News and articles about product packaging and custom fabrication available from Dure

4 Important Questions to Ask a Co-packer

If you’re starting a food product business, a co-packer can be a huge asset. However, not all co-packing companies may fulfill your specific needs. Here are some essential questions you should ask a co-packer to make sure they’re a good fit for you.

Does their brand match yours?

If you’re hiring a co-packer instead of a private label, your business will be the one determining the food that will be produced. Does the co-packing company make the same kind of products that you do? If they don’t, would they be willing to adjust? Make your co-packing company aware of what your brand is and what kind of food they would be making. If you have an established brand, make sure they can fit that brand.

Can they change along with your business?

Are you looking to expand your business beyond what it is now? Are you hoping or anticipating that this will happen in the near future? If you thing significant change to your business may happen over the next few years, you should make sure that your co-packer is on the same page. Ask the co-packer company if they have any long-term plans that are compatible with yours. Also, consider whether this co-packer is a short-term or long-term hire. The co-packer might be the right size for your business right now, but if you expand, will you need a larger scale co-packing company?

What certifications do they have?

It is also important to know how qualified your co-packer is. An effective way of knowing this is to ask what certifications the company has. For example, if your co-packer has an NSF certificate, then you know their products have been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). If they have a BRC certification, you know they have methods of assuring safety in their food production. If you’re looking for a co-packing company and want to make sure they are professional and take their job seriously, asking about their training and certifications are a great start.

What does the co-packer already have?

Since your business is providing the food, that will add to costs along with the co-packer. But what other costs will come with hiring a co-packer? It is important to know if the co-packers already have the proper equipment needed for the job. If they don’t have equipment at all, how much would it cost for you? If their equipment is not a good fit for your food production, are they open to changing their process?

If you’re interested in working with Dure Foods, we would love to answer these questions for you. Feel free to contact us and let us know what you need.

For more information, follow the link to visit our website: https://durefoods.com/

When Co-packaging is Right for Your Business

Co-packaging can be an extremely helpful assistance in many cases, but how do you know when or if your food business is ready for it? This is a question that we get at Dure Foods quite often. Here are some reasons why co-packaging is beneficial for a business and if your business is a good fit for it.

What is a co-packer?

A co-packer is a company that can manufacture food for a client. Working with a co-packer is great for smaller businesses that are not able to afford a larger factory or warehouse to produce food at a mass scale or for businesses that want to focus on expanding their business that does not include building a food packing facility. Co-packaging allows companies to build their business without having to spend the large amount of money that mass manufacturing would require.

Reasons to Use a Co-Packer

Experience and Practice
A co-packaging company will know the most efficient means of buying and producing food based on previous experience. If your company wants to focus more on the business end of things, food production can be handled by the co-packing company. Additionally, food packing companies have knowledge about the most cost-effective ways of producing food, so if you hire the right food packaging company, your business will save money on food purchases. Co-packaging requires money, but a good co-packaging company can also help you save money in other areas.

Keeping up Demand on a Larger Scale
If you have any interest in expanding your business, but are not able to keep up with the higher level of demand, it might be time to upgrade to co-packaging. Expanding your business can also expand the amount of customers you can reach. For many businesses, operating a large staff with multiple locations can be far too much to handle, and would not be a realistic strategy. Co-packaging offers an effective middle-ground that prevents you from being overwhelmed by operating a large business while also relieving you from not having to do everything yourself.

Work with Professionals
If the co-packaging company you hire is BRC certified, as we are at Dure Foods, then there is a guarantee that you are working with people that are qualified for the job and know how to perform it without instruction. Being BRC certified means that the company is aware of food safety management and adheres to food health standards, so you’ll know that there will be no risk to the customers, yourself or your business. If you are considering hiring a co-packaging company, these qualifications are a good guide to see which ones are the most legitimate.

If you are looking to get involved with a co-packer, give us a call at Dure Foods. We would love to talk to you about your project and see if it is a fit for both of us.