Co-packing vs your own line: two routes to market
Updated: September 2026
An own packing line and contract packing can both produce food under your brand, but they distribute investment, work and risk differently. Your line gives direct process control. A co-packer takes over the agreed weighing, packing and labelling.
Scoop & Pack packs coffee, tea, spices and superfoods from 300 units under HACCP. EU customers follow the same process and receive an individual quote within three working days.
How do the two routes compare?
| Criterion | Own packing line | Contract packing partner |
|---|---|---|
| Entry threshold | Requires investment in equipment, premises and commissioning. Break-even depends on utilisation. | At Scoop & Pack, from 300 units. |
| What you provide | Machinery, premises, staff, goods, packaging and the process. | You can supply goods or ask the partner to source them. |
| Facility and safety | You run the facility, procedures and process compliance. | The partner runs its facility and HACCP system; the brand retains its own duties. |
| People and maintenance | You recruit, set up, clean and maintain the line. | The partner supplies staff and equipment within the agreed scope. |
| Start time | Includes selection, purchase and commissioning. | Depends on goods, packs, artwork and schedule; the date is agreed with the order. |
| Cost structure | Fixed costs continue when the line is idle. | Each order is quoted individually; no own-line investment is required. |
| Recipe and goods | Direct control with full operational responsibility. | White label, private label and co-packing provide different sourcing and recipe options. |
| Packaging | You source and run all packaging materials. | Doypack, sachet or cardboard tube; packs and labels can be yours or the partner's. |
| Label responsibility | The brand prepares and approves the label. | The partner can prepare and apply it, but the brand remains responsible under Article 8(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. |
| Unusual process equipment | You buy and commission it. | If the project makes business sense, Scoop & Pack may invest in extra equipment, for example modified-atmosphere packing. No specific machine or date is promised. |
| Main risk | Idle capacity, fixed costs and full process responsibility. | Dependence on goods, materials and the partner's schedule. |
What are the three Scoop & Pack contract-packing models?
| Model | What you bring | What you receive |
|---|---|---|
| White label | Brand, product choice, fill weight and label approval. | Sourced goods and a ready-made recipe packed under your brand. Packaging and label can be yours or supplied. |
| Private label | Product brief, desired taste or blend, brand and approvals. | A bespoke recipe composed for your brand and packed for sale. |
| Co-packing | Your finished product, goods and approved specifications. | Weighing and packing under your label. |
All three models start at 300 units. The date depends on the order and is confirmed when it is placed.
When should you choose contract packing?
Choose a partner when you want to test demand without buying a line, need several variants in smaller batches or do not want to maintain a packing team and premises. The service suits dry foods that remain stable at room temperature.
When can an own line make sense?
An own line can make sense when you pack one format regularly, can keep the equipment in productive use and want to run the complete process. There is no universal unit threshold because machines, formats, throughput and fixed costs differ.
Which products remain outside the offer?
Scoop & Pack does not handle refrigerated or pasteurised foods, supplements, extracts or fine powders such as matcha, cocoa, protein powder and finely ground spices. It does not roast coffee and does not hold IFS or BRCGS certification.
Describe an unusual process in the enquiry. Investment in equipment is considered separately for a commercially viable project.
How should you compare suppliers?
Ask what the quote includes, what the minimum is in units, who sources goods and packaging, how allergens are controlled, which documents accompany the batch and which certifications the facility holds. Scoop & Pack quotes each configuration individually within three working days.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Article 8(1).