How to Choose the Right Co-Packer for Your Brand

Co Packer are in great demand lately, as more and more industries move towards outsourcing their packaging & manufacturing process to an experienced third-party player. They can help you scale up, save money, and be efficient in capturing market trends without any delay. 

With a fully integrated co-packing partner, you can take your brands to new heights. They can handle everything from ingredient sourcing, production, material selection, and label designing, to logistics so that you can better focus on marketing and brand building. 

Choosing the right co-packer is essential for your brand’s success because if you end up with an inferior one, it can jeopardize the brand’s whole vision. So let’s explore some of the most important factors and features you should look for in co-packers before signing up with them.

What are the benefits of Co-Packing?

The biggest reason to opt for a packing pattern is cost saving. If you set up your own plant, you’ll need a huge capital to build a facility, buy machines, hire trained staff, get all the certifications, and run the plant efficiently every day. 

As a new entrepreneur, it’s quite hard, and if the brand is not successful it can lead to huge financial services. That’s why a co-packer is like a lifesaver. They work on a very large scale for various brands, hence they can do things much more efficiently and cost-effectively than you.

They have all the necessary elements and experience to do everything from procurement, production, packaging, and distribution. In the food supplement and beverage industry, co-packers were working as just dressing up parents. 

Like they used to handle only the packaging part, but modern ones like TrustWork provide full end-to-end solutions. That’s why all major supplement brands like GNC & Kroger outsource their manufacturing and packaging to the likes of Arvanna.   

What to look for in a Co-Packaging Partner? 

As we discussed in the intro, the right co-packaging partner can take your brands to new heights so it’s essential to judge them on the following partners:

Manufacturing Capacity

Your co-packing partner must be able to scale the production up and down as per changes in seasonal demands and changing market trends. Let’s say you want to launch several new products and slow down the production of the previous lineup, your co-packing partner should be able to adjust to it. 

Plus, there’s no scope for quality loss in this whole process. Customers are quick to notice changes in taste and textures if your co-packing botches up production quality to meet the deadline. In short, they should be able to grow and adapt to your brand’s evolving demand. 

Compliances & Certifications

The co-packaging partner must have its in-house testing protocol at all steps of production to make sure that there’s no compromise with the final product. The production facility must be free of common allergens like peanuts, dairy, shellfish, etc. 

The ingredients they use must be organic and free from harmful pesticides and preservatives. Make sure they are ISO 9001 certified companies with Good Manufacturing Practises certification. 

The manufacturing plants must comply with FDA rules, and have appropriate security certifications like OSHA. This shows that the company is committed to quality and transparency.

Experience & Expertise 

The co-packer must have a good track record of successfully executing contacts in your industry. Check their previous work, and talk with their clients to see how reliable and efficient the co-packer is. 

Talk with management, and assess whether they’ll be able to deliver what theories are promising. Ask for a dedicated relationship manager who will keep you updated with the development of every phase from material sourcing to final production. 

Also, check whether they keep fully documented reports for each production step so that if there’s a recall due to quality issues, the vendor can be investigated properly. 

Innovation & Technology

Manufacturing is becoming more and more advanced these days, and you should work with co-packers who are good at adapting to this change. Check whether they have the latest machines, automatic sorting systems, AI integration for monitoring and optimization, and highly skilled production staff. 

This will ensure that you are getting full value for your money and there are no capital leakages. It’s best to get quotes from 3-4 different co-packers first to get the actual idea of current rates in the market. 

Lastly, try to opt for those manufacturers who support Local talent, and have strong security measures to keep all your data regarding designs, patents, IPs’ and formulation safe. 

Location & Finances

The location of your co-packer is crucial to assessing transportation costs, lead times, and supply chain efficiency. Especially if you are targeting local stores in a specific area. A co-packer’s location affects not just the shipping costs of your finished products but also the accessibility of raw materials and packaging supplies. 

Consider their proximity to your major markets and distribution centers. Also, do check how good they are with logistics. Make sure they have enough loading docks, warehouse space, and inventory management systems. 

Last but not least, look at the co-packers financials, request their financial references, and check their credit history. Look for signs of financial stability such as steady growth, reinvestment in facilities, and a positive industry reputation. Switching co-packers is costly and disruptive, so it’s essential to partner up with a financially sound partner from the start. 

Our Final Thoughts

To sum it up, before you sign up with a co-packer make sure to check their location, financial health, ability to scale, logistics support, certifications, testing protocols,  execution speed, and track record. 

A good co-packer is vital for your brand’s success, so be transparent with them and ask for updates during all the parts of the production and packaging process. If you are situated around Los Angeles, then TrustWorks can be the perfect co-packing partner for you. 

They have more than 6 years of experience and have a prestigious client base including names like Walmart, Krogers, and GNC. Do check them out for a fast, efficient, and cost-effective co-packaging experience.