Beverage contract manufacturing

Refreshing Contract Manufacturing

Briefing, Recipe Direction, and Tasting

Our collaboration begins with a clear brief: target market, usage scenario (can/glass bottle), flavor profile, acid-sugar balance, carbonation level, as well as the desired price point and positioning. During recipe development, tasting is part of the process: based on the preliminary recipe direction, we typically prepare 2–3 variants as product demos to ensure decisions are well-informed in terms of taste and parameters. Each tasting round generally takes about 1 month, and if fine-tuning or an additional tasting round is needed, it can require another month. With a finalized recipe, we align the starting point with manufacturing realities and stability goals.

Manufacturing and Quality Assurance

At our facility, beverage contract manufacturing is a controlled, documented process: from raw material preparation through mixing and carbonation to packaging, stability and consistent quality are paramount. Operational routines, technological discipline, and quality checkpoints together provide the predictability a brand needs. The goal is for the product to consistently meet taste, carbonation, and quality expectations in every batch.

Packaging and Graphic Matching

A recipe becomes a commercial product when its appearance and packaging precisely align with it. We coordinate the format (can/glass bottle), labeling and graphic submission requirements, and mandatory elements. With completed graphics, we check manufacturability and specifications; for designs under development, we offer guidance to ensure the final product can be quickly and flawlessly put into production.

Scheduling, Production Slots, and Fulfillment

Production scheduling is capacity-based: typically, based on finalized, approved demos, production can be initiated with ~2–2.5 months of planning ahead, as the earliest available production slots typically open up then. Beverage production turnaround is shorter since there is no fermentation time: once the product goes into production, the finished product is typically ready within ~8–10 business days. Fulfillment is achieved with the manufacturing of the finished product; it must be shipped and the entire quantity taken over within 2 weeks after production unless additional warehousing services are utilized. Currently, the facility does not have a pasteurization unit available.

Commercial Terms and Minimums

The minimum quantity is 2000 liters per batch, and 6000 liters annually, which generally requires committing to three batches per year. Tasting is a separate charge; the details are included in the quote and general contract manufacturing conditions. A 50% advance payment is due before the start of production; the remaining amount is payable post-fulfillment, typically with a 15-day payment term as per contract. Should the finished product be stored in inventory, the payment obligation remains according to the contract from the point of fulfillment.