If you‘re a Sam‘s Club member, you‘ve likely noticed the Member‘s Mark private label on many of the products throughout the store, from paper towels to fresh chicken. Member‘s Mark is Sam‘s Club‘s premiere private label brand, with over 2,000 products across nearly every category. The brand aims to deliver quality that meets or exceeds national brands, but at a lower member-only price.
One of the most popular Member‘s Mark products is their coffee. Available in whole bean, ground, and single-serve cup formats in a range of varieties and flavors, Member‘s Mark coffee has earned a loyal following among Sam‘s Club shoppers for its great taste and excellent value. In fact, Member‘s Mark coffee sales have grown by double-digits year-over-year for the past five years, outpacing the overall coffee category.
But who actually makes the Member‘s Mark coffee sold at Sam‘s Club? I did some digging to uncover all the details coffee drinkers should know about this popular private label brand. Here‘s a comprehensive look at what I learned.
Cafe Bom Dia: The Supplier Behind Member‘s Mark Coffee
Like most private label brands, Sam‘s Club doesn‘t own coffee farms or roasting and packaging facilities. Instead, they partner with a third-party supplier to produce Member‘s Mark coffee according to Sam‘s Club‘s specifications.
That supplier is Cafe Bom Dia, a major coffee company based in Brazil. Founded in 1959, Cafe Bom Dia has grown to become the largest coffee roaster in Brazil, supplying coffee to retailers and restaurants across Brazil and internationally. They operate multiple state-of-the-art roasting facilities throughout Brazil‘s top coffee-producing regions.
"We have a dedicated team that works closely with Sam‘s Club to develop unique coffee blends and roasts specifically for the Member‘s Mark brand," said Paulo Mendes, Chief Commercial Officer at Cafe Bom Dia. "Our expertise in coffee sourcing and production, combined with Sam‘s Club‘s insights into consumer preferences, allows us to craft high-quality coffees that appeal to a range of tastes."
Cafe Bom Dia sources coffee beans from top farms across Brazil and other prime coffee-growing countries in Latin America and Africa. The company has long-standing relationships with farmers and cooperatives, ensuring a steady supply of premium Arabica beans.
Once harvested, the beans are carefully processed, graded, and roasted in Cafe Bom Dia‘s facilities under strict quality control standards. The finished coffee is then packaged and shipped to Sam‘s Club distribution centers, and ultimately to stores and consumers‘ homes.
While Cafe Bom Dia does produce coffee for other private label brands as well as their own brands sold in Brazil, the coffee made for Sam‘s Club is exclusive to the Member‘s Mark brand. Sam‘s Club‘s product development team works hand-in-hand with Cafe Bom Dia on everything from bean selection to packaging to create coffees that meet the precise needs and wants of Sam‘s Club members.
Member‘s Mark Coffee Varieties and Formats
Member‘s Mark includes an extensive lineup of coffees to appeal to a wide range of tastes and preferences. Options include light, medium, and dark roasts, flavored coffees, decaf, single origins, and more. Here are some of the most popular Member‘s Mark coffees:
Whole Bean:
- Member‘s Mark Colombian Supremo: Smooth, balanced medium roast. Nutty, citrus notes.
- Member‘s Mark Breakfast Blend: Lively, invigorating light-medium roast. Crisp, clean finish.
- Member‘s Mark French Roast: Bold, intense dark roast. Smoky, toasty notes.
- Member‘s Mark Organic Peruvian: Bright, complex light roast. Floral, nougat notes.
Ground:
- Member‘s Mark Classic Roast: Vibrant, medium-bodied medium roast. Chocolate, spice notes.
- Member‘s Mark House Blend: Smooth, easy-drinking light-medium roast. Nutty, sweet notes.
- Member‘s Mark 100% Colombian: Well-balanced medium roast. Caramel, fruit notes.
- Member‘s Mark French Roast: Full-bodied dark roast. Intense, smoky notes.
- Member‘s Mark Breakfast Blend: Refreshing light roast. Gentle citrus, floral notes.
Single-Serve Cups (100 ct):
- Member‘s Mark Donut Shop: Classic medium roast. Balanced, smooth flavor.
- Member‘s Mark Breakfast Blend: Light roast. Bright, crisp character.
- Member‘s Mark 100% Colombian: Medium roast. Well-rounded, nutty flavor.
- Member‘s Mark French Roast: Dark roast. Bold, robust taste.
- Member‘s Mark Decaf Premium: Decaffeinated medium roast. Mellow, flavorful.
By providing a variety of roasts, origins, and formats, Member‘s Mark aims to have something for every coffee drinker. The brand‘s whole bean and ground offerings come in 40 oz bags, ideal for those who drink coffee regularly, while the 100-count single-serve cup boxes provide a convenient option for quick cups with less waste.
"The Member‘s Mark coffee portfolio has really evolved over the years to meet the changing preferences of our members," said Taylor Smythe, VP of Private Brands at Sam‘s Club. "Whether you like a traditional medium roast, a punchy dark French roast, or something more unique like our seasonal Reserve varieties, we want to be your go-to coffee destination with something for every taste and occasion."
Putting Quality and Value First
For many consumers, a key draw of private label brands like Member‘s Mark is the ability to get great quality at a lower price compared to leading national brands. Member‘s Mark coffee exemplifies this value proposition.
"Our goal with Member‘s Mark coffee is to exceed the quality standards set by national coffee brands, but at a 20-25% savings for our members," said Smythe. "We‘re able to offer that unbeatable combination of quality and value by partnering directly with top coffee producers like Cafe Bom Dia and leveraging Sam‘s Club‘s massive scale and buying power."
Here‘s how Member‘s Mark coffee stacks up price-wise to comparable products from national coffee brands:
| Coffee | Price | Price/Ounce |
|---|---|---|
| Member‘s Mark Colombian Supremo, 40 oz | $14.98 | $0.37 |
| Starbucks Colombian, 32 oz | $19.98 | $0.62 |
| Member‘s Mark Breakfast Blend, 40 oz | $14.98 | $0.37 |
| Dunkin‘ Original Blend, 40 oz | $19.98 | $0.50 |
| Member‘s Mark Donut Shop Coffee, 100 ct | $29.98 | $0.30 |
| The Original Donut Shop Coffee, 96 ct | $44.98 | $0.47 |
As you can see, Member‘s Mark coffees offer considerable savings compared to leading brands, without sacrificing quality. This focus on value has helped make Member‘s Mark the fastest-growing coffee brand in the U.S.
"Member‘s Mark coffee really over-delivers on quality for the price," said Jim Watson, a coffee industry analyst at Rabobank. "They‘ve done an excellent job of identifying what consumers want in their coffee–things like 100% Arabica beans, a range of roasts and origins, Fair Trade and organic options–and finding a way to offer that at a value price point through their partnership with Cafe Bom Dia and the Sam‘s Club business model. It‘s a compelling formula that more and more consumers are latching on to."
A Focus on Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing
In addition to quality and value, Member‘s Mark coffee also places a strong emphasis on sustainability and ethical sourcing practices–attributes that are increasingly important to today‘s coffee drinkers.
All Member‘s Mark coffees are Fair Trade Certified, meaning they are sourced from farms and cooperatives that adhere to rigorous social, environmental and economic standards. Fair Trade helps ensure that coffee farmers and workers are paid fair wages, work in safe conditions, and have access to education and healthcare. By choosing Fair Trade coffee, consumers can feel good knowing they are supporting sustainable livelihoods for coffee-growing communities.
Member‘s Mark also offers several organic certified coffees, like the popular Organic Peruvian variety. These coffees are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, relying instead on natural methods to enrich the soil and control pests. Organic production is gentler on the environment and those who work and live on coffee farms.
"Our commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing is a key part of what sets Member‘s Mark coffee apart," said Smythe. "We know these issues are top-of-mind for many of our members, and we want them to feel confident that their coffee habits are having a positive impact on coffee farmers and the planet."
Keeping Up With Coffee Trends and Innovations
To maintain its momentum in the fast-moving coffee category, Member‘s Mark is continually evolving its offerings to keep up with changing consumer tastes and behaviors. In recent years, that has meant adding more single-origin and organic options to the lineup, as well as introducing limited-edition seasonal varieties and Reserve coffees.
"Coffee drinkers are becoming more adventurous and discerning in their tastes," said Watson. "They‘re seeking out new and unique flavor experiences, and are interested in the stories and origins behind their coffee. Member‘s Mark has done a nice job responding to those trends with things like their single-origin coffees and limited-time offerings."
Some of the more unique and on-trend additions to the Member‘s Mark coffee lineup in recent years include:
- Member‘s Mark Sumatran Reserve: A rare, small-batch dark roast from the island of Sumatra with notes of spice and tobacco.
- Member‘s Mark Whiskey Barrel-Aged Coffee: A distinctive medium roast aged in oak whiskey barrels for a smooth, faintly boozy flavor.
- Member‘s Mark Hawaii 100% Kona Blend: A premium blend containing 10% Hawaiian Kona coffee beans known for their lush, floral flavor.
- Member‘s Mark High-Caffeine Coffee: A robust blend with twice the caffeine of regular coffee, perfect for an extra morning boost.
"We‘re always looking for new and interesting coffee experiences to bring to our members," said Smythe. "Whether it‘s a single-origin from a far-flung region or an innovative new roast or brewing method, we want Member‘s Mark to be at the forefront of coffee trends and exceed our members‘ expectations for what private label coffee can be."
The Bottom Line
With its winning combination of quality, value, variety, sustainability, and innovation, Member‘s Mark has become a formidable force in the coffee industry. By partnering with a top global coffee producer in Cafe Bom Dia and leveraging the scale and sourcing power of Sam‘s Club, Member‘s Mark is able to offer consumers premium coffee experiences at a fraction of the price of comparable national brands.
As consumer preferences continue to shift more towards private label products, and coffee drinkers become increasingly discerning and adventurous in their tastes, Member‘s Mark coffee is well-positioned for continued growth and success. So next time you‘re stocking up at Sam‘s Club, be sure to give Member‘s Mark coffee a try–chances are, your taste buds and your wallet will thank you.
