Who Really Owns Costco’s Dog Food Brand?
According to Yahoo.com, the truth about who makes Costco Kirkland brand dog food and the owners behind the name is not information that is easy to find.
Behind the Kirkland label lies the Diamond Pet Foods company. Costco obtains this brand through a partnership with Diamond Pet Foods. Diamond Pet Foods, in turn, is owned by Schell ; Kampeter, Inc. It’s a family-owned and privately operated company since Brothers-in-law Gary Schell and Richard Kampter started the private label brand in 1970.
Schell and Kampeter believed that they could produce premium pet food at an affordable price. They also believed that every pet deserved the best food. After buying an old milling company, their animal food manufacturing dream was born.
Kirkland’s dog food by Diamond Pet Foods creates recipes from the latest animal nutritional information to give pets the complete nutrients that their bodies need. Depending on the type of kibble, the company makes tasty dog chow from key ingredients like lamb, pasture-raised beef, fish, and turkey. There are also grain-inclusive options that contain wheat, corn, rice, chia seeds, or quinoa.
According to Statista, Diamond Pet Foods hit the fifth-highest global revenue among animal chow producers with $1.5 billion in sales per year in 2018. Several years ago, Diamond Pet Foods and the Kirkland brand came under fire over misrepresentation and mislabeling of grain-free products that investigators found contained grain. The company settled an $8 million class-action lawsuit in 2021.
Despite the lawsuit, the Diamond Pet Foods brand that sells at Costco under the Kirkland Signature label remains a popular choice for high-quality dog food at an affordable price.
Kirkland Dog Food at A Glance
Kirkland dog food is a premium canine food formulated with quality ingredients such as fresh meats, healthy fats, whole grain carbohydrates, vegetables, and fresh fruit.
Many dogs enjoy the different flavors of the diets while staying healthy, fit, and happy.
Kirkland dog food comes in two types – Kirkland Signature and Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain.
The former includes different types of seeds and whole grains while the latter is free from grains.
The Kirkland Signature is specifically made for adult dogs, puppies, mature pups, and dogs that need to lose some weight.
Both types have dry and canned varieties.
Dog owners love Kirkland dog food because it is good quality and affordable.
Most store pet brands are always believed to be of low quality. But Kirkland is one exception that gets you a good product for less money.
It also uses no colors and flavors in its recipes as well as things like corn, wheat, soy, and by-products.
Where Does Kirkland Get Its Ingredients From?
Most of the ingredients used to make the Kirkland dog food come from the United States.
Local farmers provide the fresh meats, fruits, vegetables, and grains used to make the recipes.
Nonetheless, Diamond Pet Foods also sources some of the ingredients in other countries beyond the US.
These are the ingredients that cannot be found locally at the super-high standards the company strives to achieve.
They include potato protein and chicory root both of which are gotten from Germany and Belgium respectively.
The ingredients are tested prior to receipt in Diamond’s manufacturing facilities.
The tests vary but include toxic screening and nutritional analyses.
The Kirkland recipes are claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profile regulations for all life stages.
What dog food is not made in China?
There is a small difference between the fat content of Taste of the Wild and Kirkland Signature. … In addition, Kirkland Signature wet dog foods also provide more fat than Taste of the Wild wet foods. There is a relatively insignificant difference between the crude fiber content of the two brands.