Co-packer Matching Magic Part 1

Insights from the Founders

Welcome to the second edition of the Leeward Beverage Solutions monthly newsletter! I'm excited to keep sharing industry insights, practical tips, and updates from our team as we help bring beverage ideas to life.

This month, we’re kicking off our series with one of the most important relationships in beverage production: the one you have with your co-packer. Before you can find the right fit, it’s essential to get organized, clarify your needs, and prepare your product plan. Laying this groundwork now can save time, money, and major headaches later.

Let’s build smarter—and make great things happen.

Warm regards,
Jenny Griffo
Partner, Leeward Beverage Solutions

Feature Article: Co-Packer Prep 101: Get Your House in Order First

Choosing the right co-packer starts with a solid foundation. Just like you wouldn’t hire a builder before having blueprints in hand, you shouldn’t start your co-packer search without first getting your product co-packer ready. In this first article of our Co-packer Matching Magic series, we walk through how to get your foundation in place—so you can reduce liability, increase your chance of success, and ensure your dream product is built the right way. With your structure in order, you’ll be ready to find a co-packer who supports your vision, hits your COGs targets, and delivers the consistency you need to scale.

Here are some keys to ensure that you find the best fit:

1. Start with a Strong Formula

• The foundation of a successful co-packer partnership is a well-defined, dialed-in product formulation. A clear formula enables your co-packer to deliver accurate quotes, maintain quality control, and ensure consistent production round after round.

• Don’t have a formula yet? No problem. At Leeward, we partner with over 20 experienced formulators across the country and around the globe. Whether you're focused on organic ingredients, cost efficiency, scalability, or working with fresh juices, we’ll connect you with the right expert to bring your vision to life. Matching you with the right formulator from the start makes all the difference.

2. Clear and Complete Batching Sheets and Process Authority

• If the formula is your recipe, the batching sheet is the instructions for executing that recipe—the step-by-step directions. A detailed batching sheet is crucial for ensuring smooth and consistent production. Every step—from ingredient sourcing to blending, filtering, and shelf stability protocols—must be clearly defined. Your formulator should outline each detail so your co-packer knows exactly how to handle your product.

  This becomes especially important when working with sensitive ingredients like flavor concentrates, carbonation, or perishables. Clear instructions reduce errors, ensure consistency, and set your production team up for success.

• And here’s where our science-forward approach really makes a difference: knowing what’s missing—or just slightly off—on a batching sheet takes a trained eye. That’s why we have an in-house scientist who reviews every formulation and batching sheet, catching costly errors before they reach the production floor. Fixing mistakes while they’re still free to fix saves our clients from failed runs and wasted inventory.

3. Packaging Precision for Accurate Quotes

• A major factor in successful production runs is precise packaging details. Be sure to provide exact specifications for bottling/canning, labeling, and closure/tamper application. Not only does this help in generating accurate quotes, but it also allows the co-packer to anticipate any specific equipment or adjustments needed. From bottle types to label dimensions, small details can make a big difference in reducing costly production delays and ensuring product quality.

4. Additional Important Steps Leeward Can Manage

• Sourcing a strong Process Authority (PA) letter

• Effectively managing corrosivity and shelf-stability testing

• Successfully overseeing procurement

• Tips and tricks for storage and shipping

• Understanding compliance and regulatory timelines

• Setting up Quality Assurance protocols

• Planning production timelines with realistic lead times

• Defining clear MOQ and pricing tier structures

• Creating contingency plans for ingredient shortages or production delays

How Leeward Can Help You Find the Perfect Co-Packer

If managing the co-packer selection process feels overwhelming or you simply don’t have the time, Leeward Beverage Solutions is here to help. We specialize in guiding brands through the intricacies of finding and partnering with a co-packer who meets your unique production needs, product standards, and pricing goals. Our extensive industry knowledge and networks eliminate the guesswork, enabling you to move forward with confidence that you have the right partner.

Need to focus on Marketing, PR, and Sales? This is the case with many brands. If so, we provide full Operations Management. Overseeing the co-packer selection process all the way through production and the finished product shipping out.

Partnering with Leeward for your co-packing needs ensures that every step, from production to packaging, is handled with precision and professionalism. We’re dedicated to helping you create a quality product that meets market demands.

Quick Tips & Industry Insights

• Tip of the Month

  One of our favorite questions to ask a co-packer:
  “What do the most successful beverage brands, similar to ours, do really well when they partner with you?”

  Co-packers love this question, and we love the insights it reveals. It not only deepens the relationship but also gives you a clear roadmap for becoming a brand they want to grow with.

• Industry Insight: Choosing a Few Functional Ingredients with Real Purpose
  Today’s consumers are seeking functional beverages that deliver real benefits, without overcomplication or excessive sweetness. The trend is moving toward simplified formulas with just a few clinically supported, purposeful ingredients, rather than long lists of trendy actives. At the same time, brands are dialing back on sweetness and leaning into authentic, layered flavor profiles that feel more natural and grown-up. Transparency is also key: products that clearly communicate what they contain, and why, build more trust. In short, clarity, intention, and balance are driving the success of zero-proof and non-alcoholic formulations right now.

Next Month’s Topic: What to Consider When Choosing Your Co-Packer 

Now that you’ve laid the blueprints for your metaphorical house, it’s time to choose your builder. Just like in construction, there are plenty of stories out there about co-packers who overpromise and underdeliver. With new players constantly entering the space, it’s more important than ever to know who’s truly capable, and who can actually follow through. Next month, we’ll share key questions to ask and red flags to watch for, so you can build a strong, reliable partnership that supports your product goals from day one.

About Leeward Beverage Solutions

We’re not your average beverage ops business. We’re led by two industry insiders who’ve been in the trenches launching brands, scaling production facilities, untangling messy operations, and helping beverage businesses actually make money (kind of important).

Leeward Beverage Solutions is where strategy meets savvy execution, and deep industry knowledge meets approachable, real-world support. Whether you’re dreaming up your first SKU or trying to figure out how to make your production facility profitable, we’re here to help you take it to the next level.

Think of us as your partners in making it happen.

Connect with Us

For more information or to discuss your next project, visit Leeward Beverage Solutions or reach out to schedule a consultation today! We always offer a free 30-minute consultation to help you assess where you're at and how to reach your goals.