Costco was the first retailer to sell products under the Kirkland Signature private-label name.
Costco introduced Kirkland Signature in 1995, naming the brand after Kirkland, Washington, where the company was headquartered at the time. The label was intended to offer quality comparable with national brands at lower prices, supporting Costco's membership-warehouse business model.
Kirkland Signature products cover groceries, beverages, clothing, household goods, personal care, and other categories. Many are manufactured by outside companies for Costco, while the packaging carries the Kirkland Signature name.
Kirkland Signature is sometimes confused with Costco's own corporate name. Costco Wholesale Corporation is the retailer; Kirkland Signature is its private-label brand. It is also distinct from Sam's Club's Member's Mark, the comparable house brand of Walmart's warehouse competitor.