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Kirkland Signature vs Ultimates

Kirkland Signature is branded by Costco Wholesale Corporation and made by third-party co-packers, and Ultimates is made by Sunshine Mills, Inc., and both make food for cats and dogs. On KibbleLab, Kirkland Signature and Ultimates both average 8.6 out of 10. Ultimates's maker dates to 1947, while Kirkland Signature's launched in 1983.

Kirkland Signature and Ultimates compared

Kirkland Signature Ultimates
Manufacturer Costco Wholesale Corporation Sunshine Mills, Inc.
Parent company Independent Independent
Founded 1983 1947
Headquarters Issaquah, Washington, USA Red Bay, Alabama, USA
Manufacturing Whether a brand makes its own food in-house or has it produced by an outside contract manufacturer or co-packer.
Co-packer In-house
Made in USA United States
Manufacturing region Not listed Alabama
Products listed 17 14
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 .
8.6 (avg of 17) 8.6 (avg of 14)
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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Kirkland Signature vs Ultimates: how they compare

Scores

Kirkland Signature and Ultimates average the same KibbleLab score, 8.6 out of 10, across 17 and 14 scored foods. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science.

Who makes them

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. Ultimates is made by Sunshine Mills, Inc., an independent maker, based in Red Bay, Alabama, USA, founded in 1947.

Standards and range

Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. KibbleLab lists 17 Kirkland Signature foods and 14 Ultimates foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Kirkland Signature or Ultimates?

Kirkland Signature and Ultimates average the same KibbleLab score, 8.6 out of 10.

Who makes Kirkland Signature and Ultimates?

Kirkland Signature is a brand of Costco Wholesale Corporation. Its food is made by third-party co-packers in USA. Ultimates is made by Sunshine Mills, Inc.

Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?

Kirkland Signature has 17 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 14 for Ultimates.

Where is each brand based?

Kirkland Signature is based in Issaquah, Washington, USA. Ultimates is based in Red Bay, Alabama, USA.

Have Kirkland Signature or Ultimates been recalled?

Neither Kirkland Signature nor Ultimates 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: Kirkland Signature and Ultimates .

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.