For many new jerky and meat stick brands, a co-packer is a practical path to commercial production. Instead of building a plant, you partner with a facility that already has equipment, people, and processes. Done well, it lets you focus on your brand. Done poorly, it can mean delays, surprises, and a product that does not match what you envisioned.
What a co-manufacturer does
A co-manufacturer (often shortened to co-man, and sometimes called a co-packer) produces your product in their facility. Depending on the arrangement, they may source ingredients, run your formula, package the product, and ship it. Some work from your formula; others offer their own base products that you can customize. The details vary a lot from one facility to the next.
Finding the right fit
Not every meat facility is a good match for every product. When you start looking, consider:
- Product fit. Do they already make products like yours, such as sticks, jerky, or both?
- Equipment. Can their equipment produce your format, size, and texture?
- Volume. Do their run sizes match where you are now and where you want to go?
- Communication. Are they responsive and clear about what they can and cannot do?
- Packaging. Can they package in the format you need, or will you need a separate step?
Come prepared
Co-mans take projects more seriously when the brand shows up prepared. That means having a clear product concept, a working formula or a well-defined target, an idea of your volumes, and realistic expectations about time. The more clearly you can describe what you want, the easier it is for a facility to tell you whether they can make it.
Your formula and your facility have to agree
A formula developed in a test kitchen may need adjustments to run on a co-man’s equipment. Grind size, mixing, stuffing, smoking, and drying all vary between facilities. Expect some back-and-forth, and expect pilot runs. The goal is a product that runs well on their line and still tastes like yours.
Food safety and documentation
Your co-man will have their own programs and requirements, and your product has to fit into them. What that means for your specific product is handled case by case. Going in prepared, with clear product information, makes those conversations smoother. If you are not sure what to expect, email us.
Managing the relationship
A co-man relationship is ongoing. Production schedules, ingredient changes, quality issues, and growth all require attention. Many founders underestimate how much time this takes, especially while they are also selling, marketing, and running the business.
How an operations agent helps
This is where an experienced operations agent can make a real difference. Zach takes clients all the way through the co-manufacturing process and can act as your operations agent with the co-man. That can include helping you find a fit, preparing for conversations, working through formula and process adjustments, supporting pilot runs, and helping keep production on track toward your spec. You keep ownership of your brand; you just do not have to navigate the plant side alone.
Protecting what is yours
Your formula, your brand, and your relationships are valuable. Before you share detailed information with any facility, understand what you are sharing and why, and talk through how it will be handled. Keep good records of your own formula and process, so your product is never locked inside a single facility. A well-documented spec also makes it far easier to add capacity or change partners later if you need to.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a co-man on price alone without checking product fit.
- Arriving without a clear product definition.
- Skipping pilot runs to save time.
- Assuming a home recipe will run unchanged on commercial equipment.
- Leaving communication to chance once production starts.
If you are looking for a co-manufacturer, or already working with one and it is not going the way you hoped, tell us what is happening.
Talk it through with Zach
Email a few lines about your product and what’s in the way. Zach reads it himself, replies, and then you talk on the phone.