Contract Food Packaging Guide

Food manufacturers of all types need customized, complete packaging solutions catered to their specific products. When choosing the right packaging or repackaging solution for your needs, it’s important to remember the importance of your brand’s physical presentation, as this is key to ensuring happy consumers.

Contract packaging, or co-packing, offers an excellent way for companies to minimize packaging and shipping costs while ensuring their products are packaged properly.

Experienced contract packagers utilize high-speed equipment and offer a range of specialized services designed to enhance your overall packaging functions and streamline supply chain processes.

Before Working with a Co-Packer

Determining whether co-packing is a good fit for your company is an important step in making sure that you get the most out of your investment. Although this option can be a good fit for many growing companies, finding out whether your company is currently ready to take advantage of the benefits of co-packing can help you make sure that you are ready to take this step.

To ensure you make the right decision for your business, consider the following:

Demand requirements
Before getting established with a co-packer, it’s important to assess your current ability to keep up with production demands.
Business goals
You should take the time to evaluate what your current goals for your business are and how close they are to being attainable. Once you have identified where you want your business to go and how a co-packer may be able to help you get there, you can start the process of researching potential co-packers.
Certifications
Co-packers may require you to have certain certifications regarding food safety and other types of compliance. Consider the types of certifications you already have and which ones you may need to obtain before working with a co-packer.
Financial implications
Partnering with a co-packer comes with different costs. It’s important to think about whether you can afford any upfront costs and other costs associated with contract packaging.
Compromises
Working with a co-packer may require you to make certain compromises when it comes to packaging changes and formulations. Because of this, it’s important to think about whether you’d be willing to make those kinds of shifts.
Co-packer’s ability to scale up
Determining your potential co-packer’s ability to scale up and help grow your business is very important.

Once You’re Ready to Work With a Co-Packer

Once you have determined that working with a co-packer is the best fit for your business, you will need to put plenty of effort into finding the right co-packer for your needs. First and foremost, your co-packer should have experience in working with the specific types of food products your business handles. Other important things to consider when determining if a co-packer is the best fit for your business include:

  • Flexibility: Can they grow alongside your business as you expand into new product categories?
  • Location: Are they located somewhere that makes sense for your business?
  • Alignment: How do their values compare with your personal values and the values that you would like your business to convey?
  • Agreements: Are their Manufacturer Service Agreement (MSA) and NDA guidelines sufficient to meet the needs of your business?

Working With a Co-Packer

Finding a co-packer that is a good fit for your business is only the first step in ensuring success. Building a strong professional relationship can go a long way when it comes to maintaining trust and creating a long-lasting partnership.

One of the best ways to do this is by maintaining open communication. Your co-packer needs to be aware of how much you expect your business to grow and what kind of role they will play in that process. Having this open line of communication will also make it easier to implement any changes, address potential problems, and avoid the typical issues that arise from misunderstandings and general lack of communication.

Another way to ensure the best possible relationship with your co-packer is to be willing to adapt. As your products and relationships grow, certain aspects of your product or packaging may need to change. Being flexible and willing to adapt in these situations is crucial in maintaining the relationship between you and your co-packer.

What Services Are Included in Co-Packing?

Co-packers not only package and repackage your food products, but they can also offer additional services to meet a range of needs. Common co-packing services include: 

Replacement of Damaged or Outdated Packaging 

With co-packers, you can replace any packaging that is outdated or damaged during transport. This is often related to situations involving holidays, seasons, and special promotions. 

Replacement of Bulk Packaging With Unit Packages 

Co-packers can put products from unit packages into bulk packaging. They can also repackage unsold products in unit packaging into bulk packaging to take up less warehousing space. 

Labeling 

Many co-packers can create and place labels that have decorative, informational, or functional purposes. 

Kitting 

Co-packers may offer kitting, which involves combining various products into different sets. These sets often incorporate customized packaging, printed tape, and other promotional materials. Other co-packing services include:

  • Film/shrink wrapping and other protective wrappings
  • Packaging inserts such as advertising materials, bonuses, etc.
  • Branding services and custom printed packages

What Are the Benefits of Packaging Outsourcing?

Creating and implementing your own in-house packaging solutions can be a big undertaking, especially for food companies that lack ample storage space, have a limited number of employees, or do not have their own facilities. When working with a co-packer, you gain access to several key benefits, including:

  • Cost savings. Building a packaging infrastructure from scratch and training employees on all of the necessary processes can be very expensive. Working with a co-packer eliminates these costs by preventing you from investing in facility space, more staff, etc.
  • Scalability. Co-packing offers easy scalability, meaning you can adjust the scope of services to align with the way your business is growing.
  • Access to expert, high-quality services. Since co-packers specialize in packaging services, they offer enhanced accuracy, faster speeds, different packaging options, and more. This gives you more time to focus on other areas of your business without having to worry about the quality of internal packaging operations.

Co-packers can also guide you to select equipment that suits your product and your goals. For example, pouch filling services are gaining popularity due to their versatility and efficiency in packaging various food products. The customizable nature of pouches allows them to cater to different market needs, making them a preferred option over traditional cartons. This shift is evident as more products in the freezer, snack, and pet food sections of grocery stores are now being packaged in pouches.

Co-Packaging for Large Food Companies

Large food companies, in particular, can benefit from working with a co-packer, especially when it comes to handling increased production demands. Since co-packers are better able to stay current on new global markets as well as new packaging and process solutions, they can be extremely helpful in managing the operations of established food companies. Other ways large food businesses benefit from co-packers include:

  • Co-manufacturer role. Co-packers in the food industry can also cook, process, and blend food products on top of packaging and labeling.
  • Food safety expertise. Co-packers must use certified processes and be compliant with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). This involves the use of various food safety management systems. Additionally, they must be able to manage allergens and comply with any labeling regulations.

To learn more about why large manufacturers need a co-packer, check out our blog. Econo-Pak offers comprehensive food case packing services, which involve the careful and efficient handling of packaged food and beverage products by skilled operators. We ensure each product is securely packed into optimally sized master cases, reducing empty space and enhancing product protection during transportation.

Co-Packing from Econo-Pak

At Econo-Pak, we have over four decades of contract packaging experience. We operate under full FDA regulation, are recognized by the GFSI, and use a HACCP-based quality management program to ensure safe packaging operations for your food products. To get started on your co-packing solution, send us your project information to get a fixed-price quote fast.

Plus, if you’re interested in learning more about co-packing and our services, check out our podcast. We have tons of content about the co-packing process, interviews with our CEO and other executives, and more.

Let's start scaling.

Is your demand outpacing your ability to package your own product? Then consider outsourcing with Econo-Pak.

With over 40 years of experience working with both small brands and Fortune 500 companies, we are capable of handling your specific dry food product.

Get in touch with our team for a fixed-price quote for your project.

Co-Packing FAQs

How does Econo-Pak handle date & lot coding services for packaged food?

Econo-Pak employs a range of coding and printing technologies, including thermal transfer, high-resolution inkjet, and embossing, to ensure precise application of best-by dates, batch numbers, production codes, and origin information on food packaging. These methods offer accuracy and clarity to meet labeling regulations and consumer needs.

What does Econo-Pak provide in terms of food labeling services?

Econo-Pak provides a range of food labeling services that are automated, ensuring speed and accuracy. We cater to special promotions by offering labels that can communicate timely messages effectively. Additionally, Econo-Pak offers the option of full-color labels that can cover an entire retail package, enhancing its visibility and attractiveness on shelves.

How can Econo-Pak assist in creating variety packaging for food products?

Econo-Pak offers services to help consolidate various food items into a single, attractive variety package. We can assemble combo and rainbow packs which are ideal for special promotions or permanent offerings in large retail stores. This allows for a dynamic and appealing product presentation to attract customers.

What expertise does Econo-Pak offer in carton loading services for food products?

Econo-Pak offers expert carton loading services specifically tailored for food products. We provide automated solutions for packing large quantities of identical items efficiently. Additionally, for food products that require assorted packaging, we employ skilled personnel who manually pack the cartons with high precision and efficiency, ensuring diverse food items are packaged effectively.

How does Econo-Pak's fin seal flow wrapping services benefit small food products?

Econo-Pak provides fin seal flow wrapping services that are particularly beneficial for small food items by accommodating large volume packaging needs. We offer options to use either print-registered or plain films and foils, catering to various market requirements, from retail to wholesale and bulk distribution. This method ensures efficient and secure packaging for small-scale food products, enhancing their marketability and shelf-life.

What are the benefits of using Econo-Pak's shrink bundling services for bottles and cans?

Econo-Pak’s shrink bundling services offer several advantages for packaging bottles and cans, particularly useful for beverages and food products. Firstly, these services are cost-effective while ensuring quick turnaround times, making it an efficient solution for businesses looking to package their products rapidly. The flexibility of the packaging allows for use with or without a supporting corrugated tray or pad. Additionally, our service includes the option of using printed bundling film that can be customized to advertise special multi-pack offerings or variety packs directly on store shelves. This feature is particularly beneficial for marketing purposes, enhancing product visibility and appeal to consumers.

What type of food products are suitable for Econo-Pak's VFFS food bagging services?

Econo-Pak’s vertical form fill seal (VFFS) food bagging services are ideally suited for packaging dry food products like snacks, powders, hard candy, and more. These services offer flexible options for creating bags using either complex multi-layer laminates or simple single structure films, ensuring a versatile solution for various food product needs.

Where can you find information about Econo-Pak's certifications and quality practices?

You can find our information here:

Certifications

Quality practices

These details are provided to help you learn more about Econo-Pak’s diverse services.

What contract food packaging services does Econo-Pak offer?

Econo-Pak provides an extensive array of contract food packaging solutions. We handle vertical form fill seal (VFFS) bagging, pouch filling, and shrink bundling for bottles and cans. Our capabilities also extend to fin seal flow wrapping, carton loading, variety packaging, shrink wrapping, labeling, as well as date and lot coding. Lastly, we are equipped to offer case packing services for various food products.