Co-Packaging... far, far away! [Archive]

View Full Version : Co-Packaging... far, far away!

The_Guy

11-01-2006, 11:50 AM

Hello,
The problem I'm trying to figure out right now is, once I have made my bbq sauce, where do I go to get it bottled? I live in the middle of nowhere, actually you go to nowhere and turn left! (150 miles north of Vegas) I've talked to different bottlers but nobody seems willing to tell me about the transportation regs., or if there are any. Trying to figure out if I need to look into bottling equipment and do it in house. (Bottling Equipment cost vs. Transportation Storage Equipment cost)
Thanks,
The Guy

P.S. - This is just the first of MANY questions...

marcosauces

11-01-2006, 11:57 AM

Let me understand the guy...you want a co-packer to do it or you want to do it..?

The_Guy

11-01-2006, 12:01 PM

I want to know if there are any special regulations or equipment I need to use in the transport of my products to get bottled going at least 150 miles.

marcosauces

11-01-2006, 12:17 PM

Co-packers will do the sauce/bbq etc. at there location, i am not too sure if they let you bringing in the stuff you made at home just for the fact of liability insurance....

The_Guy

11-01-2006, 12:29 PM

Well, I am making it in a certified kitchen (a restaurant kitchen at present) but I am planning to set up my own place. I wanted to see if I could save some money by getting it bottled somewhere else for a short time or should I go ahead and calculate the bottling equipment expence in now.

imaguitargod

11-01-2006, 12:35 PM

I would say calculate the botling expense in now. If anything, it will help you shop around if you decide to have it bottled elsewhere because it will give you a cost base to compare.

The_Guy

11-01-2006, 12:46 PM

Will Do!
Since I am brand new at this, please forgive any less than brilliant questions. If I were brilliant, I'd be rich, retired, and living in the Caribbean on my private island by now.
Thanks

imaguitargod

11-01-2006, 12:48 PM

Questions are fine to ask, that's why we are here...to learn and have fun. Be sure to search the archives as well, lots of info there!

marcosauces

11-01-2006, 12:50 PM

Bottling it yourself is always cheaper....but takes lots of work especially if you want to make large quantity.

marcosauces

11-01-2006, 12:51 PM

Will Do!
Since I am brand new at this, please forgive any less than brilliant questions. If I were brilliant, I'd be rich, retired, and living in the Caribbean on my private island by now.
Thanks

Don't take my island please..:)

The_Guy

11-01-2006, 12:55 PM

Enough islands for all. Heading off to work now...
Question one down, 938,874,378 to go!

DEFCON Creator

11-01-2006, 01:19 PM

Bottling it yourself is always cheaper....but takes lots of work especially if you want to make large quantity.

Hi Marco,
I have to differ in this opinion. For the co-packer to bottle it for us, it was just a few cents more per unit. But for that extra cost, you got an FDA approved and sealed product, UPC symbols, food scientists to do the various testing on it, etc. The only 'real' added cost was the transportation of the actual pallet. It may be a good idea for Guy to do it himself for the short term, for a cost comparison, like that that was mentioned, but ai truly think a co-packer is the way to go...Many less worries for only a couple bucks. I weigh these kinds of things in the mental anguish ratio.

It may be for some that the cost may be substantially higher to get a co-packer, depending on the ingredients and vessels they are using, I'm just going on my own experience.

marcosauces

11-01-2006, 01:30 PM

Hi Marco,
I have to differ in this opinion. For the co-packer to bottle it for us, it was just a few cents more per unit. But for that extra cost, you got an FDA approved and sealed product, UPC symbols, food scientists to do the various testing on it, etc. The only 'real' added cost was the transportation of the actual pallet. It may be a good idea for Guy to do it himself for the short term, for a cost comparison, like that that was mentioned, but ai truly think a co-packer is the way to go...Many less worries for only a couple bucks. I weigh these kinds of things in the mental anguish ratio.

It may be for some that the cost may be substantially higher to get a co-packer, depending on the ingredients and vessels they are using, I'm just going on my own experience.

Cretor,
but it is still cheaper, especially if you add the shipping in the price tag...:)

The_Guy

11-01-2006, 01:38 PM

marcosauces

11-01-2006, 02:16 PM

We really belive you ARE working..:)
I am not familiar with "days" process. My co-packer does 1 day per product.

DEFCON Creator

11-01-2006, 02:49 PM

O.K. then,
Let me understand this. With a co-packer you sign a non-disclouser contract, hand them the recipe, and get a pallet of bottled sauces to pick up when they call you? If so besides ingredients and everything else that they calcualte in the price, how much of the cost is the time it takes to make the product? My sauce is a very long (Days) process to make.

The Guy
At work now... I'm working... REALLY!

You're on the right track. A non-disclosure form is the first step. They will make your product basically on a first come, first serve basis. It usually takes us about 3 weeks to receive the pallet from the day we place the order. It depends a lot on how full the co-packers schedule is. They should have no problem with you picking the stuff up, if they are close by. I'm in NJ and my co-packer is in FL, so it's not worth the drive for me. If you could pull that off, you're way ahead of the game.

The co-packer will break your product down into actual chemical makeup and recreate it for the most part. What takes you days may only take a short time within the co-packers fiacility, as they have access for far bigger and effieciant machines than the normal person would have. They will normally send you a batch to compare with your product and you and your friends tastebuds. Ours got the recipe right after only the second try. Best bet is to have a person selected, and have them serve your formula and the co-packers formula in a blind taste test.

panic rev

11-01-2006, 05:37 PM

boy this is the best pepper site I have ever come by. I bought a 50 dollar book that doesn't have half the info you guys and gals have GREAT SITE

imaguitargod

11-01-2006, 05:42 PM

Thank you Panic! And welcome to the site!

DEFCON Creator

11-01-2006, 07:18 PM

The chilihead continuum is one where most manufacturers, like myself, are proud of our accomplishments, and feel good about telling others how avoid the potholes we hit.

marcosauces

11-01-2006, 09:22 PM

The chilihead continuum is one where most manufacturers, like myself, are proud of our accomplishments, and feel good about telling others how avoid the potholes we hit.

Lots of those (potholes) in NJ-NY..:)
but totally agree with the Creator on this one.

imaguitargod

11-01-2006, 09:46 PM

Lots of those (potholes) in NJ-NY..:)
but totally agree with the Creator on this one.
That's because they use salt to disolve road ice instead of all your guys sauces.

The_Guy

11-02-2006, 02:49 AM

One day and I am TOTALLY sold on this site!!!!

Thank you all for the information. Get used to seeing me here.

Another request. Someone tell me if I should be doing this here or in another section. I would like some critical opinions of my website. Been working hard on it (lots and lots of pages, not all of them are filled up but all the links work. I did it all myself!) and as I may have said, I'm not selling anything yet. If it's not breaking any rules, I will give the address in the morning. Actually after 2pm pst.

Oh, I'm home again... weird hours. I go back in 5 hours.

The Guy

kato

11-02-2006, 06:12 AM

Well I have to agree with the creator. We used to bottle our own till the costs compared to using a co-packer just didn,t make sense. You find a good one stick with them. We've been with ours over 8 years and it has been a great relationship.

Mick
Kato's

DEFCON Creator

11-02-2006, 06:47 AM

That's because they use salt to disolve road ice instead of all your guys sauces.

It's not salt...They take scrapings from the discharge tubes at the various pharmeceutical plants in the area, crystalize it, and spread it. Potholes are merely the places where a new life form has emerged from the pavement.

DEFCON Creator

11-02-2006, 06:48 AM

kato

11-02-2006, 08:39 AM

Glad to hear things working out for you Creator. Greg and the folks before him have been great to Kato's.
If you get the chance send us an updated price list or give me a call better yet
888-528-KATO(52860

Mick
Kato's

marcosauces

11-02-2006, 09:05 AM

Greg is a nice guy, but very busy lately....im still waiting for the price, he was waiting for some peppers pricing and that was 2 weeks ago...:)

DEFCON Creator

11-02-2006, 09:18 AM

Greg is a nice guy, but very busy lately....im still waiting for the price, he was waiting for some peppers pricing and that was 2 weeks ago...:)

I spoke with Greg a couple days ago, yeah, he's swamped. This is kind of his busy season, so just bear with him for the time being. Those guys are great overall, and have always come through for us.

marcosauces

11-02-2006, 10:03 AM

Yeah i understand, thats why i don't bug him....

imaguitargod

11-02-2006, 11:29 AM

Another request. Someone tell me if I should be doing this here or in another section. I would like some critical opinions of my website. Been working hard on it (lots and lots of pages, not all of them are filled up but all the links work. I did it all myself!) and as I may have said, I'm not selling anything yet. If it's not breaking any rules, I will give the address in the morning. Actually after 2pm pst.
Set up a thread in the Lounge for that and I'll make a comment or two.