine for everyday beef. Give me a break!!!!!-COLLAPSE
I hate to jump on the "it's not comparable" bandwagon, but Five is Haagen-Dazs' "light" ice cream. They're trying pretty hard to hide that fact, so the mistake is understandable -- but tasting against regular Haagen-Dazs would be a better test.
Kerrygold Irish butter has a superior taste to most store brands. I say most because I found that Henry's Sun Harvest brand was equal if not better in flavor, yet cost half as much. Henry's is definitely worth checking out.
In reality, grocery chains do not manufacture anything on their own but gets established manufacturers to produce their products. For example, the Kirkland Red Brand Expresso Roast is produced by Starbucks (says so right on the label). Whole Foods Organic Peanut Butter is produced by Adams. Sometimes it is on the label, sometimes you have to look for clues and do a bit sleuthing. If you like...+READ
In reality, grocery chains do not manufacture anything on their own but gets established manufacturers to produce their products. For example, the Kirkland Red Brand Expresso Roast is produced by Starbucks (says so right on the label). Whole Foods Organic Peanut Butter is produced by Adams. Sometimes it is on the label, sometimes you have to look for clues and do a bit sleuthing. If you like products of the actual manufacturer, you are getting a good deal.-COLLAPSE
My Costco has the Kerrygold Irish butter, so win-win there. I get my canned tuna from Costco, too, but the Cento brand.
Costco meat beats out the quality and price of anything available at my local supermarkets by a landslide. And littlenecks for $2.99/lb for a 5 lb. bag (~50 clams) when they have the Seafood Roadshow is a tasty treat. Just wish they carried Sierra Nevada seasonal beers.
Talk about the tip of the iceberg! You've touched only lightly upon the wealth of merchandise goods that Kirkland sells. for instance, 4 pounds of unsalted butter (not organic) for $9.00 compared to $4.59 a pound here in New York is a steal and there is no difference in flavor as far as this butter connoisseur can discern. If you want to spend real money on the "real deal" butter then buy French...+READ
Talk about the tip of the iceberg! You've touched only lightly upon the wealth of merchandise goods that Kirkland sells. for instance, 4 pounds of unsalted butter (not organic) for $9.00 compared to $4.59 a pound here in New York is a steal and there is no difference in flavor as far as this butter connoisseur can discern. If you want to spend real money on the "real deal" butter then buy French or Italian unsalted butter and call it a day. Salted butter is not something the discerning palette or a seriously good home cook would ever use (for anything); besides, most recipes call for "unsalted" butter. All Kirkland products are said to come from some of the top brand names. The toothpaste, for instance, is terrific. And by the way, Fairway brand EVOO is the same price as COSTCOs and for $3.00 more I can get EVOO from Sicily. It comes down to knowing the products intimately and knowing where to shop and for what and how much one is willing to pay. One could argue endlessly about the advantages of Trader Joe's over Fairway or Costco and there would always be a pro and a con for each vendor. Freedom of choice is great!-COLLAPSE
Rather than having a debate in the comment thread, I'd recommend checking out www.foodia.com. It's a sort of Yelp for food products, where people can rate and review individual items. could be a way to organize these comments and democratize this article! Here's the american tuna, for example: http://www.foodia.com/product/17558-pole-caught-albacore-tuna-with-sea-salt/
I guess if you have endless amounts of money to spend on olive oil, tuna fish and butter, the other brands are better than Costco's. For those of us who do not, I'll take Costco's.
You might want to try the WinCo stores which are located west of the Mississippi. They have both store brand items + many items in bulk with is more in line with economical shopping.
Have you thought of Henry's located in San Diego county and perhaps other areas of southern Calif.
Recently my partner and I discovered that some of the fresh and pre packaged products sell are weight accurate we purchased some of the Organic chicken and once we brought it home and portioned it out to freeze there was 33% less than what we paid for. The same was also true for bulk pasta we purchased. I am unsure if this was just a fluke with two products we purchased or if Costco is marking up...+READ
Recently my partner and I discovered that some of the fresh and pre packaged products sell are weight accurate we purchased some of the Organic chicken and once we brought it home and portioned it out to freeze there was 33% less than what we paid for. The same was also true for bulk pasta we purchased. I am unsure if this was just a fluke with two products we purchased or if Costco is marking up the weight from items.-COLLAPSE
Thanks for the review. Nice to know the Kirkland stuff is better than brand name in some cases. However, some of the best deals at Costco are on the actual brand name items. They sell the Kerry Gold butter you mentioned at my local Costco. And for those who do like cheese, the Papillion Roquefort is cheaper than I used to buy it in Lyon (and much preferred to Society, the brand usually available...+READ
Thanks for the review. Nice to know the Kirkland stuff is better than brand name in some cases. However, some of the best deals at Costco are on the actual brand name items. They sell the Kerry Gold butter you mentioned at my local Costco. And for those who do like cheese, the Papillion Roquefort is cheaper than I used to buy it in Lyon (and much preferred to Society, the brand usually available at even specialty retailers).-COLLAPSE
Kirkland and Imagine Broths are made by the same company....with almost exaclty the same recipe (minor water and sodium differences). the taste difference you see sense if from:
1. age of the product
2. cooking time for the particular batch
"Any particularly things you like or don't like at the stores?"
At Aldi, for $4.99 I really like the Vina Decana Crianza. It's a very nice Spanish red for the price. I am also fond of their skinless boneless chicken breasts, the Cornish hens, and definitely the boneless country style pork ribs. We also buy the sea salt & pepper in olive oil potato chips when they have them and my wife loves...+READ
"Any particularly things you like or don't like at the stores?"
At Aldi, for $4.99 I really like the Vina Decana Crianza. It's a very nice Spanish red for the price. I am also fond of their skinless boneless chicken breasts, the Cornish hens, and definitely the boneless country style pork ribs. We also buy the sea salt & pepper in olive oil potato chips when they have them and my wife loves the frozen Chicago style pizza.
The stores are fairly new here and I am a cautious shopper but the couple of things I was not impressed with (and won't buy again) so far were the Quick Brown Rice, the "Fit & Active" Fig Bars.-COLLAPSE
Of course they are! Costco has great foods, a lot of the time, and wonderful deals. Any smart CHer would check them out at least occasionally!
I'd like to put in my two cents. It seems as though people these days reduce buying food to two variables, price and taste, as if that's all that was to it. When buying food you need to consider many more variables.
How healthy is your food? How many minerals, and vitamins does it contain? Have they been artificially added, or do they appear naturally in the product? How denatured are the...+READ
I'd like to put in my two cents. It seems as though people these days reduce buying food to two variables, price and taste, as if that's all that was to it. When buying food you need to consider many more variables.
How healthy is your food? How many minerals, and vitamins does it contain? Have they been artificially added, or do they appear naturally in the product? How denatured are the ingredients in the product? How old is it? From where does it come? Is it genetically engineered? In what political state is the country, and should you be supporting this company? Is the food traded fairly? Are the workers being paid properly? Is it organic, or partly so? Is it seasonal? Is it ethical? Is it local? How many artificial or potentially dangerous chemicals does it contain? How far has it travelled to get to your supermarket?
These are just a few of the questions you have to answer for yourself before you can consider yourself a thoughtful shopper. Any comparison of brands that's simply reduced to a question of price and taste is an overly-simplified one, and I think lacking in the moral character shopping considerations these days are in dire need of. I understand that perhaps this kind of comparison is beyond the scope of what you intended, but as a website that I think is at the forefront in terms of promoting home cooking you should find a place for promoting ethically, morally, and healthfully more responsible behavior.-COLLAPSE
I would like you to compare Aldi's products w/ national store products.
LiveRock: Oh boy, a chain suggestion! They don't have ALDIs in Northern California (CHOW HQ) but I think we'll be able to figure out a way to do that one by and by. Any particularly things you like or don't like at the stores?
IsaacA: Wow, you really have the lowdown on Costco. I wish I'd taken you shopping with me! Thank you for all the details, I'd heard that Costco's meat is terrific,...+READ
LiveRock: Oh boy, a chain suggestion! They don't have ALDIs in Northern California (CHOW HQ) but I think we'll be able to figure out a way to do that one by and by. Any particularly things you like or don't like at the stores?
IsaacA: Wow, you really have the lowdown on Costco. I wish I'd taken you shopping with me! Thank you for all the details, I'd heard that Costco's meat is terrific, that's another thing that varies according to location so I didn't want to cover for this article. But it's always good to know of a good source for party meat.-COLLAPSE
Wall of Text incoming: They're hit or miss, although mostly hit. I think Kirkland puts a lot more work into making a decent store brand than your average grocery store that simply rebrands the cheapest junk they can find. They often rebrand "good" brands and leave the other's label on as well. They're the best place for meat for the price, for instance. Their trash bags are excellent compared to...+READ
Wall of Text incoming: They're hit or miss, although mostly hit. I think Kirkland puts a lot more work into making a decent store brand than your average grocery store that simply rebrands the cheapest junk they can find. They often rebrand "good" brands and leave the other's label on as well. They're the best place for meat for the price, for instance. Their trash bags are excellent compared to most (although my father says the plastic tie-strips rip on him all the time, I've never had any issue with them, go figure). They have this Mexican shredded cheese that's great on all kinds of things. Their muffins are fantastic, their fish is really good, their pre-made meals (like the salads and take-and-bake stuffed salmon and flank steak) are top notch. And the pizza from their food court is one of the best around and a great deal at $2 for a good sized 1/6th-of-large slice. I know, I gush, but I've been going there for many years and would say I'm a fan. They treat their employees well too. I noticed a lot of the employees have been there as long as I've been going (which is unusual for a retail environment) so I asked one how it was and he seemed quite honestly happy with the job, good pay and benefits. I appreciate any store that can maintain good prices and still treat their employees well.
Oh and yes, they have great prices on some interesting cheeses, I'm with you Bob, I'd load up my cart if I could afford it!-COLLAPSE
No gave up the Costco card almost 2 years ago. Over spending shopping club. I buy all concentrated cleaning products,bath,beauty over 350 plus products online and get them to our door, less impulse buying and not spending hours in Costco. We have better things to do! Only buy food for consumption from Winco!
Thank you for a good and informative article; overall I was a little surprised and pleased with how well the Kirkland goods measured up. It's nice to know I haven't wasted the cost of my Costco membership for second rate store brands.
By the way, speaking of what to do with tuna. I buy the Seeds Of Change Quinoa & Whole Grain Brown Rice at Costco nearly every time I go. Tossed with a can of...+READ
Thank you for a good and informative article; overall I was a little surprised and pleased with how well the Kirkland goods measured up. It's nice to know I haven't wasted the cost of my Costco membership for second rate store brands.
By the way, speaking of what to do with tuna. I buy the Seeds Of Change Quinoa & Whole Grain Brown Rice at Costco nearly every time I go. Tossed with a can of tuna with a good shot of (Kirkland) olive oil, some fresh pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice it's awesome! Even with Kirkland tuna.
If they have Aldi stores where you are I would enjoy reading how they rate although I fear they would not fare as well as Kirkland.-COLLAPSE
OK don't yell at me but -- I don't like cheese! I know. I'm the only one on earth. There is one lady I know who doesn't like chocolate and I love her because she's the only one I know weirder than me. So no. I didn't check the cheese. Also, that can be a really local thing, cheese and dairy, and I'm hoping to pick things people can find nationwide.
LOL thanks. Gestalt = the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. German has some great words!
Did you check out the cheese aisle? Some great finds there. Petit Basque at half the usual price, for example. Big tubs of marinated mozz balls. If it weren't for my cholesterol, I'd fill my cart with cheese every week!
I am extremely impressed by your big words! I am not even sure what gestalt means. I do know that I went to Costco solely for the purposes of this article, and I ended up buying $57 of extra merchandise, including the laser cat toy, but NOT the $300 Vitamix that I am now hinting around to my husband that I want for a 10th anniversary gift.
Well, there's probably no single item at Costco that's worth buying a membership over -- it's a gestalt kind of thing. Plus there's the serendipity factor -- it's almost impossible to leave without buying something that wasn't on your shopping list. Now, give me some props for using such awesome words!
Thank you, Bob W, I'll try to do better on my next set. I appreciate the feedback, ideally I'd like to write something that's actually useful for you guys!
Oh, and did think the Kirkland tuna was acceptable, but I thought it tasted very much like other supermarket brands of white tuna, at far cheaper prices to be true! Is it worth buying a membership over? Not sure about that one, depends on how much tuna you eat, I guess.
Agree with Ruth -- you should compare the Kirkland tuna with the Bumblebee that's right next to it on the shelf. Same for the other items -- if there's a name brand version on the shelf, that's what you compare the Kirkland version to. Apples to apples!
greygarious, I was holding Kirkland to a pretty high standard, I admit. If I'm going to buy a membership and buy in such huge quantities, I want the products to be really worth it. The next grocery store chain I am working on is cut-rate, so I tested those products against more downmarket brands. There is a method to my madness and I should have explained it more thoroughly, thanks for your...+READ
greygarious, I was holding Kirkland to a pretty high standard, I admit. If I'm going to buy a membership and buy in such huge quantities, I want the products to be really worth it. The next grocery store chain I am working on is cut-rate, so I tested those products against more downmarket brands. There is a method to my madness and I should have explained it more thoroughly, thanks for your feedback, it will really help me improve my next go-round.-COLLAPSE
+1 to Ruth Lafler- I was surprised to see comparisons made between really different items.
You should have compared Kirkland Tuna to supermarket tuna, and would have found it far superior for a slightly lower price. It tastes like top supermarket brands did 30 years ago. American's "brown and gold on the outside, pink on the inside", at $5 per 6oz can, is clearly not the same style of tuna.
I couldn't find a Kirkland crunchy organic and I couldn't find a MaraNatha creamy that also had salt! I was trying to control for the factors I thought were important -- you can easily discount the lack of or presence of nut chunks, but the lack of salt is kind of impossible to get around. Point taken on the pizzas, I'll try to be more exact in my pairings on the next round, which I'm writing...+READ
I couldn't find a Kirkland crunchy organic and I couldn't find a MaraNatha creamy that also had salt! I was trying to control for the factors I thought were important -- you can easily discount the lack of or presence of nut chunks, but the lack of salt is kind of impossible to get around. Point taken on the pizzas, I'll try to be more exact in my pairings on the next round, which I'm writing today!-COLLAPSE
I understand that you wanted to compare Kirkland to "good gourmet store" items pointybird, but you compared creamy to chunky, and the two often have different textures. Your tasting concluded the cheese pizza has more cheese than Margherita and Margherita has more tomato than cheese, which is not exactly a revelation.
If you're going to do head-to-head comparisons, then the items should be...+READ
I understand that you wanted to compare Kirkland to "good gourmet store" items pointybird, but you compared creamy to chunky, and the two often have different textures. Your tasting concluded the cheese pizza has more cheese than Margherita and Margherita has more tomato than cheese, which is not exactly a revelation.
If you're going to do head-to-head comparisons, then the items should be comparable. Otherwise, why not just rate the items objectively and then add that you would (or wouldn't) buy them instead of the brands you usually buy?-COLLAPSE
Kirkland prepared foods are gross, but I don't like prepared foods. The olive oil is good.
Ruth, I tried to compare items that were as alike as possible -- on some items, I have a standard "one that I think is good," and I was comparing against that. The peanut butter, for instance. MaraNatha is my standard "good gourmet store" brand. I figured that if the Kirkland was as good as the brand I usually buy and like, then it was pretty darned good. I didn't want to compare the Kirkland...+READ
Ruth, I tried to compare items that were as alike as possible -- on some items, I have a standard "one that I think is good," and I was comparing against that. The peanut butter, for instance. MaraNatha is my standard "good gourmet store" brand. I figured that if the Kirkland was as good as the brand I usually buy and like, then it was pretty darned good. I didn't want to compare the Kirkland food against national brands that I didn't like (say, Peter Pan peanut butter), because it sure wouldn't be hard being better than a cruddy brand. You see what I mean?-COLLAPSE
I don't find it particularly helpful when the items being compared are not comparable.
Why compare creamy peanut butter with crunchy? Wasn't there any high-end creamy peanut butter?
Why compare an American-style organic butter with a European-style non-organic butter, especially if you're going to bring cost into the equation?
Why compare a cheese pizza with a Margherita pizza?
Did...+READ
I don't find it particularly helpful when the items being compared are not comparable.
Why compare creamy peanut butter with crunchy? Wasn't there any high-end creamy peanut butter?
Why compare an American-style organic butter with a European-style non-organic butter, especially if you're going to bring cost into the equation?
Why compare a cheese pizza with a Margherita pizza?
Did you just run into the "gourmet grocery" and grab the first things you saw?-COLLAPSE
It's not food, but their paper towels are the best you can buy.
Aw, man, I sure wish I'd known that about the bread, DiveFan. Maybe we'll get a chance to try it for something else. And what would you use tuna for other than tuna salad? LOTS of stuff! I love tuna empanadas for one thing...givemecarbs, I think that Better Than Bouillon is better than both of these "stocks."
Thanks for the informative article. Just heading out to buy some chicken stock, maybe I'll point my car towards TJs!
I find that personal preference matters greatly.
Last time I checked, Kirkland Albacore was firm, meaty (not gushy so called 'chunk'), pink, clean tasting and just fine. Combine with mayo, capers and herbs for a great tuna salad sandwich. What else would Ms. Slaton use it for?
BTW Kirkland MultiGrain Wheat Bread is the greatest non-artisinal wheat bread in North America! Very good effort,...+READ
I find that personal preference matters greatly.
Last time I checked, Kirkland Albacore was firm, meaty (not gushy so called 'chunk'), pink, clean tasting and just fine. Combine with mayo, capers and herbs for a great tuna salad sandwich. What else would Ms. Slaton use it for?
BTW Kirkland MultiGrain Wheat Bread is the greatest non-artisinal wheat bread in North America! Very good effort, compounded by the dumbing down of national brands (can you hear me Oroweat/Bimbo).-COLLAPSE