Costco shoppers rave about store-brand products they say are 'better than name-brand.'
But its latest releases are sparking an even bigger frenzy — with shoppers saying Kirkland rivals high-end brands at a fraction of the price.
Some customers swear they'll never go back to name brands again.
Kirkland Signature Cranberry Juice
Costco's cranberry juice comes highly rated and recommended by customers—many of which are fans of Ocean Spray.
'I have been purchasing this for over eight years. I love that it contains no added sugar and has a good percentage of cranberry juice in it,' a shopper wrote.
'The first sip is a little tart but delightful. Then it's just plain delicious,' a shopper wrote online,' a member claimed.
The cranberry juice is available for delivery at select locations. A two-count of the fan-favorite beverage start at $9.99.
Kirkland Signature Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks
Reddit users praised the chicken breast chunks for its taste and shape
Customers have been raving about these chicken chunks for years and believe they're better than plain bare chicken.
'Perfect amount of breading, meat is moist, tender, perfectly seasoned. The pieces of chicken are also fairly uniform and cube shaped,' a Reddit user wrote.
Others compare it to chicken they'd order at restaurants, including Chick-fil-A.
Prices for the chicken breast chunks vary based on locations, but Reddit users claimed they bought a bag for $13.99.
Kirkland Signature Green Tea
The nearly five-star tea is a blend of Sencha & Matcha that can be served hot and or cold.
Shoppers insisted the caffeinated drink is a great beverage to serve to friends and family, and 'exceeds expectations in price and quality.'
'I've been drinking this tea for a long time now and am so glad that Costco continues to sell them. I have tried many brands and can honestly say these are by far the best - quality, taste and cost!,' a shopper revealed.
The cost of a box of this 100-count green tea bag product typically starts at $13.61.
Kirkland Signature Maple Syrup
A $14.99 bottle of the Kirkland maple syrup is a hot buy for hundreds of Reddit users and Costco members.
The five-star rated product is Kosher and described as 'great tasting maple syrup for a good price.'
'Kirkland's maple syrup is tasty and I rank it with the best,' a Costco member wrote.
'It takes me a while to use a bottle this size, so I pour some in a smaller container for my kitchen fridge and keep the larger bottle in my garage fridge with the probably inaccurate idea that if it isn't opened continually it will stay fresh longer.'
Kirkland Signature Oxi Powder
Not only is there enough powder for 328 loads of laundry, but Reddit users have also believed it to be better than the fan-favorite OxiClean.
'Their version of oxi-clean is what oxi-clean used to be. It is much, much better at removing stains than the current version of oxiclean,' a Reddit user claimed.
'I have purchased the Costco Oxi two times since it has hit the shelves. I can't explain how impressed I am with the overall performance & light fragrance,' a shopper revealed.
Costco members can usually purchase a box online or in stores for only $13.99.
Kirkland Signature Pesto
Costco shoppers believe the Basil Pesto is 'hands down' better than other sauces
Costco's Basil Pesto is a must-have product that typically costs around $11.71 per jar.
Reddit users insisted the product is 'hands down' better than other pesto sauces one finds in grocery stores.
'My family has been using Costco's pesto for 20+ years and it's now the only pesto I truly love,' a Reddit user admitted.
'I'm in love with the pesto, I tell people this all the time and I'm so glad others here like it too!,' another commenter responded, adding the sauce is also delicious when it's frozen.
Kirkland Signature Organic Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
A bottle of this extra-virgin olive oil is one of the most expensive offerings on this list starting at $20.99.
However, the organic product has received thousands of positive reviews—over 1,500 being on the product page.
'I almost exclusively use olive oil for cooking, and I have found this Kirkland brand to be an excellent choice,' a shopper wrote.
'It has a lovely, deep olive flavor and a little burn at the end, just like it's supposed to do.'
Organic Kirkland Brand Peanut Butter
Shoppers praised Costco's signature peanut butter for its taste and ingredients
Costco in the news
Shoppers threatened to boycott Costco earlier this year after the chain swapped Pepsi for Coca-Cola drinks.
Other customers have complained about price hikes at food courts.
Slow-moving shoppers travelling around in groups is another of Costco shoppers' biggest gripes.
Costco shoppers have also been debating new food court items and complaining about limits on gold bars.
Now, a little-known policy is going viral. Costco shoppers have long loved the chain's famous free samples — but few knew the actual rules.
For years, the big‑box giant has lined its warehouses with stations handing out free bites of everything from frozen pizza to imported chocolates. Most members figured the perk came with an unspoken limit — maybe one sample per person.
But it turns out the retail giant — which has standard memberships costing $65 and Executive memberships $130 — has no cap on the number of samples.
Meanwhile, Costco's receipt checkers — often seen as overzealous mall cops — are getting some surprising praise.
Members are sharing viral stories of how these employees have saved them money, sometimes catching mistakes worth more than $40.
Costco's signature creamy peanut butter has been praised for its organic flavor and 'minimal ingredents.'
'I was going to give this a 1 star and return it back to Costco but then realized that this peanut butter needs to be refrigerated,' a Costco member admitted.
'When I did this, it was a better constancy true to peanut butter. Great taste and value with healthy ingredients.'
Shoppers can purchase a two-count of these peanut butter jars right now for $11.69 online and in stores.
Kirkland Signature Unscented Kitchen Trash Bags
The highly-rated trash bags are an affordable product that Costco members claim they 'can't live without.'
'These are very strong and flexible bags and the handles make it easy to carry to outside larger garbage cans. Leakproof,' a fan commented on the product page.
'These do what they're supposed to for me. They hold all my garbage items, seem sturdy, don't break, don't easily get a hole, they tie up tightly. What else can I ask for?,' another person wrote.
The a 200-count box of the fan-favorite trash bags is available to purchase for $20.99.
Kirkland Signature Super Premium Vanilla Ice Cream
Costco's five-star vanilla ice cream has been a popular desert buy for years.
Both Kosher and gluten-free, the dessert has been praised for its ingredients by consumers claiming it's the 'best vanilla ice cream' they've ever had.
'It's so creamy and flavorful. You can enjoy it on its own, or if you're feeling adventurous, top it with some chocolate fudge and nuts. And don't forget the whipped cream - it's the cherry on top!,' a fan wrote.
Prices vary depending on location—but a two-count of the product typically costs $17.01 online and in stores.
Kirkland Signature Extra Crispy French Fries
Costco's beloved extra crispy french fries have been praised by shoppers on Reddit and TikTok—some claiming it's better than the Ore Ida brand.
'We bought some and they're pretty good. They remind me of the Lamb Weston hand cut freezer fries,' a Reddit user revealed.
'They are a pretty decent fry. Thicker cut and potato forward. I love them bought instead of the ore ida and won't be going back as long as they sell them,' a fan commented.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
15 minutes ago
- The Independent
Costco members sound off as Pepsi-to-Coke switch begins nationwide
Costco members are split over the recent move by the wholesaler to transition from selling Pepsi to exclusively Coca-Cola products. The switch, which elicited a mixed response from customers on Reddit, was finalized this week with a complete Coca-Cola takeover appearing in Costco food courts across the country. 'Companies do this all the time, Subway just switched to Pepsi from Coke,' one Reddit user noted earlier this month. 'I know I just noticed this the other day and was very sad I couldn't get my usual Pepsi with the hot dog,' another wrote on social media. The company used to serve Coca-Cola before it made the switch to Pepsi products in 2013 to maintain the price of its signature $1.50 hot dog combo, CNN reported. Elsewhere, consumers have been praising and bemoaning the change, which began being rolled out in early July across several Costcos. 'I went twice and didn't get a hot dog because Coke just isn't it. Nothing beats a Pespi max cherry,' another Reddit user wrote furiously. A frustrated shopper in Glasgow said, 'Same in Glasgow, believe Iron Bru [an iconic Scottish soda ] is also no longer an option, potentially dark days ahead [...]' All of Costco's food courts will be stocked solely with Coca-Cola products by the fall. In January, the wholesaler announced it would ditch Pepsi for the commander-in-chief's favourite soda brand after selling the competition's products for over a decade. When asked by a shareholder at the time about the upcoming changes to the corporation, Costco CEO Ron Vachris said, 'This summer we will be converting our food court fountain business back over to Coca-Cola.' Rumors of the change had been swirling ahead of the announcement at the time. Equally, Costco's CFO reassured customers last year not to worry about inflation compromising the price of the combo, confirming that the $1.50 price was 'safe,' reported CNN. "Coke vs. Pepsi has always been a cultural dividing line, like Yankees vs. Red Sox or Apple vs. PC," Manhattan-based psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert told FOX Business. 'People attach memories, family traditions, and even a sense of who they are to a brand. So when Costco suddenly took sides, it triggered a reaction far bigger than soda itself.'
The Independent
15 minutes ago
- The Independent
Trump demands Lisa Cook, first black woman Fed Reserve member, ‘resign, now!!!' and accuses her of mortgage fraud
President Donald Trump is escalating his crusade against the Federal Reserve's independence by demanding the resignation of Lisa Cook, the first Black woman to serve on the central bank's board of governors, citing unsubstantiated allegations of mortgage fraud. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said Cook, a former Michigan State University professor who has served on the board since 2022, 'must resign, now!!!' and shared a Bloomberg News article about calls for the Department of Justice to investigate Cook's mortgage application history by Bill Pulte, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Administration and of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Pulte, a 37-year-old board whose grandfather founded a large residential home construction form and who gained prominence on social media by giving away free money to people on Twitter, sent a letter last week to Attorney General Pam Bondi and DOJ official Ed Martin alleging that Cook 'falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, potentially committing mortgage fraud under the criminal statute.' He alleges that Cook improperly listed an Ann Arbor, Michigan property as a primary residence before also purchasing another property in Georgia. His letter to Bondi states that Cook 'appears to have acquired mortgages that do not meet certain lending requirements and could have received favorable loan terms under fraudulent circumstances' and suggested that she be investigated for violating four separate criminal statutes. Separately on social media, Pulte said the allegations, which have not resulted in any charges as of yet, give Trump 'cause to fire' the Democratic appointee. Since being sworn into office, Pulte has used his position to dig into mortgage applications from prominent Democrats and has made similar allegations against New York State Attorney General Letitia James and California Senator Adam Schiff. But he denied any improper political motivations during an interview on CNBC and claimed he had 'received a tip' about the matter instead of targeting Cook on his own. 'We refer people every day criminally for mortgage fraud, and no one is above the law. And in this case, it happens to be a fed governor. And I have an obligation to do something about it,' he said. 'You know, the Fed has written all about the economic harm of mortgage fraud, in particular occupancy fraud. And here she is allegedly committing mortgage fraud. So I think it's a big issue. I don't think it's going away. I think she will have to resign or I think she will be fired.' Although he has not publicized any similar allegations against any Republicans, he claimed that his agency would 'look at any allegation of mortgage fraud' and said party affiliation was irrelevant to him. 'We do not care whether you're a Republican or a Democrat. We do not care whether you're wealthy. We don't care whether you're a prosecutor. We don't care whether you're a Fed governor. If you commit mortgage fraud and you present an existential threat to the federal home loan banks ... we are going to prosecute it,' he said. Pulte's move to accuse Cook of mortgage fraud expands his — and the president's — effort to hound members of the Federal Reserve's board in retaliation for not acting to artificially juice the economy by lowering interest rates. Trump has made no secret of his distaste for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, whom he nominated to lead the Federal Reserve in 2017, primarily because of Powell's refusal to lower interest rates, particularly in light of Trump's decision to levy tariffs. Powell has said that the central bank needs time to see what effects tariffs will have on inflation and employment before making a determination on interest rates. This has prompted Trump to call Powell a 'stupid person' and refer to him by the nickname 'Too Late.' The Supreme Court recently signaled that Trump can't fire Fed board members simply because the president disagrees with him on interest rates. But legally he could do so 'for cause,' such as misconduct or dereliction of duty.
Reuters
16 minutes ago
- Reuters
US retailers split on holiday prospects amid consumer caution
Aug 20 (Reuters) - Mixed sales and profit forecasts from major U.S. retailers such as Target (TGT.N), opens new tab and Home Depot (HD.N), opens new tab have prompted investors to question if this year's crucial holiday season will yield the windfall typically associated with a year-end shopping surge. Rising costs driven by U.S. President Donald Trump's import tariffs and subdued consumer spending have given rise to fresh worries about the resilience of the American shopper. "We are planning cautiously for the back half of the year, given continued uncertainty and volatility," Target's Chief Commercial Officer, Rick Gomez, said on Wednesday. Consumer and retail companies have also been among the worst hit by tariffs. The unpredictable nature of Trump's trade policies has contributed to a decline in U.S. consumer sentiment, as shoppers expect tepid economic growth and higher inflation in the coming months. Overall inflation in the United States has been trending higher and economists are concerned that higher prices could be in store for consumers after a recent spike in wholesale-level inflation. Over the past few weeks, Adidas ( opens new tab said it could launch new products at higher prices in the U.S., Levi Strauss (LEVI.N), opens new tab said it would cut back on promotions, while Under Armour (UAA.N), opens new tab is considering bumping up prices for consumers who have the pricing power to tackle tariffs. "We are learning a lot about the health of the consumer. They are still interested in spending, but not splurging. Some of the comments companies gave months ago about not hiking prices due to tariffs... (are) proving to be more lip-service than reality," Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management said. While the broader stock market has performed well in 2025 - the S&P 500 is up more than 8% - consumer discretionary stocks have lagged, gaining only about 1%. On the other hand, TJX, parent of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, touted a "strong start" to the second half of the year. Home Depot (HD.N), opens new tab posted disappointing quarterly results, citing consumer hesitation on big-ticket purchases, but maintained its forecasts. "Value is very top of mind for consumers right now. They're looking to stretch their budget; they're looking to navigate inflation and uncertainty around tariffs," Target's incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke said. Target reiterated that it would hike prices as a "last resort," while Lowe's said it would remain "price competitive". Target shares slumped nearly 8% on Wednesday after the company named Fiddelke as its new CEO and kept its forecasts intact. Lowe's (LOW.N), opens new tab managed to beat earnings estimates but acknowledged that home improvement demand remains soft due to high borrowing costs. The company will continue to face challenges in the back half of the year due to high mortgage rates and cautious consumers, executives said in a post-earnings call. The Reuters global tariff tracker shows that of the more than 300 companies that have reacted to the tariffs in some manner since February 1, about 38 consumer companies have withdrawn or cut their forecasts, while about 42 have mentioned price hikes.
