For Brands
Co-packing is where most brands start. CPG Own Facilities is where successful brands finish. The question is: are you at the inflection point?
The Decision
Not every brand should build a facility. But some brands are overdue. These are the signals that tell you it's time to have the conversation.
At this scale, the economics of co-packing start to deteriorate. Your co-packer is making meaningful margin on your volume. That margin belongs to you.
If the co-packer's take is more than a third of your COGS, and you're running consistent volume, the math almost always favors building.
Your co-packer can't give you enough production time. You're turning down orders. Your growth ceiling is someone else's schedule.
The formula is proven. The brand has traction. The market risk is significantly lower than it was at launch.
Your product requires a proprietary process, specific equipment, or quality control that your co-packer isn't set up for.
Major retailers increasingly require supply chain transparency, direct audits, and manufacturing control. An owned facility delivers this.
The Comparison
Neither is universally right. The right answer depends on your volume, your margin, your growth trajectory, and your capital position.
The Math
The financial case for building your own facility is typically built on four factors. Here's how they work.
Every point of co-packer margin is margin you're giving away. At $10M in co-packed revenue with a 30% co-packer take, that's $3M/year that moves to your P&L when you own the facility.
Brands that have been capacity-constrained by their co-packer's schedule often grow 30-50% in the first year after opening their own facility. Revenue that was impossible is now available.
A well-run manufacturing facility is a permanent asset. It shows up on your balance sheet, increases your enterprise value, and improves your position with lenders and investors.
Strategic acquirers pay higher multiples for brands with owned manufacturing infrastructure. Control over your supply chain is a premium asset in an M&A process.
The honest bottom line: Building a facility is a significant capital investment that only makes sense at the right scale. Our first deliverable is always a rigorous build vs. co-pack analysis — and we'll tell you honestly if the math doesn't work.
Services for Brands
From the initial analysis through the first production run — and everything in between.
A rigorous financial model comparing your current co-packing economics against the cost of building — with realistic assumptions about capital, debt service, staffing, and operational efficiency.
Full facility design optimized for your product, your process, and your regulatory pathway. No generic floor plans — every design is built around what you actually make.
Access to the PMMI Pack Expo equipment network — thousands of vendors, new and used equipment, at prices not available through traditional channels.
FDA, USDA, GFSI, Organic, Kosher, Halal — we map your full certification pathway at the design stage and build the facility to meet it from day one.
Full construction management — GC selection, permitting, inspections, installation, commissioning. We manage the project so you can manage your brand.
Staff training, QA system activation, first production run support, and ongoing operational guidance as you ramp up your new facility.
The Ecosystem
Building a facility takes time. These CMA network partners keep your business running while your plant comes online.
Co-Packing
Use contract manufacturers to maintain production while your facility comes online.
Explore Co-PackingCommercial Kitchens
Commercial kitchens provide licensed production space while you build or remodel.
Explore Commercial KitchensPilot Plants
Validate your production process at pilot scale before committing to facility construction.
Explore Pilot PlantsTell us your current volume, co-packing arrangement, and growth trajectory. We'll run the numbers and tell you whether building is the right move — and what it would take.
Talk to Our Team