How Does Co-Packing Work?

The beverage industry is rapidly growing. With an increasing demand from consumers for canned drinks and the volume of products on grocery shelves expected to grow, it’s no surprise that many beverage companies are scaling up their manufacturing and shipping operations.¹ 

While expanding your business and gaining more customers may seem like a foolproof plan, creating a high volume of products can be tricky for a small business—especially if you’re working alone.

Enter co-packing companies. Beverage contract packaging is an external service that many small businesses use to assemble their products on a larger scale. Of course, every brand owner deserves to know what exactly their co-packer is doing with their products—and we have all the answers for you right here.

The Process of Co-Packing

Now that you have a basic idea of what co-packing is, it’s time to break down the packaging process step-by-step and the benefits of using a co-packer. It’s important for business owners to find the right co-packer that is communicative and transparent about their operations, otherwise, you may find yourself questioning the quality of your products.

Here at WildPack, we’re committed to creating exactly what our customers want—right down to the ingredients, labels, and volume of cans they need. So, without further ado, let’s talk about the co-packing service and process here at WildPack:

Step #1: Determine Your Needs

The first step to creating this partnership is discussing your unique needs with your co-packer. From there, you can work together to determine a customized plan for manufacturing these goods.

Some key points you’ll want to discuss when consulting with a potential co-packer include:

• Volume – Volume is a crucial element of co-packing. It’s important to find a co-packer that specializes in the production scale you’re working toward. While some co-packers only can work with smaller brands, others may focus solely on large corporations. Here at WildPack, we produce orders that range from 2,000 to 1 million cans at a time. 
• Design – Many co-packing companies—including WildPack—offer shrink sleeving services along with their packaging. This is why it’s crucial to discuss design elements and visual preferences with your co-packer beforehand. This will ensure that the outside of your can is up to par with what’s inside.
• Price – Small businesses need to get an estimated price before choosing a co-packer. Fortunately, WildPack offers published scale pricing during your initial consultation—so you’ll never have to worry about surprise bills in the future.

Step #2: Start With the Ingredients

Once you’ve signed a contract with your co-packer, it’s time to start the actual assembly operations. The first step to co-packing beverages is following the recipe and putting the ingredients together.

At WildPack, we can incorporate botanical and functional ingredients in both liquid and powder form. We also work with a wide variety of clients, producing popular beverages such as:

• Canned cocktails
• Malt-based drinks
• Sparkling water
• Sports drinks
• Wine spritzers
• Non-Alcoholic drinks
• Energy Drinks

Once the ingredients are acquired and the recipe is followed to your liking, your co-packing company will move on to the next stage of the process: batching.

Step #3: Batching

Batching refers to the process of creating a larger volume of identical products at once. In the case of beverage manufacturing, your beverage co-packer will craft a large batch of liquid that will then be poured into each can.

Here at WildPack, we specialize in small-batch agitated mixing, with a minimum of 2,000 gallons per run. This means we take the time to carefully combine all the liquid and powder ingredients into one seamless product. Depending on the type of beverage you’re producing, the specific circulation and blending methods used will vary.²

What doesn’t vary, however, is our commitment to quality. With our state-of-the-art mixing technology created by world-class engineers, we’re able to use flexible liquid temperature control to get the perfect product every time. 

Once your batch has been properly mixed, it’s time for the star of the show: canning.

Step #4: Canning

With the perfectly mixed product ready to go, our next step is packaging the product into cans. This is typically done via an automated conveyor system that carefully fills each can with the appropriate amount of liquid. 

Once the cans have been filled, lids are then placed to seal the product right away. For sparkling water and sodas, a burst of CO2 is used to push any remaining air out of the can to lock in carbonation. The final step to the canning process involves a high-speed seamer that seals the lid to the rest of the can.³

At WildPack, all our products are canned in-house to keep your beverages fresh. We even offer a live feed of our production so customers can observe the process from start to finish. If any cans are damaged or improperly assembled, our locked-in scrap rate ensures you won’t pay extra for replacements. 

After your cans are ready to go, we can finally move on to the fun part of co-packing: labeling.

Step #5: Labeling

The canning process would be pointless if your carefully crafted label wasn’t included, right? Fortunately, WildPack offers on-site labeling of shrink sleeve cans as the final step in our co-packing process. 

Here’s how our state-of-the-art shrink sleeve labeling works:

• Labels are designed – First we start by creating your unique shrink sleeve label. One of the biggest benefits of shrink sleeving is that large, full-color designs can be used instead of the limitations of a simple ink label. This allows customers to let their creativity flow when designing the label that’s tied to their brand. 
• Plastic labels are applied – Once your design is ready to go, it’s time to hit the conveyor belt. Our high-tech label applicator places the plastic band around each can as they go through the machine. We also conduct quality control checks as each batch goes through the machine to ensure a flawless final product. 
• Cans run through the shrink sleeve tunnel – After the labels are printed and applied, your cans then move onto the final step of the process: shrink sleeving. When first applied, these labels fit loosely around each can. The cans are then fed through a heated steam tunnel that shrinks each label to fit around the cans perfectly. Learn more about how shrink labels are applied on our blog.

The best part about shrink sleeving is the amount of variety you can achieve with your labels. Shrink sleeves can be customized based on color, artwork, and even the finish of the materials—with options like gloss, satin, or matte. 

Once you’re satisfied with the labels, your co-packing company can move on to the final step of the process: packing and shipping.

Step #6: Packing and Shipping

The last step your co-packing company will complete is packing and shipping. 

With WildPack Beverages, all your packing and shipping needs can be met at once. In this department, we offer several high-quality services for our clients, including:

• Inventory management – With WildPack, you’ll also have access to a real-time inventory database to ensure products are being manufactured and shipped in the right quantities. 
• Security – The shipping and receiving of both raw material and finished products will be carefully monitored by our team at WildPack—giving you security from start to finish.
• Shipping logistics – Figuring out the shipping end of production can be grueling, but that’s what we’re here for. We offer services to meet the needs of your company—whether you’re a small business seeking less than load freight or a larger company in need of full load. We also work closely with shipping companies that range from ocean freight to air freight and everything in between. 

Why WildPack?

Your brand is going to benefit from choosing a co-packing partner like WildPack. Rather than dealing with the logistics of canning, labeling, and shipping, WildPack is here to simplify the process and take this weight off your shoulders.

As a small business, you need ample time to focus on crafting delicious recipes, developing a marketing campaign, and building up a base of loyal customers. 

When you partner with a co-packing company, long gone are the days of asking the question, “how does co-packing work?” You can leave the logistics to those who understand them best. 

With WildPack, your product is in good hands—and sure to land into the hands of your loyal customers, too!

 

Sources:

1. Statistica. Alcoholic Drinks. https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/alcoholic-drinks/united-states
2. Sciencedirect Direct. Mixing and Agitation. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780750675109500425 
3. Craft Brewing Business. The Science Behind Canning Craft Beer. https://www.craftbrewingbusiness.com/equipment-systems/lets-learn-science-behind-canning-craft-beer/ 
4. IBISWorld. Craft Beer Production Industry in the US. https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/craft-beer-production-industry/