The Popular Brand That Produces Costco's Kirkland Bottled Water

That Costco has contracts with major manufacturers to produce its house-brand Kirkland Signature products isn't news. For example, Starbucks was, for a time, the brand behind some of Costco's coffee. Bottled water is a staple of warehouse retail, with customers stocking up on jumbo-sized cases for vending machines, storm season, or simply everyday sipping. Costco's Kirkland Signature bottled water is an incredible, outsized deal, with an 80-pack of 8-ounce bottles selling for under $24. Some folks are particular about what bottled water they buy, which may have caused questions about what brand, exactly, produces Costco's bottles. The answer is right there on the packaging: Niagara Bottling, a popular manufacturer.

A common mistake you're making when buying bottled water is getting sucked in by dubious labeling claims like "purified" or "spring water." Niagara, for its part, prides itself on bottled water that tastes good at a low price point. The brand first entered the drinking water business in 1963, when Andrew Peykoff Sr. started delivering five-gallon glass bottles of water to homes and offices in Southern California. Niagara pivoted to offering private-label bottled water to various companies in the 1990s, and hasn't looked back. Today, you can pick up Niagara water at major retailers like Home Depot, Office Depot, Amazon, and Lowe's — or you can do your regular shopping at Costco and buy Kirkland Signature bottled water, knowing you are getting the same thing.

For water snobs, Costco's Kirkland Signature bottled water manufactured by Niagara might be a pass. That was the case for a Foodie feature writer, who ranked popular water bottle brands and consigned Niagara to last place. "The water had an unpleasant smell, and the taste wasn't any better. It had a harsh plastic and chemical taste," she wrote. With that said, Costco customers don't seem to mind the Kirkland Signature bottles, which boast a commendable 4.3 / 5 stars on Costco's website. Interestingly, several reviews complained that the bottles were flimsy and didn't hold up to handling, which was another point that our reviewer made in her ranking. On Influenster, however, folks mostly raved about Niagara. "The taste, price and hydration point of this water [are] unmatched. Truly my favorite water brand and it never has the weird aftertaste that many others have," one commenter gushed.

When it comes to opinions of this bottled water, it might just be a "your mileage may vary" situation. It may simply be the case that, with Costco bottled water, you get what you paid for. If you purchase the water expecting a serviceable bottle at a great price, you likely won't be disappointed. If you are looking for pristine, crisp taste and a premium bottle that you can tote around all day, perhaps you want to shop elsewhere. Either way, you won't be confused about where your Kirkland Signature bottled water came from.