You’ve spent a long time mixing and matching ingredients to formulate the perfect recipe for your new beverage product. But how do you get that formula packaged, labeled, and distributed to your customers?
With a beverage co-packer, of course! At Wildpack, we handle the recipes, packaging services, labeling, and shipment of your products.
The benefits of using a co-packer are just as enticing as your soon-to-be-shelved sips—in addition to allowing your brand to focus more on things like product development and promotion, using a co-packer also provides an all-in-one manufacturing process that can improve the quality of your products.
All-in-One Advantages Offered by Beverage Co-Packers
While self-manufacturing your products may provide you with the flexibility to inspect each of your products before they hit the shelves, a co-packing company will do just that, in about half the time.
Additionally, these types of companies assist you in many steps of your process so that you can run your business seamlessly and ensure that your products are customized and distributed to your liking.
Imagine this: You’re a potential customer of your beverage. You’ve got a small party with friends this evening, and you want to pick up some nice drinks to share with the group—perhaps a light-bodied wine spritzer.
You head to your local market and get lost in the beverage aisle. With seemingly endless rows of cans calling for your attention, how do you choose which product to buy?
Most likely, you’re drawn to the beverage with the high-quality packaging and eye-catching design, rather than the dull can with a few scratches and dents. That’s because a well-packaged product can be a deciding factor in a customer’s beverage selection.
The way your beverage is prepared and packaged is often the first taste your customers will get of it—it’s crucial to make a strong first impression. As such, a professional co-packer with a dedication to quality can help you craft your product in a way that rivals its delicious taste.
To that end, the services offered by beverage co-packers provide ample benefits, including:
- Recipe-following crafting –Beverage crafting is all about unique flavors, right? As such, the careful balance of ingredients is crucial to your product’s success. A co-packing company will handle these ingredients with care and follow your recipe to a T to ensure your beverage is exactly how you want it. They can make large-scale batches, too, which saves you money and time.
- Efficient canning – As their name suggests, co-packers will take charge of packaging your products, using a seamless production process and state-of-the-art equipment to can your beverage in a way that maintains the integrity of your product. Outsourcing packaging can allow you to shift your focus to growing your business rather than handling production logistics.
- Eye-catching label creation – Another key aspect of co-packing companies, beyond filling the cans, is designing and adhering a branded label to the can’s exterior. This is the main way customers will spot your product in a store and begin to recognize it. Many co-packers use a technology called shrink-sleeving which is a form of can sleeving, which involves digitally designing a label, printing it, and then placing it on the cans using a heating method.
- Experienced inventory management and shipment – Large-scale manufacturing involves a lot of logistics—where can you store your products? And for how long? Will certain conditions affect the integrity of your product? A co-packer with a sophisticated inventory database can help you stay on top of the manufacturing and shipment process. Additionally, co-packers can provide you with top-notch quality control regarding protective shipment materials like shrink wrapping and strapping, as well as top-of-the-line equipment to help manage your recipe’s alcohol content, dissolved oxygen level, carbonation, temperature, and brix.
How Do I Know If Using a Beverage Co-Packer is Right for My Business?
When choosing to begin working with a beverage co-packer, there are many things to consider. For example, does it make sense to outsource production given the size and output of your business?
Here are some factors you can use to determine if hiring a co-packer is right for your business:
- Recipe scalability – A recipe isn’t only about ingredients. The machinery that puts together a recipe and the conditions under which it is made impact the result. When you’re deciding if a co-packer is right for you, make sure your recipe is suited for large-scale manufacturing. For example, recipes that require precise weight measurements are often suitable for large-scale production. While recipes with other types of measurements may encounter issues during the manufacturing process. As such, make sure your co-packing company is equipped with all the necessary equipment your recipe needs before signing a contract.
- Production volume – Many co-packers have minimum run sizes that they will produce, meaning they require that you order a certain quantity of your product for manufacturing. For example, here at Wildpack, we have a minimum run size of 2,000 gallons and no maximum run size. If your ideal volume falls far below the run size, a co-packer may not be right for you just yet.
- Shelf life of the product – Shelf life, or how long your product lasts once produced and packaged, goes hand-in-hand with your production volume. If your product is best consumed shortly after production, you will likely want to stick to smaller production batches. This may hinder the effectiveness of working with a co-packer.
- Affordability – Bringing a co-packer into your business can be a significant cost. However, if you have the resources, the benefits can ultimately outweigh what you will pay the co-packer. A co-packer can help expand your business and allow you to focus on other aspects of your product (such as promotion or design), which can ultimately increase your revenue.
Ultimately, you have to consider the individual needs of your business when deciding if you should work with a co-packer. You should do the same when finding a specific co-packer to work with, such as Wildpack.
How To Find the Right Beverage Co-Packer
Finding a beverage co-packer can be difficult, especially if you’re an up-and-coming business new to the world of beverage production.
While it may seem easier to stay in the world of self-manufacturing, finding the right co-packer can elevate your business to new levels—and, with a little background knowledge, you’ll be able to find the co-packer that’s right for you.
When considering working with a co-packer, consider the following questions:
- Can they help you with sourcing and purchasing ingredients, as well as manufacturing?
- Are they aligned with your goals in regards to the size and scale of each batch?
- Do they have the type of labeling technology to fulfill your branding requirements?
Not all co-packers are created equal. Often, the capabilities of a co-packer, such as how much it can produce in a given timeframe, depends on its size. To that end, it’s important to choose a co-packing company that aligns with your set goals and won’t set you back. Our team at Wildpack helps you every step of the way to achieve those goals.
Potential Disadvantages of a Beverage Co-Packer—And How To Avoid Them
Outsourcing packaging services can take a lot of weight off the back of a small business. However, bringing in additional people and businesses to the creation of your product creates more space for disagreements or mistakes, causing your product to stray further from your original vision.
To avoid this, communication is key. You should be sure to work with a co-packer you trust and who understands, respects, and aligns with your business values. Additionally, ahead of production runs, it’s important that you outline clear expectations and certain packaging requirements to ensure that nothing about your product gets lost in translation.
Luckily, co-packing companies like Wildpack are committed to carrying out all of our customers’ needs—from the tasty ingredients right down to the eye-catching label. We produce batches that range from 2,000 to 1 million, ensuring that your large-scale dreams have large-scale results.
Rake in the Benefits with Wildpack
As a small beverage business, partnering with a co-packing company can help to elevate the quality and reach of your products. When exploring a partnership, find a business that values innovation and quality control, like Wildpack.
If you’re a small-scale business looking to maintain your small-business vibe, we’re here to help make that happen. The opposite side of the coin is true, too. Ultimately, we’re here to discuss and work with you to create a product that truly shines.
In addition to providing top-notch manufacturing and distributing services, we also provide additional benefits including polished scale pricing, locked-in scrap rate ceilings, and a live feed of our production methods so you can tune in anytime to ensure that your products are being treated in a way that they deserve.
With large corporations dominating much of the beverage industry, it’s a tough world out there for small businesses. But beverage companies are responsible for many of the most unique and innovative products on the market. Wildpack sees the potential in starting small, and we’re here to help you thrive. Keep reading for more information on how co-packing works.
Sources:
- Pod Foods. 4 Signs Your Business May Be Ready for a Co-Packer. https://podfoodsco.medium.com/signs-your-business-may-be-ready-for-a-co-packer-31463a8e0d3e
- REALFOODMBA. List: U.S. Beverage Co-Packers and Manufacturers. https://realfoodmba.com/list-u-s-beverage-co-packers/
- Natural Products Insider. Considerations for working with a food and beverage co-packer. https://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/co-packing/considerations-working-food-and-beverage-co-packer
- Thomas. Top Co-Packers and Co-Packing Services in the USA. https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/top-suppliers/co-packers-and-contract-packaging-services/
