I have a line of gourmet food products that have found some local success. I am not financially capable of getting into mass production, factories, etc…. how do I begin to find a manufacturer who’d have interest in doing the production or even buying out my ideas and products? I have heard a co-packer is what I may need, any advice?
Gourmet Food Selections
Fine Foods - Specialty Cheeses - Exquisite Gifts
3 Comments
I think you would make a wise decision if you were to document everything you have there. So you don’t get the shaft. As to how? Go to your local store and get addresses from label and then call them will an appointment. Then pitch a sale and don’t sign anything right a way. Sleep on it over a couple of night. good luck
How do you get a manufacturer to steal your idea? Is that what you meant? Or how do you get an ambitious business man to show you how good the honor would look on his trophy?
Seriously, do you have a plan? a business or any trusted alliances? Get some financing advice and do as much self production as you can - all hands on deck, and run the company on a shoe string budget.
Think about it
Wow, in for a very good question.
Rarely is good money made without BIG sacrifice and effort first. Blood+sweet=$$$
Outsourcing is a really good way to cut your capitol costs. I would however, retain a lawyer to draft up documents protecting your proprietary product, and some sort of quality standard (your success is now dependent on someone else’s production methods). and MOST importantly, I would have the vendor indemnify you to liability pertaining to the product / packaging. They are making it, if there is an accidental death due to undercooked eggs, or a metal piece from a machine falling into the product, you will get sued!
As far as locating a manufacturer for your product, I’m not 100% sure, you might want to get in touch with someone at the dept of health and ask them if there is a way to get a list of people who hold permits for manufacturing food products. Even if one of those places doesn’t do this sort of thing, they are usually “plugged in” and might be able to point you in the right direction. Also check with a local food distributor, like Sysco, the local rep in your area might have a dozen or so customers they can refer you to (who already buy ingredients in bulk from them for this purpose) and the salesman would love to refer you because it makes them look good to their customer.
But DON’T attempt to sell out, people often rely on this as a quick and easy way to make a buck, it almost ALWAYS ends up bad.. either you get rejected, or if the product does well, you feel undercompensated and kick yourself for not putting forth the extra effort in the beginning.
The way to do it is to test and PROVE your product first, if it’s worthy, I guarantee a large company will take interest and approach you about a buy out.
Good luck! I hope you go BIG with your new venture!