From America’s Farms Comes Inspiration For Future Products Created By Start-up and Emerging Brands.

Complete Consumer Product Development Options With Our Partners (Internal and External).

Trial Runs, Sampling, Recipe Testing, Competitive Research, Shelf-Life Testing and More.

Access to Our Complete Roster of Ingredient Manufacturers and Suppliers. www.IngredientManager.com

Endless Sources For Packaging Design and Packaging Needs For All Product Types (Food and Non-Food Categories).

Ever-Expanding Roster of CPG Industry Contract Manufacturers, Contract Packagers and Commercial Kitchens.

Leading to a-Number of 3PL (Warehousing Partners) in Strategic Locations in North America (East to Mid-West to West).

Suggestions On the Best Trade Shows To Exhibit At (Trade Associations, Retailers and Distributors).

Meetings With Retailer and Distributor Customers Throughout North America (All Retail Formats).

Leading to Products On-the-Shelf in Both Traditional and Non-Traditional Retail and Food Service Customers.

The Contract Manufacturing Alliance (Contract Manufacturers, Pilot Plants, Private Labelers, Commercial Kitchens) Was Created to Be the Key Resource For Anything to Do With Manufacturing Consumer Products.

The Contract Packaging Association and the Co-Packing Network Created the Contract Manufacturing Alliance to bring together Consumer Product Industry Groups (Trade Associations, Product Developers, Ingredient Companies, Packaging Companies, Food Scientists, Incubators, Funding Groups, Brokers, Retailers, Food Service Customers, Distributors and Others) For Common Collaborative Goals:  Helping Brand Groups (Of All Sizes) With Their Manufacturing Needs.

Complete Incubation Programs for Go Texas Members:  The Tex Angels Team (part of the Co-Packing Network), helps brands with anything to do with the business.  We are available for any subject that involves with the following area:

  • Innovating a Brand: We help with everything from brand concepts, first-run recipes, branding exercises, customer research, competitor research, retail and format planning and anything else with the ideas behind the new brand.
  • Creating a Brand: Most importantly with finding a contract manufacturer, we also help brands with ingredients, packaging, first test-runs, shelf-life testing, pilot plant testing and much more.
  • Launching a Brand: After a product is created, we are vital for the launch of the brand into the marketplace. We have internal and external teams that cover most retail, food service and e-commerce channels (www.RetailFormats.com)

Cottage
Foods

www.CottageFoods.org

Making Products in the Home for Local Sales (Farmer’s Markets, Local Retailers)

Commercial
Kitchens

www.CommercialKitchens.org

Renting Kitchen Space by the Hour to Create Products for Local and Regional Sales Efforts

Pilot
Plants

www.PilotPlants.org

Working With a Facility to Create Short-Runs for Testing and Trial Needs (Also For MFG as Well)

Contract
Manufacturers

www.Co-Packing.org

Working With a Contract Manufacturer to Make Consumer Products For You

Private
Labelers

www.PrivateLabeling.org

Retailers, Food Service Operators and E-Commerce Platforms Working With Manufacturers For PL Needs

CPG
Manufacturers

www.CPGMFG.org

Consumer Product Groups Who Have Their Own Manufacturing Facilities Making Their Own Brands

A Complete Roster of Offerings:

The CPA’s Request for Quote (RFQ) tool allows start-up and emerging brands submit a ‘Request for Quote’ for their needs for a commercial kitchen and/or a contract manufacturer.   The Request for Quote will be dispatched to CPA Members whose capabilities match your project needs, and if they can assist you, will contact you directly about their services and capabilities.
RFQ Tool

The Co-Packing Network manages the request all-the-way through to end up with successful results.  They also can become a project manager to manage the whole process (search, secure and work with one or more contract manufacturers).

Are you looking for a Co-Packer?

The Co-Packing Network:  With its roster of 15,000 plus contract manufacturers (of all types), they can help start-up emerging and established brands of all-kinds.  They say, if it can be sold in a Wal-Mart (or Target and/or AAFES) they have co-packing partners who can make it.
The Co-Packing Network was created as the extension of the RFQ Tool (Request For Help) created by the Contract Packaging Association 15-years ago.  Simply fill out a RFQ Tool request or email us to talk about your needs.

The Contract Packaging Association has its own extension program relating specifically to contract manufacturers / co-packers (www.Co-Packing.org).  Co-Packing.org will have its own specific programs that relate to client-based needs, facility equipment, ingredients, packaging, shelf-life testing, product certifications, trade associations, formulation partners,  and more.
Celebrating 15-years and going CPA’s RFQ Tool requests go straight to its membership and if needed, accesses the master roster of 15,000 co-packers for a clients needs.
A-number of clients would rather have personalized help with their co-packer search and management needs. We offer our ‘Project Manager’ service with can handle everything for you (searching, landing and managing the co-packer relationship)..

Need Help With Packaging?

The subject of packaging itself is one of the most expensive parts of he manufacturing process. The costs for film, film plates and first order of packaging is an investment to be careful with (make sure you are 100% correct on the information on the packaging). The Co-Packing Network makes packaging one of the cornerstones in its discussions with clients.

Our team’s packaging advisors have over 30 years’ experience in technical, design, production, thin-wall plastic packaging, extrusion, molding, labelling and Heat transfer decoration. Management, sales & marketing of packaging. Local and Overseas sourcing. Passionate about packaging technology & trends, Folding Carton, Litho-Laminate and Corrugated Packaging. Point-of-Sale, Shelf-Ready Packaging. Marketing & Promotional Printing; Large Format, Digital, Offset, Flexographic and Labels. Expertise also in developing Contract Packing and Product Co-Manufacturing arrangement. Extensive Domestic and International Pack and Print Resourcing. innovation, sustainable materials along with waste management (recycling education) production performance. Knowledgeable in start up operations, importing and shipping, warehousing & transport, Quality, FMCG and HACCP. When it comes to choosing the right packaging material for your product, you can’t go wrong by paying close attention to the details. After all, packaging may just be one of the biggest factors in making your product a success.
The right packaging not only attracts consumers, it will keep your product safe in transportation and keep it fresh. This reinforces the quality of the brand and item when customers know they can count on a fresh item from when it hits the shelf to when it’s in their hand.
Source: www.industrialpackaging.com

Packaging has grown in importance in recent years and innovative packaging is a valuable selling point in the market. Packaging ensures that offerings conform to market trends by communicating unique selling points and offering freshness and convenience. By being lightweight, packaging can reduce the carbon footprint of transportation. Consumers expect that packaging will be recyclable. International studies found that a majority of consumers think food and drink products are over-packaged and a number of them would consider boycotting a product if it didn’t meet their environmental criteria.

A client maybe to use the ingredient suppliers of their selected co-packer or commercial kitchen to save time and money.  In most cases the client ends up finding sources for some of the ingredients (which maybe unusual or not used by their manufacturing partner).  There are a number of sources for ingredients in general, mostly being either direct manufacturers or from distributors.

From The Experts:  Will the brand take care of ingredient sourcing or let the contract manufacturer take care of it? Key points to consider before making the decision:  traceability, quality assurance, regulatory awareness, financial consideration, availability of specialty ingredients.

Notation:  Ingredient suppliers will usually give free samples to the manufacturing partner for a client’s needs to use in test runs.

Ingredient sourcing is one of the most important things to consider when questioning a co-packer. If your raw ingredients are top quality and the co-packer will do the sourcing, you must ensure they will match the integrity profile of your brand. It may take a while to find balance between the quality and cost of your product. Coming up with, or refining, your recipe to meet scale may include a lot of back and forth, including some compromise on your part. However, if you choose a co-packer that already makes the type of product you produce, they should have a list of sources and vendors readily available for you to select the ingredients you prefer.
“The co-packer usually has better buying power, which can be beneficial to the developer of the product, both in price and consistency of ingredients,” Denis notes. The exception: If you have a niche product and need a specific ingredient that the co-packer doesn’t want to source or carry, “then it is worth sourcing it out yourself,” he adds.
Before you start, run a test batch with the new ingredients so you can get feedback from customers and family, and then tweak the recipe if needed. Test for taste, shelf stability, and nutritional profile.
Source:  Specialty Food Association

The Co-Packing Network handles ingredient sourcing for most of its clients (either for direct manufacturing or going through a co-packer).  We are partners with a-number of regional and national ingredient suppliers.

With ingredient manufacturer and supply partners, we are creating the Ingredient Manager.  The Ingredient Manager (www.IngredientManager.com) will be a match-making service offering help to all those needing ingredients (manufacturers, food labs, commercial kitchens, brands, pilot plants, private label manufacturers and others in the industry.

Are you looking for a Commercial Kitchen?

The Co-Packing Network:  From the membership of our own Contract packaging Association extension program, CommercialKitchens.orgthere are numerous Commercial Kitchens (also Kitchen Incubators, Shared Kitchens, Food Innovation Centers, Commissaries, Culinary Kitchens, Food Labs and Food Incubators) to choose from.
Commercial Kitchens work with new food industry start-ups, small-scale producers, farmers market vendors, chefs, cooking classes, home-based bakers, caterers, food truck vendors, beginning farmers, photographers, or anyone needing a certified commercial kitchen.
Commercial Kitchens usually come with kitchen equipment, packaging equipment, ovens, gas or electric stoves, prep tables, convection ovens, walk-in refrigerators and/or freezers, prep sinks, a wash-room, loading docks for trucks, shipping prep areas, storage areas, fryers, flat-top grills, 20-quart mixers, dough sheeters and more.
www.CommercialKitchens.org

Are you looking for a Pilot Plant?

Definition:  The food Pilot Plant is a scaled-down factory built to simulate food and beverage manufacturing practice. It allows manufacturing businesses to experiment and produce trial product under industrial conditions (up to 264-gallon batches).
The Pilot Plant bridges the gap between product formulation and full commercial manufacturing. It is designed to suit a variety of needs and includes a range of portable manufacturing equipment.
Pilot Plants by The Contract Packaging Association:  The Contract Packaging Association has created PilotPlants.org to group together Pilot Plants nationwide to be available for clients of all sizes (Start-up to Emerging to Established).
www.PilotPlants.org

Are You Looking For a Private Label Manufacturer?

The Packaged Goods Services Association (www.PGSA.usand the Co-Packing Network have come together to create a sub-group specific to the topic of private labeling (www.PrivateLabeling.org).
We have an extensive database of private label manufacturers nationwide (in all consumer product categories) available for your needs.  A-number of contract manufacturers also work with private label customers.
Private Label Sales Brokers:  The Co-Packing Network can guide you also to a-number of private label sales brokers ideal to introduce your capabilities to a-number of customers nationwide.

PrivateLabeling.org:  The Packaged Goods Services Association has an extension program involving private label manufacturers and their manufacturing facilities.  With strategic partners such as PMMI (Pack Expo) and others, we help food groups with subjects such as sourcing new manufacturing equipment, packaging, ingredients, sales team programming and more.
* PGSA will also be creating programs for private label manufacturers looking for new customers and for food service and retail customers looking for new private label manufacturer partners.
www.PrivateLabeling.org

Are you looking for to open-up your own production facility?

The Co-Packing Network and its partners are available to help create and build out a facility for a client group.  It can simply be our helping source manufacturing equipment to mapping out the complete facility with everything that is needed.
There is a high percentage of successful food start-ups that chose to have their own facility (versus going through a contract manufacturer).   Taking over an existing facility (with updates) or building a facility means different pros and cons to the brand group.
a.)  Existing Facility:  You may want to explore looking for an existing manufacturing facility to save costs.  Re-vamping an existing building can be an ideal option.
b.)  Building a Facility:  If there is enough funding the efforts of building a facility would be ideal.  The location is very important.  Most states have financial benefits (grants, loans) relating to your choice of a location.   States such as Nevada, Utah and North Carolina are very generous in their programs.  Another important factor is relating to the distribution of the product.

PackagedGoods.org:  The Packaged Goods Services Association has an extension program involving brand groups with their own manufacturing facilities.  With strategic partners such as PMMI (Pack Expo) and others, we help food groups with subjects such as sourcing new manufacturing equipment, packaging, ingredients, sales team programming and more.
www.PackagedGoods.org

Our RFQ Tool (State by State)

We educate clients about each state’s roster of contract manufacturers, their State Department of Agriculture program and those food service and retailer customers that are ideal for their launch.
The Co-Packing Network also has its own series of state-based sites that promote products that are made within that state.
Example:  California (www.CalifMade.com)

California is the number one state in the USA for crops and manufactured foods.

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC

Local, Regional, Farmer’s Markets

Farmer’s Markets:  The Co-Packing Network has created an incubation program that is ideal for farmer’s market operators and their consumer product vendor partners.  We matchmake consumer product entrepreneurs with commercial kitchens, co-packers and pilot plants nationwide.

Local, Regional, National Retailers

Retailers:  Together with our own internal and external sales partners, we help place products (retailers, e-commerce) that consumer product entrepreneurs make with their manufacturing partners. Our own www.RetailFormats.com show-cases all of the retail and food service formats that are ideal for placements.

Local, Regional, National Food Service

Local Food Service Retailers:   Together with our own internal and external sales partners, we help place products (food service operators) that consumer product entrepreneurs make with their manufacturer partners. Our own www.RetailFormats.com show-cases all of the retail and food service formats that are ideal for placements.

Consumer Product Brands (Start-up to Emerging to Established):  We work with start-up, emerging and established brands in categories such as:

  • Gloves
  • Cosmetics
  • Cleaning Supplies
  • Laundry Care
  • Snacks
  • Beverages
  • Frozen Foods
  • Deli and Dairy
  • Meat and Seafood
  • Produce
  • Bakery/Bread
  • Pet Products
  • Stationary
  • Family Planning
  • Apparel
  • Health and Beautycare
  • Audio-Electronic
  • General Merchandise
  • Sports Nutrition
  • Paper Products
  • Liquor Products
  • Sporting Goods
  • Party Supplies
  • Religion Supplies
  • Video Gaming
  • Front-End Products
  • Perfumes
  • Pool Supplies
  • Personal Care
  • Charcoal and BBQ
  • Condiments
  • Sauces
  • Pickles/Olives
  • Picnic and Trash
  • Side Dishes
  • Supplements/Vitamins
  • Kitchen Needs
  • Peanut Butter/Jams
  • Coffee/Cocoa/Tea
  • First-Aid
  • Pest Control
  • Office Supplies
  • Craft and Hobby
  • OTC/Pharma/CBD
  • Ethnic Foods
  • Dietary Foods
  • Baby and Kids Products
  • Breakfast/Cereals
  • Canned Goods
  • Floral Products
  • Grains and Pasta
  • Batteries
  • Tobacco Supplies
  • Writing Instruments
  • Water Softeners
  • Confections
  • Educational Materials
  • Farm Supply
  • Hardware/Electrical
  • Auto Care/Parts
  • In-Store Deli
  • Baking Products
  • Cooking Oils
  • Spices/Seasonings
  • Lighting

Our Extended Community Also Includes:

State Depts of
Agriculture
We keep are involved with state departments of agriculture nationwide and are involved with their brand members.
Trade
Shows
Being based in Las Vegas we either exhibit or walk over 50 CPG industry trade shows. We are-able to meet with brands here.
CPG
Incubators
We are also involved with CPG industry incubators such as Circle Up as well as intro groups such as RangeMe.
SBDC /
Score.org
The team is involved with a-number of SBDC offices as well as Score.org consultants helping start-up brands.
Colleges &
Universities
The team is involved with a-number of SBDC offices as well as Score.org consultants helping start-up brands.
VC & Crowd-
funding Groups
We participate in CPG industry VC events as well help prepare start-ups with their Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns.
CPG Innovation
Labs
We are involved with groups such as Mattson and The National Food Lab as well as a growing number of Pilot Plants.
Commercial
Kitchens
From our own roster of commercial kitchens we create internal CPG incubation programs for their clients.
Farmer’s
Markets
As advisors to farmer’s market trade associations, we are creating CPG incubation programs for their vendors.
Industry
Websites
Between CPA and Conzumables we have our own CPG websites that help promote our programming.

Launching a Product into the Marketplace?

The Co-Packing Network’s sales team partners have a-number of programs that help start-up and emerging brands launch products into market.  They have over 30-years history working with some of the largest companies in the world as well have a long list of successful start-up manufacturing needs and launches with brands such as Nature’s Bakery, Perfect Snacks and Super Coffee.

  • They have been involved with over 40 brands seen on Shark Tank.
  • They have their own distribution platforms.
  • They have their own brands in many stores today.

Examples of Our Previous Successes:

Case Example (Kitu Life’s Super Coffee):  The founders of the brand, Super Coffee came to us (2015) to help them get the product into a contract manufacturer (we helped them with their first successful product runs) and also introduced a partner of our with an extensive history in the coffee business get them into retail.  Today, the brand is the #3 RTD coffee brand in America with a value of $400 million today.

Our Own Media:

We Have Our Own Magazine:

Contract Packaging (CP) is the official magazine for the Contract Packaging Association, published three times each year by PMMI Media Group (owners of Packaging World magazine). Dedicated exclusively to contract packaging issues and news, each issue is overseen by Editor-in-Chief, Anne Marie Mohan.
20,000 qualified packaging professionals receive each edition of CP. These professionals are individuals who have indicated that they have purchase involvement in contract packaging and related services and products. Magazine recipients are also contract packagers, who are CPA members.
Contract Packaging has the privilege and the advantage of being the official publication for the Contract Packaging Association, positioning CP journalists for optimum access to and trust of key influencers who are driving the leading edge of the industry.
www.ContractPackaging.org

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