On this page
- Step 1: Send every co-packer the same brief
- Step 2: Normalize the line items
- Step 3: Separate the two minimums
- Step 4: Ask for volume tiers
- Step 5: Check what the price assumes about the model
- Step 6: Read the terms behind the number
- Common pitfalls when comparing quotes
- Get a quote you can drop straight into the worksheet
- FAQ
Three co-packing quotes rarely arrive in the same shape. One is a single per-unit price; another splits out set-up, testing and storage; a third assumes you’ll supply all the packaging. Comparing the headline numbers tells you almost nothing. This worksheet shows how to put quotes on the same footing so you can choose on real cost.
Step 1: Send every co-packer the same brief
Quotes are only comparable if the inputs match. Give each co-packer the same product description, packaging format and size, required certificates, sourcing needs (ingredients and packaging), run volume and annual volume, and where you’ll sell. Our co-packing costs and MOQs guide explains why each detail moves the price.
Step 2: Normalize the line items
Lay every quote out against the same rows. Where a co-packer bundles a cost into the unit price, note it as “included”; where it’s missing, ask.
| Line item | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conversion / tolling fee (per unit, hour or run) | |||
| Ingredients (sourced or supplied; any mark-up) | |||
| Packaging (who buys it; who holds the minimum) | |||
| Set-up and changeover, including cleaning | |||
| Testing (pH, water activity, micro, shelf life) | |||
| Storage of raw materials and finished goods | |||
| Freight to your warehouse or customer | |||
| Total for one run | |||
| Landed cost per unit (total ÷ units) |
Alberta’s co-packing guidance says a contract should state the price and exactly how it’s determined, and a federal co-packing resource guide notes inputs and labour are a co-packer’s main costs. If a quote can’t tell you how its number was built, that’s worth a follow-up question.
Step 3: Separate the two minimums
There are usually two floors: the co-packer’s per-run minimum and your packaging supplier’s minimum on printed film, labels or bottles. A flexible co-packer doesn’t help much if your film order is ten times your first run. Starting with stock pouches and a printed label often lowers the packaging floor; when you’re ready to move to fully printed bags, a custom packaging specialist such as Lion Packaging can quote printed pouches so you can add that number to the worksheet.
Step 4: Ask for volume tiers
Request pricing at your launch volume and at two higher tiers. Fixed costs spread over more units, materials get cheaper in bulk, and lines run longer between changeovers, so the gap between quotes can narrow or widen as you grow. Manitoba’s co-packing guidance frames this as margins ideally growing with volume.
Step 5: Check what the price assumes about the model
A private label quote and a co-packing quote aren’t the same product. In co-packing you own the recipe and typically carry development and testing; in private label the manufacturer’s formula carries your brand, which can lower launch cost but limits control. Read private label vs. co-packing before comparing across models.
Step 6: Read the terms behind the number
- Who owns leftover ingredients and packaging if you change suppliers?
- How long is storage free, and what does it cost after?
- What are the payment terms and scheduling lead times?
- Who holds which SFC licence, and who maintains traceability records? See who needs an SFC licence.
- Is there a confidentiality clause protecting your formula?
- What insurance is in place, and can you be named as an additional insured?
Provincial guidance recommends putting the agreement in writing and having a lawyer review it.
Common pitfalls when comparing quotes
- Comparing different run sizes. A quote at 10 times your realistic first run will always look cheaper per unit. Compare at the volume you can actually sell.
- Forgetting testing. Shelf-life, pH or micro testing may be optional in one quote and included in another.
- Ignoring storage. Free storage periods differ, and finished goods sitting in a warehouse cost money every month.
- Overlooking freight. A partner closer to your customers, or one that handles shipping in-house, can win on landed cost even with a higher conversion fee.
- Missing the packaging floor. If the film minimum is far above your run, the leftover packaging is part of your real cost.
Fill in the worksheet for every quote, and the best option usually becomes obvious.
Get a quote you can drop straight into the worksheet
COPACK Canada quotes each project individually because minimums vary by product type and packaging format. Our quote form captures your product, packaging, certificates, sourcing needs and volume, or call 647-494-7229.
FAQ
Why are co-packing quotes so hard to compare?
Co-packers bundle costs differently: some quote one per-unit price, others itemize set-up, testing, storage and freight. Normalizing line items into a landed cost per unit fixes that.
Is the lowest per-unit price the best deal?
Not necessarily. High set-up or changeover charges can outweigh a low unit price on a small run.
Sources
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Co-Packing – Food Industry – What to Know (2020)
- Manitoba Agriculture, Using a Co-Packer
- Western Economic Diversification Canada, Resource Guide for Co-packing (2020), hosted by Manitoba Agriculture
This article is general information, not legal, regulatory or food safety advice. Confirm requirements with the CFIA and a qualified advisor.