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FirstMate vs Kirkland Signature

FirstMate is made by FirstMate Pet Foods (owned by Nasta Pet Food), and Kirkland Signature is branded by Costco Wholesale Corporation and made by third-party co-packers, and both make food for cats and dogs. On KibbleLab, FirstMate averages 8.7 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.6 for Kirkland Signature.

FirstMate and Kirkland Signature compared

FirstMate Kirkland Signature
Manufacturer FirstMate Pet Foods Costco Wholesale Corporation
Parent company Nasta Pet Food Independent
Founded 1989 1983
Headquarters North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Issaquah, Washington, USA
Manufacturing Whether a brand makes its own food in-house or has it produced by an outside contract manufacturer or co-packer.
In-house Co-packer
Made in Canada USA
Manufacturing region British Columbia Not listed
Products listed 56 17
Serves Cats & dogs Cats & dogs
Price tier A relative price guide, from $ (most affordable) to $$$$$ (most premium), based on the brand's typical retail cost.
$$$$ $$
WSAVA guidelines The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) publishes criteria for evaluating a manufacturer: qualified nutritionists on staff, feeding trials, and published research. It does not certify or endorse brands.
No No
PSC accredited The Pet Sustainability Coalition is a nonprofit that accredits pet companies on their environmental and social impact, through third-party verification. It reflects sustainability practices, not food quality.
No No
Score The average KibbleLab score across this brand's scored foods, on a 0 to 10 scale. Foods are scored on published veterinary science. How scoring works .
8.7 (avg of 56) 8.6 (avg of 17)
Recalls on record We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.
None None
Where to buy
Amazon
Amazon

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FirstMate vs Kirkland Signature: how they compare

Scores

FirstMate scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 8.7 out of 10 across 56 scored foods, compared with 8.6 across 17 for Kirkland Signature. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science.

Who makes them

FirstMate is made by FirstMate Pet Foods, owned by Nasta Pet Food, based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1989. Kirkland Signature is a brand of Costco Wholesale Corporation, based in Issaquah, Washington, USA, founded in 1983. Its food is made by third-party co-packers in USA.

Standards and range

Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. KibbleLab lists 56 FirstMate foods and 17 Kirkland Signature foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, FirstMate or Kirkland Signature?

FirstMate scores higher: it averages 8.7 out of 10 across 56 scored foods, compared with 8.6 for Kirkland Signature. Scores reflect published veterinary science.

Who makes FirstMate and Kirkland Signature?

FirstMate is made by FirstMate Pet Foods, which is owned by Nasta Pet Food. Kirkland Signature is a brand of Costco Wholesale Corporation. Its food is made by third-party co-packers in USA.

Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?

FirstMate has 56 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 17 for Kirkland Signature.

Where is each brand based?

FirstMate is based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Kirkland Signature is based in Issaquah, Washington, USA.

Have FirstMate or Kirkland Signature been recalled?

Neither FirstMate nor Kirkland Signature has a recall on record in the KibbleLab database. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.

See the full profiles: FirstMate and Kirkland Signature .

More comparisons

KibbleLab provides informational content only. This is not veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian before changing your pet's diet.

This is a neutral, factual comparison, not a ranking or an endorsement of either brand. KibbleLab may earn affiliate commissions through links. No one can pay for placement or a higher score.

Brand and manufacturer details are compiled from public sources and not independently verified; they may not reflect contract manufacturing or co-packing. Recall data is compiled from public FDA filings, and a filing may name the parent company rather than the brand. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.

KibbleLab scores and commentary are editorial opinions based on published data. Represent one of these brands? Request a correction. Anyone else can email us. See our Terms.