Answers to the questions emerging brands ask us most about co-packing, pricing, certifications, and working with Minimus Products, a contract packager in Newbury Park, California.
Co-packing basics
What is co-packing?
Co-packing, also called contract packaging, is when a brand hires an outside company to fill, seal, label, and pack its product. The brand keeps ownership of the product and formula; the co-packer provides the equipment, trained staff, and a certified facility. Minimus Products is a co-packer in Newbury Park, California, focused on small and medium runs for emerging brands.
What is the difference between co-packing, co-manufacturing, and private label?
Co-packing means packaging your product (usually your own formula) into the formats you sell. Co-manufacturing adds making or blending the product itself, such as blending powders. Private label usually means putting your brand on a standard, ready-made formula. Most of our clients bring their own formula, and we package it under their brand.
What product categories do you work with?
Food, beverage, supplements, pet food and pet supplements, beauty, personal care, household and cleaning, garden, and more. If your product is unusual, we are happy to take a look.
Do you package pet food and pet supplements?
Yes. We are registered with the FDA and the California Department of Public Health to package pet food and pet supplements, which many co-packers are not set up to do. Learn more in our article on pet food and pet supplement co-packing.
Do you offer turnkey co-packing, or just filling?
Both. We can handle filling only, or a turnkey project that includes sourcing componentry, filling, labeling, boxing, and retail displays, plus warehousing and fulfillment through our sister company about a mile away.
Can you blend powders or particulates?
Yes. We have a ribbon blender for powders and a multi-lane weigh filler for particulates.
Do you do hot fills, pasteurization, or aseptic filling?
Not today. For the right partner, such as a brand doing something unique that existing facilities are not set up to support, we would consider adding the certifications and processes needed.
Are you USDA certified for dairy, poultry, beef, pork, eggs, or baby formula?
No, and it is not an area we are currently looking to expand into.
Pricing, minimums, and timing
How is co-packing priced?
We charge per unit, with setup and cleanup costs built into that per-unit price. Every job is quoted individually, because pricing depends on the format, the equipment used, the componentry, and the quantity.
What is your minimum run, and what does it get me?
Our general minimum is $2,500 per project. What that buys depends on the equipment your product needs:
- Semi-automated filling (jars, bags, bottles) suits smaller quantities. As a rough example, $2,500 might cover about 2,500 units at around $1 each. Actual pricing varies by project.
- Fully automated equipment (such as sachets) usually carries a 10,000-unit minimum, which can come to more than $2,500. If you only need 5,000 sachets, the cost is about the same as 10,000, so most clients take the larger run.
Fully automated equipment generally starts to make sense around 30,000 units.
What is your typical lead time?
It depends on the project and componentry, but we provide a clear timeline with every quote. Because we focus on small and medium runs, we can give your project real attention instead of slotting it behind much larger accounts.
How do we get started and get a quote?
Reach out through our contact page with your product, the formats and pack sizes you want, and your expected volumes. We will scope the project and get you a quote.
Certifications and food safety
What certifications do you have?
Minimus Products is FDA-registered and certified by the California Department of Public Health for food and organic food packaging. We hold CCOF organic certification (USDA National Organic Program) and OK kosher certification, have a third-party cGMP audit from Eurofins, maintain a written food safety plan and HACCP plan, and are a member of the Contract Packaging Association. We will pursue additional certifications, such as halal, when a customer needs them.
What food safety programs do you have?
We have a third-party cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) audit from Eurofins, a written food safety plan, and a HACCP plan.
How do you prevent cross-contamination between products?
We thoroughly sanitize equipment between every run.
How do you do your lab and microbiological testing?
We test food bulk on arrival, regardless of the certificate of analysis that may accompany it, and we test production samples as well. Samples go to a licensed food microbiological lab.
Do you lot-code products for traceability?
Yes. Every run is lot-coded, or its date code serves as the lot identifier, so product can be traced if a question ever comes up.
Can you package gluten-free products?
Yes. For products labeled gluten-free, our third-party lab tests incoming ingredients and finished goods to confirm gluten is below 20 parts per million, the FDA threshold for a gluten-free claim. We do not handle certified gluten-free programs, which are a separate and much rarer requirement.
Can you package organic or non-GMO products?
Yes. We are CCOF certified organic under the USDA National Organic Program. Organic standards prohibit GMOs, so certified organic products can also be labeled non-GMO. We also package non-GMO products that are not organic.
Are you kosher or halal certified?
We are OK kosher certified. We are not halal certified today but would consider adding it for a customer who needs it.
Working with us
Who owns my formula?
You do. Your formula and product belong to your brand.
Will you sign an NDA?
Yes. We sign a nondisclosure agreement on nearly every job. We know brands are protective of their formulas and plans.
Do you carry insurance? Do I need product liability insurance?
We carry general liability insurance. Brands need to carry their own product liability insurance for their products, and retailers typically ask to see it.
Where are you located, and do you work with brands outside California?
Our facility is in Newbury Park, California, in the Conejo Valley. We work with brands across California, nationwide, and internationally.
Can I visit, or attend my first production run?
Yes. We welcome site visits, and clients can be present for their first run. For highly unusual projects, such as ones using equipment the client provides, we may ask the client to be there.
Do you help with artwork?
Most brands come with their own artwork, but we can supply die-line files for your designer to place artwork onto labels, packets, boxes, and more. We also have good relationships with graphic artists of different styles and can introduce you.
Can you help source my componentry?
Yes, and in most cases we prefer to. We have strong relationships with preferred vendors for labels, packets, bags, boxes, bottles, jars, and more, and we know their materials run well on our equipment.
Can you help source my bulk ingredients?
Sometimes. Most brands handle this themselves, but we have helped source ingredients in some cases and can advise when a product is outside our focus.
If you do not have all the equipment my project needs, can you get it?
Yes. We have grown our capabilities alongside our customers, so we are happy to collaborate on equipment needs and find a way to reach your goal.
What if I scale larger than your current equipment setup?
We would be excited to scale with you by bringing in additional equipment, running additional shifts, and more.
Do you do fulfillment?
Our sister company does. Visit Minimus Fulfillment. They are about a mile away, and we offer free shipping to them.