Introduction
Kirkland and Blue Buffalo are two of the most popular premium dog food brands on the market today. Both brands offer a wide variety of dry and wet foods designed to provide dogs with high-quality nutrition. However, despite their premium reputations, there are some key differences between Kirkland and Blue Buffalo that owners should be aware of.
This article provides an in-depth comparison of Kirkland and Blue Buffalo dog foods. It examines their ingredient sourcing, manufacturing, product lines, nutritional philosophies, recall histories, and pricing. By evaluating these key factors, dog owners can determine which brand is the better option for their pet.
Brand Histories
Blue Buffalo was founded in 2003 by Bill Bishop, who launched the brand after his family dog Blue was diagnosed with cancer. Bishop wanted to create a natural, healthy dog food inspired by the diet he formulated for Blue while undergoing cancer treatment. The company is now owned by General Mills but states it still follows Bishop’s original nutritional philosophy and formulation standards (https://bluebuffalo.com/why-choose-blue/blue-story/).
Kirkland Signature is Costco’s proprietary brand, launched in 1995. The Kirkland dog food line is produced by Diamond Pet Foods, a major manufacturer of pet food brands like Taste of the Wild, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul, and Natural Balance. Diamond makes Kirkland recipes to Costco’s specifications and label guidelines (https://www.hepper.com/kirkland-vs-blue-buffalo-dog-food/).
Ingredient Sourcing
When it comes to ingredients, Blue Buffalo sources theirs from trusted suppliers around the United States. According to their website, they only accept ingredients from suppliers that meet their high standards for quality and safety. Blue Buffalo claims to never use any chicken or poultry by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives [1].
Kirkland dog food is made by Diamond Pet Foods. Diamond has facilities across the United States and sources most of their ingredients from North America. They state that they carefully monitor and test all materials that go into their foods. Kirkland does contain some corn and meat meals in certain recipes, but no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives [2].
In summary, Blue Buffalo places emphasis on never using typical allergy-triggering ingredients like corn or wheat, while Kirkland’s ingredient sourcing allows for some of these more cost-effective ingredients in certain recipes.
Product Lines
Blue Buffalo offers a wide variety of dry dog food recipes including Life Protection Formula, Wilderness, Freedom, Basics, Natural Veterinary Diet, and more. They cater to dogs with different health needs and age ranges like puppy, adult, mature. Blue Buffalo uses real meat as the first ingredient and does not contain any chicken or poultry by-product meals.
Kirkland Signature offers both dry and wet dog foods. For dry food, they have options like Super Premium Mature Dog Chicken, Rice & Egg Formula, Healthy Weight Dog Food, and Small Dog Chicken & Vegetable Recipe. They also have a separate Diamond line for puppies. Kirkland uses quality ingredients but contains some by-products. Both brands meet AAFCO standards.
Recall Histories
Both Kirkland and Blue Buffalo dog foods have had some recalls over the years, though Blue Buffalo has had more high-profile incidents.
In March 2017, Blue Buffalo recalled one production lot of BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Wet Food for Adult Dogs due to potentially elevated levels of naturally-occurring beef thyroid hormones (FDA report). This was an isolated incident affecting a single lot code.
In October 2010, Blue Buffalo recalled specific production runs of multiple dry dog and cat food product lines due to potential salmonella contamination (Dog Food Recalls). This was a major recall across multiple Blue Buffalo product lines.
For Kirkland, the most significant recall was in 2012, when Diamond Pet Foods (the manufacturer of Kirkland dog food) had a massive recall due to potential salmonella contamination across multiple brands, including Kirkland (Petful). This affected many Kirkland dry dog food formulas.
Outside of these major incidents, both brands have initiated minor single-product recalls over the years, but no major recalls since 2012 for Kirkland or since 2010 for Blue Buffalo.
Manufacturing
Blue Buffalo manufactures most of their products in their own facilities in the United States. They have manufacturing plants in Indiana, Missouri, and Virginia (Blue Buffalo facilities). By owning their manufacturing plants, Blue Buffalo maintains tight control over the entire pet food production process from start to finish.
Kirkland dog food is made by Diamond Pet Foods, which has numerous manufacturing facilities across the United States. Diamond Pet Foods operates plants in California, South Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Ohio (Diamond Pet Food facilities). Diamond produces private label brands for many major retailers in addition to Kirkland.
Nutritional Philosophy
Blue Buffalo takes a holistic approach to pet nutrition, emphasizing natural ingredients free from by-products like corn, wheat, and soy. Their nutritional philosophy is centered around providing balanced, complete nutrition with premium proteins and anti-oxidant rich produce like vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. They avoid artificial preservatives, colors and flavors. Blue Buffalo believes this natural diet promotes good immune system health and vitality for dogs.
Kirkland focuses on producing a high quality nutritionally complete pet food at an affordable price point. Their nutritional philosophy values quality animal protein as the first ingredient in recipes without fillers like corn, wheat or soy. Kirkland aims to provide quality nutrition comparable to premium brands but without the premium pricing. They conduct nutritional research and testing to meet dog’s needs at various life stages.
Ingredients
Both Blue Buffalo and Kirkland aim to use high-quality natural ingredients in their dog food formulas without artificial preservatives, colors or flavors. However, there are some differences in their key ingredients.
Blue Buffalo formulas always start with real meat as the first ingredient. This includes ingredients like deboned chicken, chicken meal, lamb meal, or fish meal as prime sources of protein. According to the Blue Buffalo website, meat meals contain up to 300% more protein than fresh meat [1]. Other key ingredients include whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal, fruit and veggies like blueberries and carrots, and supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health.
Kirkland dog food also emphasizes quality proteins like chicken, lamb, fish, and eggs. However, it tends to use by-products like chicken liver rather than whole cuts of meat. Kirkland also includes healthy whole grains like brown rice and barley. Its formulas are enriched with probiotics and antioxidants from ingredients like dried chicory root and blueberries [2].
Pricing
Both Kirkland and Blue Buffalo dog foods have similar price points across their product lines. However, there are some key differences in pricing between the brands:
Kirkland’s Signature line of dry dog food formulas ranges from about $1.25 to $1.75 per pound. Their organic formula costs a bit more at around $2 per pound. Kirkland wet/canned dog foods average $1.50 to $2 per 13 oz can.
For Blue Buffalo, their standard dry kibble formulas cost $2.50 to $3.50 per pound on average. The Blue Wilderness grain-free varieties range from $4 to $5 per pound. Canned Blue Buffalo formulas retail for $3 to $4 per 13 oz can.
In general, Kirkland’s dry and wet dog foods are priced roughly 25-50% lower than comparable Blue Buffalo products. This price difference is likely due to Kirkland’s business model of selling direct-to-consumer through Costco warehouses rather than through pet specialty retailers.
When comparing ingredients and nutritional quality between the two brands’ products, the pricing is quite competitive. Pet owners looking for quality foods at budget-friendly prices may find better value with Kirkland.
Concluding Thoughts
In the end, Kirkland and Blue Buffalo dog foods have some similarities and differences. Both offer quality dog food options with natural ingredients and nutritionally balanced formulas. However, Blue Buffalo tends to use more unique proteins like bison and venison, while Kirkland sticks to more traditional chicken, lamb, and fish recipes. Blue Buffalo also offers more limited ingredient and grain-free options for dogs with allergies or sensitivities.
When it comes to pricing, Kirkland’s dog food is notably cheaper than Blue Buffalo’s. Kirkland provides good value for budget-conscious pet owners, while Blue Buffalo costs more but may be worthwhile for owners who want more unique or specialty recipes. Both brands have had isolated recalls in the past, but work to maintain rigorous quality standards today.
There is no definitive winner between these two popular brands. The best dog food depends on each individual dog’s needs and owner’s preferences. Owners wanting quality natural nutrition on a budget may prefer Kirkland, while those wanting novelty proteins or limited ingredient diets may choose Blue Buffalo. Trying different formulas to see what your dog thrives on is recommended when choosing between these two reputable brands.