The 1980s Brand Behind Costco's Kirkland Frozen Lasagna

Costco's in-house brand, Kirkland, is known for delivering high quality, affordable food and beverage products. The bulk retailer carefully selects the companies it sources these popular items from, including some big-name brands you've likely heard of. For example, at one time, Costco and Einstein Bros. Bagels used to be connected. There's also a well-known liquor company behind Costco's Kirkland brand spiced rum. You might not immediately recognize many of the brands behind Kirkland products, but most are still well-established, family-owned companies with solid reputations for delivering top-notch consumables. One such company is the brand behind Kirkland's sought-after frozen lasagna: Zinetti Foods.

Established in 1985, Zinetti Foods is a Canadian food manufacturer based in Surrey, British Columbia. The company produces frozen gourmet pastas and entrees, such as various types of lasagna, mac and cheese, fettuccine Alfredo, tortellini, and ravioli. The founder of the company, Maurizio Zinetti, began his pasta-making career supplying trays of homemade pasta to restaurants. Zinetti Foods eventually became a mass-producer of frozen pasta entrees.

Zinetti Foods has a long-standing relationship with Costco as a supplier of frozen lasagna to the warehouse chain since the 1980s. According to a 2015 Costco Connection article (via Zinetti's website), referring to the Zinetti Foods/Costco partnership, Zinetti said, "They believe in you and treat you like a partner. By working with Costco and our suppliers, and through innovation and innovative processes, we've been able to provide our customers with the same high-quality, authentic recipes they've come to expect from us."

It's safe to assume that one of the reasons Costco has gone to Zinetti for its frozen lasagna since the 1980s is because it is so well-liked by its shoppers. Indeed, the Kirkland Signature Italian Sausage and Beef Lasagna has a 4.7 rating out of 5 on Costco's website. As one favorable review states, "This Lasagna tastes just like the ones I used to make. Frankly, with these here, I no longer make lasagna from scratch. Two thumbs up." Other customers love how easy it is to heat up in the oven, perfect for when you're short on time but still want a meal that tastes homemade. Other reviewers describe it as having a bit of a kick, which could be a good thing depending on your preference for spiciness. As one reviewer stated, "The Italian sausage/beef lasagna is way too spicy for my family's palate. When will you bring back the all beef lasagna? The beef lasagna was the best I have ever tasted and counted on it for my backup meals."

The Kirkland lasagna comes in a two-pack and is made with 100% USDA Choice ground beef chuck, vine-ripened tomatoes, and whole milk mozzarella and ricotta. Zinetti makes its pasta fresh in-house and commits to using high-quality ingredients, bold flavors, and no added preservatives. It's possible to microwave the lasagna, although many people prefer to heat it in the oven, which is the best way to reheat lasagna, according to Robert Irvine.