Operating a small food business is a challenging, yet satisfying endeavor. While creating a delicious product, designing a unique brand, and personally selling that product to customers and retailers can be exhilarating, it is also very time-consuming. Once you’ve mastered the perfect product, it’s time to decide the long-term goals of your business. If you’re wondering if a co-packer should be part of your long-term plan, keep reading.

Are you satisfied with keeping your brand small by personally making everything yourself? Or are you hoping to bring your production to a larger scale by hiring a co-packer, giving you valuable time to focus on sales?

If you think it may be time to team up with a co-packer, here are some factors to consider first:

Demand

People may love your product as much as you do, but if you are able to keep up with the demand of your customers out of your own kitchen, it may be too soon to bring in a co-packer. However, if you are struggling to fulfill requests, ask yourself these questions:

• Are you projecting different peak and dry times throughout the year, like when seasons or holidays change?
• What is the shelf life of your product? If you produce a large amount now, how long can it last in stores before it goes bad?
• What is the co-packer’s minimum order requirement? Is it compatible with your current needs? 

Product Scalability

You may think your homemade salsa is scalable, but you might not be taking into account all of the minor tweaks you make through the cooking process without even thinking about it. Here’s how to know for sure:

• Can your measurements be converted to weight?
• Does your recipe require special equipment?
• Do you have exact temperatures and cooking times for your recipe?

Most importantly, your recipe has to be brought down to an exact science, so that a consistently delicious product can be produced every time it’s replicated. A pinch of this or a sprinkle of a secret ingredient just won’t work when working with a co-packer.

Money

Partnering with a co-packer is a big financial step for most small business owners. If your product is scalable and your demand is high, it’s time to research exactly what you are expecting the co-packer to assist you with and how much you can afford to spend. 

• What type of packaging will you use?
• Will you provide the recipe’s ingredients or will the co-packer?
• Will the co-packer package, store, and ship the product for you?
• Do your products require preservatives?

If you have the demand, scalability, and cash flow, Palace Foods is here to help take your small business to the next level. Contact us today to learn more about what we offer as a family-owned wet foods co-packer. We look forward to assisting you in sharing your beloved recipes with the world.