Whether you’re concocting delicious canned cocktails or creating energy-packed sports drinks, it can be difficult to keep up with demand once your carefully crafted beverages start pouring off the shelves.
That’s where a co-packer comes in.
So, how does co-packing work? A co-packer, or contract packager, functions as the name suggests: they package your product for you. In the case of a beverage co-packer, this means that they will take your recipe, package and label your cans, and ship them to the appropriate location. This can help you meet demand and grow your business.
This guide will go over some of the signs that it might be time for you to work with a beverage co-packer. Let’s dive in.
When Should You Hire a Co-Packer?
Any decision about your company can be deeply personal—especially if you’re dealing with a product that you saw into fruition from its first days on the whiteboard. However, a co-packing service can be a great asset to your company, especially if you want to improve the quality of your product and the safety of your shipments.
Additionally, a copacker like Wildpack can go above and beyond when it comes to shipping and product management. Find a company that provides discounted prices on freight shipments, pack-out services, and both inventory and quality control to ensure your products arrive intact.
When deciding whether or not it’s time to a hire co-packing service, there are a few things to take into consideration:
- Your time/resources
- Demand for your beverage product
- Your recipe
- Your budget
Once you’ve gauged your company’s needs and goals, lookout for signs that you’re ready to hire a co-packer.
#1: You’re Overbooked and Overworked
Whether you’re canning sparkling water in your garage and selling it at a local market or scaling up to warehouse-level shipments to grocery stores, a co-packer can help your company manage current needs and build structures for future growth.
When working with a co-packer like Wildpack, they will provide you with a unique build of services to streamline your operations, including:
- Discounted rates on freight shipping – Co-packers are traffic experts. Whether you’re shipping a truckload of products or a single container, co-packers know the best way to package and ship your cans to ensure they’re protected. Many co-packers use pallet protectors with corner boards, shrink wrapping, and strapping to secure your shipments. Oftentimes, there are dedicated shipping and receiving staff to manage your products, as well.
- Inventory management – If you’ve seen an increase in demand or are inexperienced in inventory management, a co-packer can help lead the way. Co-packers keep intensive logs of products and shipments to ensure your cans are top-quality. Plus, a co-packer will save you on costs for materials such as trays, cans, and shrink wrap.
- Quality control – Some people are more concerned with the bigger picture than the details. If that’s the case for you, a co-packer can be your go-to partner when it comes to alcohol content, carbonation, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and brix. Additionally, many co-packers use top-of-the-line equipment to ensure your products are top-of-the-shelf quality.
If you see an opportunity for growth that you’re unable to meet, it may be time to bring in a partner and discuss co-packing needs. Remember, freeing up the time it takes you to package your own beverage product allows you to focus on things like marketing, sales, and customer outreach.
Plus, many copacking companies keep activity logs and test equipment for cleanliness using ATP swabs to ensure only the best products are put out onto the market.
#2: Your Product Demand Is High
You love your product, and most likely your customers do too. If your products are flying off the shelves and you’re overwhelmed with demand, a copacker may be a good option to keep you afloat and your customers happy.
As demand increases, you may find yourself more preoccupied with managerial tasks rather than the nitty gritty of product labeling and shipments. Copackers can take over the on-the-ground to-dos like freighting, inventory checks, and quality control so you can have more time to manage your company.
However, whether you’re a small or large business, it’s important to properly plan for increased demand by taking a few things into consideration:
- Current demand – This one is pretty self-explanatory. How many people want your product and how often do they want it? This is the base metric to show how well you’re doing and whether you need to scale up. However, it isn’t the only metric.
- Projected demand – Demand changes. Are you selling a wine seltzer that people will go crazy for in the summer but have not as much interest in the winter? Are you selling flavors that are ahead of their time and about to blow up? You need to be able to project your demand to be able to know what your business needs.
- Shelf life – One of the benefits of selling beverages is that they don’t go bad immediately. That said, you don’t want to keep them lying around forever. Take the shelf life of your product as well as your storage capacity (co-packers are able to help here) into consideration before deciding how much of it you need to be producing.1
To that end, if you need to get on top of demand but can’t manage to scale up production yourself, it might be time to hire a beverage co-packer.
#3: You’re Looking for Consistent, Top-Quality Batches
Don’t worry, we’re not asking what’s in your secret recipe…yet. Once you start working with a co-packer, they can ensure that every batch of your sparkling water or sports drink is top-quality with high-end equipment and intensive quality check procedures.
No matter your company’s ethos or schtick, a good co-packer can adjust to your needs. Is part of the charm of your brand the fact that you make small changes to your recipes all the time? Co-packers are good at working with different ingredients and different recipes and may even have relationships with wholesalers that can help you produce consistently unique batches.
Additionally, if you find a co-packer that prioritizes quality and personal relationships, you’ll be able to discuss making certain tweaks to your recipe that will better your product. Even if you’re a smaller company, partnering with a co-packer can prepare your business for large-scale success because they operate with easily scalable strategies that can be adapted to larger demand.
#4: You Have Money to Spare
If your business is taking off and you find yourself with a surplus of income, partnering with a co-packer is a profitable decision. However, it’s important to note that different co-packers will charge differently. As such, carefully consider the following when choosing a co-packing service:
- Location – Business considerations can be a lot like real estate: Location, location, location. From the ease of communication to shipment costs, location can dictate a lot in a business relationship. That includes price. Finding a nearby co-packer may help you save money.
- Recipe – As you know, your recipe matters. For one thing, it’s what makes your product special. It also may be what makes it expensive. Find a co-packer that can easily scale your recipe. While certain ingredients may come at a higher cost, it’ll be worth it in the end when your top-quality products are top-shelf.
- Minimums – While not always true, certain co-packers will have production minimums which they will require you to buy upfront. This is where that projected demand becomes so important.However, companies like Wildpack don’t require long-term contracts, which can benefit you if your products are seasonal or your company is struggling to keep up with demand. As such, it’s important to find a co-packer that works with you and your financial scope.
- Benefits – What can you get out of partnering with a co-packer? You can make more of your product, which means you can sell more of your product. In addition, the cost per unit goes down, which means you make more money with each sale when working with a co-packer.
While hiring a co-packer is an extra expense, it’s one that pays off. When partnering with a co-packer there’s also plenty of opportunities to save money—many co-packers, like Wildpack, have the purchasing power to buy things like cans, trays, shrink wrap, and other packaging and shipment materials, saving you money in the long run.
What Else Should You Know? Co-Pack with Wildpack
If you’re struggling with operations, experiencing high demand, aiming to make high-quality products, and looking to invest your money in something that’s worthwhile, there’s nothing left to do but hire a co-packer like Wildpack.
To that end, a good co-packer should be able to offer you three key elements that will ensure a great working relationship:
- Good price
- Speed
- Quality
You need a price that is reasonable, a turnaround time you can trust, and a consistently high-quality output. At Wildpack, we know how to deliver all three of these elements to the highest standards. Partner with us today to elevate your beverage empire.
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
- Forbes. Thinking About Scaling Your Food Business? Here’s What To Know About Co-Packing. https://www.forbes.com/sites/square/2021/06/04/thinking-about-scaling-your-food-business-heres-what-to-know-about-co-packing/?sh=13990d8918e2
