Who Makes Costco's Kirkland Whipped Cream?

While Costco's beloved Kirkland Signature products are a huge part of the store's appeal, the warehouse chain itself is not typically responsible for manufacturing the goods. Much of the time, Costco simply puts its own label on products made by other companies, causing widespread speculation as to which company really makes those famous Kirkland food, drinks, and other products. However, we now know for sure that North Carolina-based company Alamance Foods makes Kirkland Signature canned whipped cream.

This information comes from a November 7, 2026 recall for Kirkland Signature Real Heavy Whipped Cream, which was recalled voluntarily by Alamance Foods, indicating that it manufactures the product for Costco. More details can be seen on the official recall notice. Though this isn't good news for either company, Alamance Foods has had a long, successful history. It was founded in 1890 as a butter and cream seller, and in the late 1950s, it partnered with a major aerosol whipped cream brand, gaining a foothold in the U.S. dairy industry. 

The brand now manufactures drinking water, freeze pop desserts, and coffee toppings like sprayable cold foam alongside its "Classic Cream" aerosol whipped creams in various flavors. Alamance sells its private label products to various retailers besides Costco, including chain restaurants — in fact, it's likely the brand of whipped cream Dunkin' uses for drinks.

Despite its recent tangle with a recall, Kirkland Signature whipped cream has a reputation for quality. Renowned for its rich, dairy-forward flavor, Costco shoppers call this product comparable to homemade whipped cream. In addition to serving as a go-to dessert topper, it's one of the best Kirkland products for your morning coffee, and it compares favorably to other whipped creams Costco has sold before.

Before releasing its Kirkland Signature Real Heavy Whipped Cream, Costco once offered a three-pack of Land O'Lakes sprayable whipped cream, which was well-liked by shoppers. Sometime in late 2022, Costco began stocking its own Kirkland Signature Light Whipped Cream, and though the product had its fans, many shoppers complained that it was highly inferior to the old Land O'Lakes. The new light cream was too sweet for some customers, while others reported textural issues. One Redditor wrote the cream was only okay "if you use it immediately after spraying. If you let it sit [for] like 5 minutes[,] it starts separating[,] and you get a watery mess with stringy white stuff."

Luckily, the latest incarnation of Kirkland Signature whipped cream was much better-received. Back when it debuted in 2023, one Reddit user wrote, "So glad they switched from the 'light whipped cream' blue can crap. This is AMAZING." We can't predict if Costco's whipped cream will now take some damage reputation-wise, but at least it's been a hit since its debut.