If youre a frequent shopper at Sams Club, youve definitely come across the Members Mark brand. The brand sells many different kinds of products, from everyday items for the home to office supplies, that appeal to a wide range of people. But have you ever thought about where these Members Mark products come from and who makes them? Let’s answer that question.
Crispy, salty, smoky – who doesn’t love bacon? When stocking up on this breakfast staple, you may notice an unfamiliar brand at Sam’s Club called Member’s Mark With no information on the packaging, the origins of this store-brand bacon remain a mystery
As a bargain hunter and breakfast lover I decided to dig into the history of Member’s Mark. Where does Sam’s Club source their bacon from? How is it made? And most importantly how does it taste? Keep reading to uncover the murky roots of this intriguing yet obscure bacon brand.
Sam’s Club’s Signature Store Brand
Member’s Mark is the signature retail brand for Sam’s Club, the popular warehouse subsidiary of Walmart. Introduced in 1993, Member’s Mark encompasses a wide range of products from food to furniture sold exclusively at Sam’s Club.
As a private label brand Member’s Mark aims to provide members with affordable quality products. According to Sam’s Club, their brand exceeds national brands in taste, performance, and value. All Member’s Mark foods must pass rigorous quality assurance standards as well.
Over 3000 Member’s Mark products are sold across Sam’s Club locations and online. But surprisingly, some of their most popular items like bacon reveal little about origins or manufacturing on the packaging.
The Member’s Mark Bacon Making Process
Sam’s Club does not publicly disclose details on how Member’s Mark bacon is made. However, we can make some educated guesses on the pork production process:
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Step 1) Sam’s Club sources pork bellies from large-scale pork suppliers. These skinless belly cuts get shipped to bacon processing facilities.
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Step 2) The pork bellies are injected with a curing brine containing water, salt, sugar, and sodium nitrite. This cures the meat while adding flavor.
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Step 3) The bellies soak in the brine solution for 4-7 days before being smoked.
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Step 4) Bacon is smoked slowly over a fire for up to 24 hours to absorb natural woodsmoke flavor.
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Step 5) Finally, the smoked pork is sliced, packaged, and distributed to Sam’s Club locations frozen or refrigerated.
Of course, this is just speculation without seeing Member’s Mark’s actual bacon production firsthand. But the process likely resembles most large-scale bacon manufacturing today.
Decoding the Member’s Mark Bacon Label
While Sam’s Club doesn’t share many details on their bacon’s origins, the product packaging does reveal some useful information:
- Raised without antibiotics
- No MSG added
- Made in the USA
- Hickory smoked
The label also lists simple ingredients: pork cured with water, salt, sugar, sodium phosphates, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite.
So while the source is unclear, Member’s Mark bacon does seem to meet current food trends. No antibiotics and preservatives combined with classic smoking makes this bacon a bit more natural than some brands.
Member’s Mark Bacon Gets Solid Reviews
Across the internet, Member’s Mark bacon reviews skew positively. On Influenster, it earns 4 out of 5 stars based on nearly 2,000 ratings. Many praise the great value, convenient 3-pound package, and pleasant smoky flavor.
Of course, some complaints about skimpy fatty slices do arise. And a few reviewers say the saltiness overpowers the smokiness they want in bacon. But the consensus seems to be that Member’s Mark is a tasty product for the price.
I’d certainly reach for Member’s Mark over thin, artificial-tasting bacon brands. While not the most artisanal or flavorful, Member’s Mark brings homestyle goodness to breakfast.
The Takeaway: Decent Bacon Worth Trying
While the origins remain mysterious, Member’s Mark proves itself as a solid basic bacon option. For bacon lovers on a budget, it delivers timeless savory flavor and crispness for breakfast sandwiches, burgers, BLTs, and more. Of course, it won’t beat small-batch artisan bacon, but Member’s Mark more than gets the job done.
Next time you shop Sam’s Club, consider tossing a pack of Member’s Mark bacon in your cart. This store brand offers classic pork goodness and satisfying crunch without blowing your grocery budget. Just don’t expect fancy flavors – Member’s Mark keeps it simple for a classic bacon experience.
So embrace the mystery and bite into a strip of Member’s Mark bacon soon. I wager you won’t be disappointed by this tasty yet elusive store brand gem.
What is Member’s Mark?
Members Mark is a private label brand that can only be bought at Sam’s Club. This means that the products are sold under the name of the store. The brand has been sold at Sam’s Club since 1998. It is known for being of high quality and a good value, which helps members save money.
In 2017, Sams Club brought together its 20 proprietary brands under the Members Mark umbrella. The brand offers a variety of products, ranging from groceries and household essentials to electronics and furniture.
About 20% of all items in Sams Club stores are Members Mark products. The proprietary brand is designed to provide Sams Club members with high-quality items at an affordable price. Purchasing these products can lead to a lower credit card tab, compared to other grocery retailers.
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- Over 1,200 of Sam’s Club’s products were fixed up and updated in 2020.
- Walmart, which owns Sam’s Club, is in charge of getting and making the Members Mark products.
- It wants 100% of its products to meet sustainability goals by 202025, according to Members Mark.
If youre a frequent shopper at Sams Club, youve definitely come across the Members Mark brand. The brand sells many different kinds of products, from everyday items for the home to office supplies, that appeal to a wide range of people. But have you ever thought about where these Members Mark products come from and who makes them? Let’s answer that question.