The Trust Factor Building a foundation of trust with your contract manufacturer early in the partnership is essential when it comes to maintaining the quality of the finished product. But what defines “quality?” Is it proper documentation traceability, good manufacturing practices, or Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Form 483s? Defining Quality A simplified definition of quality is every product released to be sold has met 100% of all the finished product specifications.

The Common Misconception There is a common notion that once brand owners sign a contract with a manufacturer that the regulatory burden falls on them. However, this is not the case. The brand owner is responsible for what reaches the hand of the consumer. Finding a contract manufacturer appears to be the easy part, but locating one that produces a quality product and meets all the regulations to manufacture is more challenging. You need a consultant that not only knows these

Imagine a customer buys hot chocolate in January and loves it! They buy the same hot chocolate later that year in December, but it looks and tastes different. Why? All companies want their customers to have the same great experience every time they purchase from them, but in the real world of manufacturing, small changes can happen with products. This is a process known as “spec drift,” and this happens more often than people realize. This is why an Annual Product Review is s

Most food brands don’t fail because of taste, they fail because of complex compliance regulations. Why complying to regulations matters Rules start getting more strict as brands – especially food brands – start growing. Retailers like Target and Whole Foods require proof of food safety plans before accepting new brands. Understanding the basics in food scaling makes scaling-up a smooth process, avoiding recalls and complications. Understanding Regulators Understanding who re