We are looking for a new co-packing partnership for a well-established line of protein bars. We have several distributors and retailers nationwide with consistent order volumes, and the current co-packer we have cannot accommodate our growing volume. Please email or message to discuss, we are located in Vancouver, B.C. but open to any location in Canada.
-No certifications required
-No layers/coatings
-Ok with heat seals or cold seals
-No use of peanuts (but other nuts like almonds are used)
Hi Jeremy - one thing worth flagging before you start screening: "no certifications required" is probably the part of your list most likely to cost you later, even if it speeds up the search.
Licence. If these bars go across provincial lines (you mention nationwide distributors and retailers), the facility making them needs an SFC licence under the SFCR, with a written preventive control plan behind it. That's a legal requirement whether or not they hold a GFSI certificate, so ask any shortlisted co-packer for their licence number and confirm it covers your product type.
Retail buyers. Many national retail and distributor accounts ask for a GFSI-recognized certificate (SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000) from whoever makes the product. If yours do, a co-packer without one can put those listings at risk, so it's worth confirming with your buyers now rather than after you've moved production.
Peanut-free. Since almonds run in the same plants, ask how they control cross-contact between tree nut and peanut products on shared equipment, and what their cleaning verification looks like. It decides whether you can honestly label and market the bars as peanut-free.
Moving an existing line. Agree on the lot code format and who keeps the traceability records before the first run, so a recall trace doesn't depend on two companies' different systems.
Asking for the licence, the latest audit report and the allergen program in your first email usually sorts out who's serious very quickly. Good luck with the move.
Nice to see you here and hope you had a good one at CHFA!
There is a co-man based out of Ontario who may fit your needs. They are BRC and organic certified which will also come in handy as you expand. They have dedicated peanut free facility as well as one that handles all other nuts. Feel free to reach out to me at aparajhitha@foodstrategyconsulting.com and I'd be happy to make the introduction!