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Iams vs Kirkland Signature

Iams is made by Iams Company (owned by Mars, Incorporated), 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, Iams averages 9.1 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.6 for Kirkland Signature. Iams meets WSAVA's published criteria for evaluating a manufacturer, while Kirkland Signature does not.

Iams and Kirkland Signature compared

Iams Kirkland Signature
Manufacturer Iams Company Costco Wholesale Corporation
Parent company Mars, Incorporated Independent
Founded 1946 1983
Headquarters Mason, Ohio, United States 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 United States USA
Manufacturing region Ohio Not listed
Products listed 48 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.
Yes 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 .
9.1 (avg of 48) 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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Iams vs Kirkland Signature: how they compare

Scores

Iams scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 9.1 out of 10 across 48 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

Iams is made by Iams Company, owned by Mars, Incorporated, based in Mason, Ohio, United States, founded in 1946. 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

Iams meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria, while Kirkland Signature does not. KibbleLab lists 48 Iams foods and 17 Kirkland Signature foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Iams or Kirkland Signature?

Iams scores higher: it averages 9.1 out of 10 across 48 scored foods, compared with 8.6 for Kirkland Signature. Scores reflect published veterinary science.

Who makes Iams and Kirkland Signature?

Iams is made by Iams Company, which is owned by Mars, Incorporated. 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?

Iams has 48 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 17 for Kirkland Signature.

Where is each brand based?

Iams is based in Mason, Ohio, United States. Kirkland Signature is based in Issaquah, Washington, USA.

Do Iams and Kirkland Signature meet WSAVA criteria?

Iams meets WSAVA's published criteria for evaluating a manufacturer; Kirkland Signature does not, based on public information. WSAVA publishes criteria; it does not certify or endorse brands.

Have Iams or Kirkland Signature been recalled?

Neither Iams 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: Iams 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.