When you choose contract food manufacturing companies, it is also important to choose the right packaging company. When choosing the right contract food packaging company, there are some important things you need to consider.
Safety certification
The number one consideration you need to make when choosing the right contract food packaging company is safety. You want to ensure that your contract food packaging company is FDA approved. You should consider this to ensure that their food safety protocols adhere to FDA standards. You also want to find out if they have food safety certifications.
You should ask the rep from the company you choose some questions to ensure that the company is SQF certified. Ensure you ask about any additional food safety certifications that the company has. Compare answers from different companies and choose a company that meets your needs.
Capabilities of your packaging company
When choosing a contract packaging company, it is important to understand that not all contract packaging companies are created equal. Some companies may exceed the expectations of the packaging application. However, they may not be the same in other areas. You should therefore choose a packaging company that meets your products and market specialized dynamics.
Some packaging companies offer food manufacturing. Others offer cold storage while others do not. Some packaging companies may offer both rigid and flexible packaging materials. Some contract packaging vendors may offer one or the other.
Just the same way you need a contract food manufacturing company that meets your needs, you also need your food packaging company to meet your needs.
The location of your packaging company
While it may seem an afterthought at first, the location of your packaging partner is an important item to consider. You want to choose a packaging company that is close to your business. If the packaging company is further away, you will incur more expenses in shipping. By analyzing the location of multiple vendors within your area, you will be able to identify companies that are close to your business. You should choose a company that is as close to your physical location as possible.
The cost of services offered
You should figure out your budget before you start the journey of choosing a contract food packaging partner. Various things can impact the cost of packaging services but there is one item you need to consider and that item is the cost per unit. You should understand your cost per package to give you a ballpark figure for the cost of outsourcing your supply chain.
Branding and design capabilities
It is important to find out what design, branding and graphics capabilities your packaging vendor offers. You should consider their material options, the type of flexible printing and packaging capabilities and the kind of machinery they have at their disposal. You should consider if they offer design assistance for your packaging. If you have trusted contract food manufacturing companies, you can ask them about the packaging companies they trust. Asking questions will help you know if the packaging companies you are considering will meet your branding and design needs.
