What Are 7 Things Food Brands Should Look For in a Co-Packer?

Choosing the right co-packer is one of the most important decisions a food brand can make. The right partner can help you scale fast, protect product quality, reduce complexity, and strengthen your brand reputation. The wrong partner can slow growth, damage customer trust, and create costly production issues.

Here are seven key things to look for when choosing a co-packing partner! 

1. Strong Food Safety and Compliance Standards

Your co-packer should hold industry-recognized certifications and follow strict food safety programs. Look for certifications such as FDA registration, gluten-free certification, organic handling, SQF or similar quality programs, and ethical sourcing certifications like Sedex. These credentials protect both your product and your brand’s reputation.

2. Scalable Production Capabilities

A co-packer should have the ability to support your brand now and as it grows. That includes multiple production lines, flexible batch sizes, and the ability to scale quickly without compromising quality or lead times. This is what we specialize in, here at Econo-Pak!

3. Flexible Packaging Options

Today’s food brands need packaging variety. Your co-packer should be able to fill and seal a wide range of packaging formats such as pillow pouches, single serve packs, stand up pouches, cups, cartons, and multi-pack configurations. The more capabilities under one roof, the fewer vendors you have to manage.

4. Transparent Communication

Clear timelines, accurate forecasting, and proactive updates are all signs of a reliable co-packing partner. You should always know your production status and have access to real people who can answer questions quickly. At Econo-Pak, we offer a dedicated customer service person for your convenience and easy access to a real person! 

5. Commitment to Quality Control

Look for in-house quality checks at every stage of production, from raw ingredient receipt to final quality assurance. Consistency matters, especially when your product ends up on shelves at national retailers.

6. Experience With Your Product Type

Snacks, dry mixes, powders, granola, cereals, functional foods, and shelf-stable products all require different handling and equipment. A co-packer experienced in your exact category will already understand the challenges, compliance needs, and ideal production flow.

7. A True Partnership Mindset

The best co-packers act like an extension of your team. They care about your brand success, not just the production run. Look for partners who offer guidance on packaging design, efficiency improvements, ingredient sourcing, and sustainability options.

Why This Matters to Econo-Pak

The co-packer you choose is a direct extension of your brand. When you partner with Econo-Pak, you are choosing a team with more than 40 years of food packaging experience, 500,000 square feet of production space, and a proven track record of helping food brands scale with confidence.

Econo-Pak offers high-speed production lines, strict food safety certifications, and a wide range of package formats under one roof, which means fewer vendors, faster turnaround times, and more control over product quality. Our priority is protecting your brand reputation while giving you the flexibility to grow, launch new SKUs, and meet retailer demands without disruption.

With Econo-Pak, you are not just buying a packaging service. You are gaining a long-term partner who is invested in your success, just as much as you are.