Launching a new product is courageous, but for a start-up business it can also introduce unknown challenges. Finding a responsive external co-manufacturer can be the difference between launching in a timely manner and putting a project on the shelf. Aseppak Global has an extensive network of affiliate manufacturers and co-manufacturers, from the food and beverage category to manufacturers for phyto-cannabinoid consumer goods. With years of experience launching food & beverage products, cosmetic products, and infused hemp or cannabis products, we’ve removed many of the challenges start-ups face when going to market. Whether or not your product is infused, many of the core considerations when selecting a co-manufacturer are the same.

This article outlines the 13 reasons why Aseppak Global is the right strategic partner for your company.

13 Reasons Why Aseppak Global is the right strategic partner for your company.

1. Aseppak knows a manufacturer for product

Let’s start at the beginning. We have a network of over approximately 1700 co-manufacturers and affiliated manufacturers who we refer our clients to. We do not take a percentage or a kickback from this process. Not every manufacturer is able to work in the phyto-cannabinoid space, and we are confident we know the right partner for you. This is particularly important for cannabis and hemp products.

2. You will own your formulas and intellectual property

At Aseppak, we don’t believe it’s ethical to own other people’s formulas or intellectual property. We want our customers to succeed and have all the rights to their success. Many business models have formulation costs worked into the price of their ingredients or manufacturing, but you’re always paying for it one way or another. You may end up being required to purchase ingredients in perpetuity or be stuck in a Manufacturing Supply Agreement which ends up not meeting your needs.

We want you to have the best partners and vendors for your company’s needs, and we know from experience not every vendor will be ideal for every company. We are also happy to work with any existing vendor partnerships you may have. The bottom line is that establishing what’s best for you is what’s best for us.

3. Aseppak can help guide your marketing efforts

Our expert international team can help align your business plan with effective marketing strategies. Starting from uncovering the market opportunities with the identification of promising categories, trending ingredients, and consumers behaviors, Aseppak will help you achieve the business opportunity momentum to join the wave of success. Our final goal with customers is to create value added, quality products.

Our expert international marketing team lead by Juan Pablo Pena can help identify your marketing objectives. Additionally, we can help develop your brand identity system, concept development, ideation, and brand positioning. Ask Juan Pablo about our Rapid Innovation Program!

4. Aseppak can help you reach your customers

Once we know what your strategic direction is, we need to make sure your marketing team is honed in on who your target audience is. When you ask your team this question, their answers should be in-depth and should ideally come in the form of buyer personas (if you’re not familiar with demographics, it’s basically a detailed profile of your target buyers, determined by examining demographics, market research and customer data. Another important aspect to note is that your target consumer will change over time. This should regularly be updated as new information becomes available, and as customer data changes. Value point: Successful marketers are 242% more likely to report conducting consumer research at least once per quarter.

5. Aseppak offers consumer research

At Aseppak, we are able to conduct a limited number of in-person studies and numerous from-home consumer studies. We currently have dietitians evaluating a nutrition cookie for a clinical setting and have recently completed several beverage tasting groups.

6. We understand limitations on MOQs

At Aseppak, we work with a variety of companies from small start-ups to large CPG companies. We understand the limitations MOQs may have with each level of business growth and we work hard to make sure our clients have the right formulas to take to the right co-manufacturer. We also have aseptic processing into carton packaging options with an 80,000 unit MOQ requirement. Currently we are happy to offer a 200–250 ml carton package for high acid products. Aseptic processing into PET or glass in 8–32 oz packages are currently at our affiliate site. Low Acid product capabilities will be offered at a later stage of development.

7. We can help you cut costs

This is one of the critical concepts to understand. Tiered pricing is a cost advantage realized when production and volume increase. We specialize in ESL and Aseptic processing to extend the shelf life of your product, and you may be able to purchase a little more to unlock savings.

Other methods to reduce costs include cost reduction projects. At Aseppak, we’ve saved global companies millions of dollars per SKU through cost reductions with their existing formulas, while maintaining the original quality of their products.

8. Aseppak has Beverage Pilot Plants

Aseppak has invested in and owns a miniature beverage pilot plant (5 gallon MOQ) and we have a strategic partnership with a larger, FDA aseptic pilot plant (600–1200 gallons). We are able to run small batch sizes as low as 5 gallons and up to 1200 gallons per day. We request pilot plant time to be booked at least three weeks before production. Our miniature pilot plant is able to fill glass, PET, and HDPE. Our test kitchen Innovation Center will be able to offer sellable products on a very small scale in early 2021. This is ideal for early emerging brands, ingredient companies, market testing, and brands with big ideas.

9. Aseppak believes in quality and has incoming and outgoing products quality tested

Phytonutrient infused products must have analytical testing. We are in the process of establishing internal testing as well as a network of 3rd party ISO 17025 laboratory partners that span the US. Our goal is to not only ensure a safe and quality product with every unit produced, but to also ensure they are accurately dosed when utilizing cannabinoids. It is important to note that a trend analysis of incoming ingredients for production is critical, as well as statistical final product analysis.

10. Our ingredient capabilities

Aseppak works within the established consumer packaged goods category and in the cannabinoid consumer packaged goods category. In many instances a manufacturer is not able to risk working with CBD due to the increased liability to their existing customers. During formulation, it is also imperative to consider the pH, viscosity, and particulates in your product; as well as, matching with the appropriate manufacturing partner when working in the consumer packaged goods space.

11. Our purchasing offerings

We are able to offer turnkey purchasing — where we order ingredients and packaging — or it can be your responsibility. For small companies, a turnkey external manufacturer can significantly cut down the amount of work for the operations team.

12. Aseppak’s timeline from production to release

We highly recommend performing a process validation for your formulas before you go to production. Process validation means to test the processing parameters and formula before you move on to a larger plant trial or first batch manufacturing. We are able to offer this onsite at our Innovation Center in Denver, Co. We evaluate and determine what formula changes need to be made before the commercialization step and pilot plant testing. Pilot plants typically have a batch size of 800 gallons and costs run an average of $15,000.00 to $30,000.00 for rental of the facility depending on the type of processing. Additional costs include ingredients, packaging, caps, shipping, etc. Ingredients take an average of 4–6 weeks to arrive, and about 6–8 weeks for pre-printed packaging, depending on the vendor.

13. Quality of Service is never based off of the size of your project

Our goal is to make sure you are partnered with the right co-manufacturer for your product no matter what stage of growth it is in. Whether we are the right partner for you, or someone else is, getting you to that point is what is important. Each company has its own need states and stages, and establishing the partnerships and securing production time which meets the MOQs for the stage you currently inhabit and your next stage of growth is imperative.

Keep these considerations in mind as you start to determine the right team to move forward with. Remember to advocate for yourself and your product.

Barbara Shepherd, Founder, Chief Science Officer: Barbara is an expert in new product development, managing projects from concept to commercialization, quality assurance and the product development process. Prior to joining Aseppak Global, she has launched new food products, including a THC-infused chewing gum, savory plant based bars, powders and aseptic ready to drink beverages.

Juan Pablo Peña, Co-Founder, Product Innovation Leader: Juan Pablo plays an integral role in Marketing, Product Development, and Business Development of Aseppak Global, an innovative hemp and cannabis technology company based in Denver, Colorado. Pena facilitates innovation with leading brands to produce top quality phytonutrient-infused plant based wellness beverages, fresh juice, cosmetics and more. Juan Pablo is a proven leader who works with leading International brands.