Four cooperation models
Custom formulation: the plant develops a recipe against your flavour and specification targets; ownership and confidentiality must be agreed up front.
Private label: you supply or select the recipe, the plant manufactures and packs under your brand.
Co-development: both sides commit R&D resources, usually over a longer cycle, with explicit IP allocation.
Flexible manufacturing: small batches and frequent changeovers, suited to trial launches and market testing.
The milestones from enquiry to volume
Brief (category, flavour direction, target cost, packaging) → sampling and bench trials → specification sign-off and stability testing → pilot scale-up → packaging and compliance review → first production run → batch delivery and traceability.
The step that causes most delay is specification sign-off: flavour is subjective, so it has to be pinned down with measurable values such as acidity, Brix and pH.
What to prepare
Brand credentials, target sales channel, packaging artwork, required shelf life and transport conditions, plus whether live cultures or specific certifications are required. The earlier these are fixed, the fewer sampling rounds are needed.
Frequently asked
- What is the typical minimum order quantity?
- It depends on category, packaging format and how the line is scheduled. Trial volumes can usually be handled through flexible scheduling, at a higher unit cost than full-scale production.
- How is recipe confidentiality protected?
- Through an NDA defining ownership, permitted use and exclusivity, plus a contractual bar on using the recipe for other clients without authorisation.