Who Makes Costco's Kirkland Brand Canned Tuna?

Identifying the big-name suppliers behind Costco's house-branded products is a guessing game that has intrigued and fascinated members for years. Starbucks, for instance, once roasted at least some Kirkland Signature coffee. The Costco house label has, for many, become a byword for quality, with many such products serving as high-end subs for bigger brand names.

If you've tried Costco's Kirkland canned tuna, you know this is one of the pantry essentials that makes your annual membership worthwhile. It's solid white albacore tuna packed in water, and it comes in a box of eight seven-ounce cans so that you have plenty on the shelf when a sandwich hankering hits. Meaty, clean-tasting, and delicious in tuna salad, the Kirkland brand has everything you look for when buying canned tuna. Not surprising when you discover the major player that makes the tuna for Costco: Bumble Bee.

Yup: the same premium canned seafood you see at the grocery store is hiding behind the Costco label. Surprisingly, the Costco tuna may actually be better than even Bumble Bee's standard offerings.

Costco executive vice president Tim Rose told CNN Money that, when seeking a supplier for their house-label canned tuna, they wanted tuna reminiscent of the old days, with thick chunks of substantial product. Bumble Bee was tasked with canning a high-quality product that would give Costco members great value for their money while also tasting great. You may have already learned that you should store canned tuna in the fridge and not in a cabinet for the freshest product, but Kirkland tuna will be there when you need it, as it's gills and fins above its competitors.

However, Costco's Kirkland canned tuna is not the cheapest around and is actually a bit more expensive than regular Bumble Bee tuna. Yet most of us would agree that it's worth paying a few cents more for tuna that can stand up to add-ins and dressing without crumbling into a sad, oily heap. Costco tuna definitely fits the bill.