When shopping at Sam’s Club, one of the biggest draws for members is the private label brand known as Member’s Mark. But have you ever wondered who actually makes these products? I’ve learned about the manufacturers behind Member’s Mark products, how much you can save by choosing them, and whether they’re the same quality as their branded counterparts. I decided to take a closer look to see if they offer it.
First of all, what is “Member’s Mark”?
Member’s Mark is a private brand of Sam’s Club and was created to provide quality products at a fraction of the price of nationally well-known brands.
Sam’s Club, owned by Walmart, uses the Member’s Mark as a way to compete with brands by offering products that are as good or better than those from larger manufacturers at lower prices.
If that helps, it’s basically like Kirkland’s to Costco.
Member’s Marks span a number of categories, including:
– Groceries (frozen foods, snacks, beverages, fresh foods)
– Clothing (casual wear, active wear)
– Health & Beauty (vitamins, supplements, beauty products)
– Household items (cleaning supplies, paper products)
– Furniture and interior decoration (bedding, kitchen appliances, furniture)
– Electronics
A famous brand that makes Members Mark products
Sam’s Club doesn’t reveal exactly who makes its Member’s Mark products, but it’s common knowledge that many big-name brands make products exclusive to Sam’s.
Here are some of the major categories and their manufacturers:
bottled water
– Manufacturer: Niagara Bottling
– Details: After some research, I found Amazon reviews for Member’s Mark bottled water. This proved to be indeed manufactured by Niagara. One woman ordered a case and discovered it was simply purified tap water. It turns out that a bottling plant run by Niagara Corporation in Richmond, Va., refines it, adds flavoring ingredients, labels it, and packages it for Member’s Mark.
coffee
– Manufacturer: Keurig Green Mountain, Westrock Coffee Roasting, Treehouse Foods.
– Details: Member’s Mark ground coffee is manufactured by Treehouse and Westrock. Their K-cups are made by Green Mountain and Treehouse.
Pro tip: Call Sam’s Club and ask
If you have a specific Member’s Mark product for which you would like to know the manufacturer, please call Sam’s at (888) 746-7726. You are more likely to get information. Perhaps you too have experienced problems with one of their products. Or maybe, like me, you’re just curious. If you try calling them proactively, they should be able to tell you the manufacturer.
battery
– Manufacturer: Energizer
– Details: Energizer manufactures all Maker’s Mark household batteries including AAA, AAA, C, D, and 9 volts. A few years ago, a Sam’s shopper actually saw an Energizer representative setting up a battery display and struck up a conversation, and he explained that Energizer actually manufactures and repackages batteries for Sam’s Club. I have confirmed that there is.
jeans
– Manufacturer: Wrangler
– Details: I thought this was interesting. If you search for “Member’s Mark jeans” on Google, Amazon will be one of the first results. Clicking on that actually takes you to the Wrangler jeans page.
Pro tip: Don’t sleep on your Member’s Mark straight-fit jeans
These jeans from Sam’s Club are a great deal at $14.98. I have one and they are the most comfortable jeans I own. They fit much better than my Levi’s 501s, my American Eagle straight fit, and the expensive J.Crew jeans I own. There’s plenty of room in the crotch and the stretch fit makes the legs, especially the thighs, very comfortable. If you love Wrangler jeans, you’ll love these jeans.
dog food
– Manufacturer: Purina and Mid America Pet Food
– Details: Purina may make some of its dog food, but most of it is definitely made in Central America. The company’s top brands include Eagle Mountain and Victor Premium.
Macaron
– Manufacturer: Sublime Desserts
– Details: Back in 2022, Sam’s had to do a macaron recall just before Christmas. The FDA filing lists Canada’s Saint Laurent’s luxury dessert maker Sublime Desserts as the manufacturer.
disinfectant wipes
– Manufacturer: Rockline Industries
– Details: Many people believe that Member’s Mark Disinfecting Wipes are made by Clorox, but that’s not the case, they are manufactured by Rockline Industries. A reviewer on Sam’s website actually called Sam’s to obtain the manufacturer’s phone number. (See photo above) When I called that number, I was connected directly to Rockline and my information was verified.
Many people say that the product’s texture, packaging, and effectiveness are very similar to Clorox brand wipes. If you look at these reviews, many people actually like them better than Clorox, citing their thickness and smell as the main reasons.
Peanut butter (natural creamy, no stirring required)
Manufacturer: ConAgra (Peter Pan)
– Details: Many customers suspect that Member’s Mark peanut butter is made by ConAgra, the same company that makes Peter Pan peanut butter.
cheese
– Manufacturer: Sargento
– Details: Member’s Mark shredded and sliced cheeses are manufactured by Sargento and are considered to offer quality comparable to this famous dairy brand.
ice cream
– Manufacturer: Wells Enterprises (Blue Bunny)
– Details: Wells Enterprises, which makes Blue Bunny ice cream, is believed to supply the Member’s Mark ice cream product, which is known for its rich and creamy texture.
mayonnaise
– Manufacturer: Hellmann’s/Best Foods
– Details: Member’s Mark Mayonnaise is often compared to Hellmann’s/Best Foods in terms of taste and quality, leading to speculation that they are from the same manufacturer.
Difference between Hellmann’s and Best Food
There is no difference, it is the same. Those who live east of the Mississippi River know it as Hellman’s. If you live west of the Mississippi River, this is known as the best food.
dish detergent
– Manufacturer: Reckitt Benckiser (finishing)
– Details: Member’s Mark dishwasher pods and detergent may be made by Reckitt Benckiser, the same company that makes Finish dishwasher products.
garbage bag
– Manufacturer: GLAD
– Details: Member’s Mark garbage bags are likely made by Glad, a company famous for their garbage bags, and are durable and strong, yet inexpensive. Commenters on Sam’s website agree with Sam when he says “same folded” and “same unfolded” and believe Sam is made in the same factory as Glad.
olive oil
Manufacturer: Deoleo (Bertoli)
– Details: Deoleo, the company behind Bertolli Olive Oil, produces Member’s Mark Olive Oil and is considered to offer a high quality product at a low price.
Frozen foods, snacks, and beverages
– Manufacturer: ConAgra Foods
– Details: ConAgra, known for brands such as Hunt’s and Healthy Choice, is believed to produce a variety of Member’s Mark frozen meals and snacks.
Meat products (chicken, beef, etc.)
– Manufacturer: Tyson Foods
– Details: Tyson, a major manufacturer of meat products, is believed to be supplying Member’s Mark with meat products such as frozen chicken and beef.
Baked goods (bread, pastries, etc.)
– Manufacturer: Sara Lee
– Details: Sara Lee may be the manufacturer of Member’s Mark breads and other baked goods.
Paper towels, toilet paper, napkins
– Manufacturer: Georgia-Pacific and Proctor & Gamble
– Details: Georgia-Pacific, the company that makes Brownies and Quilted Northern, is believed to be making these paper products for Sam’s Club.
diaper
– Manufacturer: Pampers
– Details: It’s pretty certain that these are manufactured by Pampers, as parents compare them very evenly. And they should know because they’re in the trenches cleaning up dirty diapers multiple times a day.
powdered milk
– Manufacturer: Perrigo
– Details: For years, mommy bloggers have been writing sponsored posts about Sam’s Club infant formula and having to stipulate who makes it. And guess what? – It’s always Perrigo.
Over-the-counter medicines and vitamins
– Manufacturer: Perrigo
– Details: Perrigo, a leading manufacturer of over-the-counter medicines, is believed to produce Member’s Mark vitamins and supplements.
skin care and beauty products
– Manufacturer: Unilever
– Details: Unilever, which operates brands such as Dove, is believed to manufacture Member’s Mark skincare items.
Cleaning supplies (bleach, household detergent)
– Manufacturer: Clorox and Reckitt Benckiser
– Details: The Clorox Company, which makes Clorox bleach and Pine-Sol, may also make some Member’s Mark cleaning products. Reckitt Benckiser, the maker of Lysol and Finish, may be developing Member’s Mark cleaning products.
Potential savings when purchasing Member’s Mark
One of the main reasons shoppers choose Member’s Mark over big name brands is the significant cost savings.
Across all product categories, savings range from 10% to 50%, depending on the product. Here’s a breakdown of average savings by category:
Grocery: Save 15-25% on frozen foods, snacks, drinks and more. Paper products: Save 10-25% on items like paper towels and toilet paper. Baby products: Save 15-30% on diapers, wipes, and formula. Health and Beauty: Save 20-40% on vitamins, supplements, and skin care products. Household items: Save 10-25% on cleaning products, detergents, and paper products. Furniture and Housewares: Save 20-40% on large household items such as mattresses, bedding, and kitchen appliances.
These savings can really add up, especially considering many of these items are purchased in bulk.
For example, when you buy Member’s Mark paper towels in bulk, you can save 20% compared to name brand paper towels, which can translate into big savings on household essentials throughout the year.
Member’s Mark products and famous brand quality
Shoppers’ primary concern when choosing private label products is whether they will receive the same quality as name brands.
However, many Member’s Mark products are made by the same manufacturers that make name-brand products, so the quality is almost always the same, or sometimes even better.
For example, Member’s Mark vitamins are made to the same specifications as national brands, and many of our household products, such as cleaning products, are manufactured by industry leaders.
In blind taste tests, Member’s Mark foods often score as well as or better than name brand products.
Why you should consider switching to Member’s Mark
If you frequently shop at Sam’s Club, switching to Member’s Mark products can lead to big savings in the long run.
Stretch your budget without sacrificing quality by choosing Member’s Mark for everyday items like groceries, cleaning supplies, health supplies, and more.
Here’s why you should consider switching to Member’s Mark.
Significant savings: As mentioned earlier, depending on the product category, cost savings can range from 10% to 50%. Over the course of a year, these savings can really add up, especially for items you buy on a regular basis.
High Quality: Many Member’s Mark products are made by the same companies that make national brand products. You can basically get the same product for a cheaper price.
Advantages of buying in bulk: Because Sam’s Club is a warehouse store, you can purchase many of these products in bulk, further lowering the price per item.
Positive Customer Reviews: Many Sam’s Club members rave about the quality and value of Member’s Mark products. From delicious foods to durable household items, shoppers consistently report being satisfied with their purchases.
Ask our readers: What brands of Member’s Mark products and associated names did I miss? Let me know in the comments. I will investigate. thank you.
Written by Kyle James
I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save money at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Costco. Ta. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and The New York Times for my money-saving tips. (learn more)
