25 Jul What You Need Before Pitching to a Beverage Co-Packer
If you have a great beverage idea and are ready to scale, finding the right beverage co-packer is a crucial step. But before you reach out to any co-packing facility, it’s important to be prepared. This article will walk you through what you need before pitching to a beverage co-packer, helping you save time, look professional, and increase your chances of landing a partnership.
Why Preparation Matters When Pitching to a Co-Packer
Co-packers receive hundreds of inquiries, especially from startup beverage brands. Showing up prepared sets you apart and gives the co-packer confidence that you’re serious about your business. Unprepared brands risk being ignored or rejected.
1. Finalized Beverage Formula
A co-packer is not a formulation lab. You must already have:
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A commercially viable beverage formula
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Precise ingredient percentages (ideally with nutritional analysis)
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No home kitchen recipes
💡 Tip: If you need help with formulation, work with a food lab or beverage formulation consultant first.
2. Scalable Ingredients & Approved Suppliers
You must know:
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Where you’ll source your ingredients
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If they are available in bulk quantities
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That your ingredients are FDA/USDA compliant
Some co-packers have approved supplier lists — be ready to share certificates of analysis, spec sheets, and sourcing details.
3. Target Production Volume
Co-packers want to know how much you plan to produce.
✅ Be clear on:
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Your MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)
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Ideal first production run size
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Expected growth
If your volume is too low, they may refer you to a pilot facility instead.
4. Packaging Plan
You need to know:
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What kind of bottle, can, or pouch you’ll use
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Label size and application type
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Whether it’s shelf-stable or refrigerated
Bring packaging samples or dielines. Co-packers need to verify your packaging fits their equipment.
5. Shelf Life & Testing
Before mass production, you should have:
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Shelf life testing completed (or in progress)
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Any microbial or stability testing reports
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A plan for how long the product will last unopened
If your beverage requires preservation (like pH control), you may need a process authority letter.
6. Licensing, Insurance & Business Entity
Co-packers may ask for:
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Your business license
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Product liability insurance
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A registered LLC or corporation
This proves you’re legitimate and protects both parties legally.
7. Label Compliance
Your label should already include:
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FDA-compliant Nutrition Facts Panel
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Ingredients in descending order
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Allergen declarations
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Contact info and barcode
Work with a label compliance expert before printing thousands of labels.
8. Budget & Cost Expectations
Have a clear idea of your:
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Budget per unit
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Marketing & distribution plan
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Payment method (many require deposits or prepayment)
Ask for co-packing estimates, but be ready to talk business, not just beverage.
Pitching to a beverage co-packer is a business move — and they want to work with prepared, informed entrepreneurs. By having the right documents, tests, and packaging plans ready, you show professionalism and increase your chances of getting into production faster.
✅ Need Help Getting Co-Packer Ready?
At United Food Labs, we help startups finalize their formulas, complete shelf life testing, and create FDA-compliant labels — so you can confidently pitch to beverage co-packers.
👉 Contact us now or call 818-749-2751 to get started.