The Popular Brand Behind Costco's Coffee

Devoted patrons of Costco are well aware that various prominent companies supply its Kirkland Signature-imprinted products. From dog food provided by Diamond Pet Foods to batteries produced by Duracell, plenty of big-name brands are hiding in plain sight under the Kirkland label. Although it typically takes some clever internet sleuthing to discover the company responsible for Costco's in-house vodka and other more secretive commodities, sometimes scratching beneath the surface isn't necessary. 

When it comes to your morning cup of joe, Starbucks was, until fairly recently, the company behind some of Kirkland's coffee products, namely the whole roasted beans. Kirkland Signature House-blend coffee, as well as whole bean Decaf and Espresso, were emblazoned with a "Custom roasted by Starbucks" impression on the package. It may not have been the exact same coffee Starbucks uses in its stores, but it was at least provided by the fellow mega corporation. 

Having the distributor's name on the label was unusual as the bulk retailer is notoriously tight-lipped about the suppliers of Kirkland Signature merchandise. However, the Starbucks name no longer graces the packaging of Costco's internal brand, leading many to wonder if the Green Siren (sorry, she isn't actually a mermaid) is still providing the store's customers with their morning pick-me-up.

While certain varieties of Kirkland Signature coffee bore the Starbucks logo for a time, not all did. This has led to speculation that the partnership between the java giant and the bulk retailer fell through, and competing suppliers may have since stepped in to fill its shoes. With Costco losing money on hot dog sales every year, it might have been forced to find a purveyor that offered it a more lucrative deal on other products, such as coffee.

In 2012, Keurig Green Mountain partnered with Costco to distribute its in-house K-cups. Although Keurig ownership has since changed hands (it is currently Keurig Dr. Pepper), the Keurig logo is still proudly displayed on the discount supermarket's private line of K-cup pods. With the disappearance of the Starbucks stamp of approval from the Kirkland Signature packaging, it may be the case that Keurig has expanded its production of Costco's coffee, though that's currently unconfirmed.