Do stick pack co-packers supply ingredients, or do I?
Quick answer: It depends on the type of partner. A contract packager like T.H.E.M., fills and seals product the brand supplies. You provide the blended product and packaging materials. A contract manufacturer or turnkey supplier sources ingredients and formulates for you. Knowing which one you need saves weeks of mismatched conversations.
Contract packager vs. contract manufacturer
| Contract packager | Contract manufacturer | |
| Ingredients | Brand supplies | Supplier sources |
| Formulation | Brand owns | Often supplier-developed |
| Packaging materials | Brand supplies | Often supplier-sourced |
| Cost structure | Conversion only | Ingredients plus conversion plus markup |
| Switching partners | Simpler, you own the inputs | Harder, supplier may control the formula or suppliers |
Why brands choose to supply their own
- You own your formula. No one else controls your recipe.
- You control input costs. You buy directly from your ingredient and film suppliers with no markup.
- You keep your supply chain portable. Moving production is easier when you own every input.
If you don’t have a finished formula yet
Work with a formulator or ingredient blender first. Bring the finished powder to your packager. [CONFIRM: whether T.H.E.M. blends supplied ingredients or requires a finished blend.]
Where T.H.E.M. fits
T.H.E.M. is a contract packager. You supply your ingredients and packaging materials. We supply the equipment, facility, trained team and quality systems. We have run stick packs since 1996, with zero recalls in our company history.
FAQ
Will T.H.E.M. source ingredients for me? Not typically. We can certainly connect you to ingredient sourcing companies that we have worked with in the past. Most brands supply their own ingredients.
Will T.H.E.M. source packaging materials for me? If you have a packaging material (film) in place, we can certainly evaluate its performance on our equipment. However, as the OEM and exclusive distributor of the machinery we run in our facilities, we have a deep understanding of films that are compatible with our equipment. We typically work with brands to find the best fit for their product, desired package format, and our high-efficiency machinery.
Can you recommend a formulator? We have trusted formularies within our network. We are happy to make connections if additional formulation support is needed.
What form should my powder arrive in? We can receive finished powder in a variety of formats, from totes and beyond.
CATEGORIES: Co-Packing, Stick Packs
