Nuts
for Kirkland
Sıgnature
Kirkland Signature nuts are a best sheller
BuyingSmart
Consumer reporter
Pat Volchok gives a
behind-the-scenes look
at Costco products and
services. Send your
questions about this
article to:
buyingsmart@
costco.com.
IRIDIO PHOTOGRAPHY
THE QUES TION POSED by a friend seemed
simple enough: “How many di;erent nuts
does Costco package under the Kirkland
Signature™ label?” My guesstimate was eight:
walnuts, pecans, almonds (whole and
Marcona), pine nuts, pistachios, mixed nuts
and cashews. I was o; by ;ve.
Costco nut buyer Becky Schmidt reports,
“Many members don’t realize how extensive
our private-label Kirkland Signature nut program is because it’s scattered throughout the
warehouse. For instance, Kirkland Signature
Grade A Pine Nuts are displayed near the
Kirkland Signature olive oil. Some varieties
are also o;ered exclusively on Costco.com.”
;e ;ve Kirkland Signature nut varieties
I missed reside in Costco’s snack aisle: Dry
Roasted Almonds; Salt & Pepper Pistachios;
Super X-Large Peanuts; Whole Macadamia
Nuts; and Variety Snacking Tube Nuts,
featuring cashews, almonds and Variety
Snacking Tube Nuts, featuring cashews,
almonds and extra crunchy roasted and salted
peanuts (be on the lookout for this last one’s
new packaging, arriving soon.)
Nuts everywhere: You’ll find Kirkland
Signature nuts in the baking aisle, snack
aisle and more.
Nuts from around the world
I learn Costco sources nuts from wherever they are at their best. ;is explains why
Costco’s delicate-tasting Kirkland Signature
Marcona almonds come from Spain; Kirkland
Signature by Mauna Loa dry-roasted, whole
macadamia nuts are purchased in Hawaii;
and the gorgeous Kirkland Signature pecan
halves are sourced only from the southern
U.S. and northern Mexico.
No matter the country of origin, all
Costco nuts come from suppliers who have
state-of-the-art processing facilities to ensure
each nut is handled impeccably. Food safety
is of utmost importance from tree to table,
with traceability protocols, good farming and
harvesting practices, and testing mandatory
at every step.
;e team works diligently to create the
best in each category. For example, Kirkland
Signature Extra Fancy Mixed Nuts now
include cashews, nonpareil almonds, pecan
halves, Brazil nuts and macadamia nuts.
Kirkland Signature Whole Fancy Cashews
are the premium large size, and Kirkland
Signature Super X-Large Peanuts are extra
crunchy due to the reinstatement of traditional water-bath and roasting techniques.
You can taste the di;erence in each handful.
86 ;e Costco Connection NOVEMBER 2009
