Private Label

A formula nobody else can make.

When the catalog isn't enough — when the brand you're building deserves something exclusive — Private Label is the track. Custom formulation. Your IP from day one. Built around your science, your audience, your timeline.

Private Label isn't always the right answer.

Most contract manufacturers push everyone toward custom formulations because the margins are higher. We don't. White Label products from the catalog are often the smarter starting point — same EU-grade quality, faster launch, lower capital commitment. We'll tell you when Private Label is the right call.

Right call when
  • Validated demand + want to differentiate
  • Exclusive ingredient combination not in catalog
  • Specific scientific/claim requirements
  • Building toward exit + need defensible IP
  • Operating at scale where PL economics beat WL margins
Wrong call when
  • Haven't validated demand yet
  • Launch budget tight
  • Shipping in < ~6 months
  • Catalog already has a product that fits

What Private Label actually delivers.

01 — Formula ownership

You own the formula. Forever.

The recipe, the ratios, the sourcing logic — yours. We retain the right to manufacture for you under contract. You retain the right to take production elsewhere if you ever choose. The IP is yours from the first stable version.

02 — Exclusive ingredient access

Exclusive ingredient access.

When your formulation requires a specific clinical-grade active or branded ingredient, we structure exclusive supply agreements that lock out direct competitors in your category for the duration of our contract.

03 — Signature identity

Signature flavors and packaging.

Custom organoleptic profiles. Brand-defining packaging. Distinctive forms (tablet shapes, capsule colors, sachet designs). Your product is identifiable as yours on a shelf full of competitors.

04 — Production priority

Exclusive production windows.

Production runs scheduled around your launch and replenishment timeline — not slotted into the queue between catalog runs. Predictability for the brand operating on retail commitments.

05 — Confidentiality

NDA-protected from end to end.

Formula, sourcing, production methods, packaging specifications — all NDA-protected. We don't share competitive intelligence between Private Label clients. What's yours stays yours.

We work with your science lead. Not around them.

Private Label development is collaborative by design. Your team brings the brand position, the scientific rationale, the audience knowledge. Our R&D brings format expertise, ingredient sourcing, regulatory framework, and manufacturing reality.

What you bring
  • Brand positioning and audience insight
  • Scientific rationale and claims strategy
  • Target price point and margin model
  • Launch timeline and channel strategy
  • Organoleptic preferences (flavor, form, texture)
What we bring
  • Format expertise and formulation R&D
  • Ingredient sourcing and supplier relationships
  • EU regulatory framework and EFSA compliance
  • Manufacturing feasibility and cost modeling
  • Stability testing and shelf-life validation

From concept to shipped batch.

01

Mutual NDA + brief

Confidentiality in place. Product vision, audience, claims, and constraints documented.

02

Specification

Target format, dosage, ingredient class, packaging, and compliance scope locked.

03

R&D paper formulation

Formula designed on paper. Ingredient sourcing confirmed. Cost model built.

04

Bench samples

Physical samples produced. Iterate flavor, texture, stability with your team.

05

Stability + compliance

Accelerated stability testing. EFSA validation. Label claims verified.

06

Pilot production

First production run under EU GMP. Full QA, batch records, release testing.

07

Launch + replenishment

Product ships. Replenishment cycle established. Ongoing production scheduled.

Who owns what. In writing.

Most "private label" arrangements are vague on IP ownership — to the manufacturer's benefit. We document it explicitly.

Asset Owner Notes
Formula You Full IP ownership from first stable version
Brand name You Your trademark, your registration
Packaging design You Artwork, dielines, structural design
Supplier list Confidential Protected under mutual NDA
Manufacturing know-how Us Process expertise, equipment configuration
Stability data Joint Shared access, both parties retain copies
Compliance dossier You EFSA documentation, label validation
Right to manufacture Us (under contract) Production rights for contract duration
Right to take elsewhere You Freedom to move production at any time

What we can build. By format.

Format Specialization Typical use
Powders Pre-workout, protein blends, greens, collagen, functional mixes Performance, daily nutrition, meal replacement
Capsules Herbal extracts, nootropics, adaptogens, vitamin stacks Clinical dosing, high-potency actives
Gummies Vitamins, sleep aids, beauty, immunity, kids' health Consumer-friendly format, subscription brands
Sachets Electrolytes, hydration, travel-friendly single-serve On-the-go convenience, sampling, gifting
Functional drinks RTD shots, liquid supplements, functional waters Retail shelf presence, impulse purchase
Tablets Pressed tablets, effervescent, chewable, slow-release Pharma-adjacent positioning, high-dose formats

Ingredient choices that match the brand.

Tier 1

Clinical / Branded

Patented, clinically studied ingredients with published efficacy data. Branded actives (Cognizin, Sabinsa, Albion). For brands building on science-backed claims and premium positioning.

Tier 2

Certified Premium

Third-party certified (organic, non-GMO, kosher, halal). High-purity raw materials from audited suppliers. For brands where certifications drive purchase decisions.

Tier 3

Commodity Quality

EU-compliant, GMP-grade ingredients meeting all regulatory standards. Cost-optimized for competitive pricing without compromising safety or compliance.

Validated before production.

Every Private Label formulation goes through EFSA validation before it reaches the production floor. Claims are checked against the EU positive list. Label copy is reviewed for regulatory compliance across target markets. You don't launch and then discover a compliance gap — the gap doesn't exist by the time you ship.

From pilot to retail-scale.

Private Label economics improve with volume. Your pilot batch validates the product. Your second run locks in ingredient pricing. By the third production cycle, you're operating at unit costs that compete with the largest contract manufacturers in Europe — because the formula is stable, the supply chain is proven, and the production line is configured for your SKU.

Private Label questions

The honest answers.

How does Private Label pricing work?
There's an R&D development fee (covers formulation, sampling, stability testing) and a per-unit production cost. The development fee is a one-time investment. Per-unit costs decrease with volume. We quote both upfront before you commit — no hidden charges after the brief stage.
What's the minimum volume commitment?
Minimums vary by format and complexity. Capsules and powders have lower thresholds than gummies or functional drinks. We'll give you exact numbers during the specification stage — they're typically lower than what legacy contract manufacturers require.
Do you sign exclusivity?
Yes — for specific ingredient combinations within a defined category. We won't manufacture a directly competing formula for another client in the same market segment during your contract. The scope is documented in the agreement.
What happens if we want to take production elsewhere?
You own the formula. You can take it elsewhere at any time, subject to the notice period in your contract. We'll provide a technology transfer package — formula documentation, specifications, supplier contacts (where agreements allow) — to make the transition smooth.
Can you handle rare or novel ingredients?
In most cases, yes. Our sourcing network covers clinical-grade branded ingredients, specialty botanicals, and novel food ingredients approved under EU regulation. If an ingredient requires novel food authorization, we'll flag it early and advise on timeline and cost implications.
How does this differ from White Label with custom packaging?
White Label = our formula, your brand. Private Label = your formula, your brand. With White Label, you choose from the existing catalog and customize packaging. With Private Label, the formulation itself is custom — built to your specification, owned by you as IP.
Can we trial with one Private Label SKU before committing?
Absolutely. Most brands start with a single SKU to validate the process, the product, and the partnership. If it works, expanding to additional SKUs is faster because the framework — NDA, quality standards, communication cadence — is already in place.
If we develop a formula together and it doesn't launch, who owns the IP?
You do. Once the formula reaches a stable version and the development fee is paid, the IP is yours regardless of whether you proceed to production. The formula doesn't revert to us if you choose not to launch.
The catalog

Not ready for custom? Start with the catalog.

200+ market-ready products you can brand today. Validate demand first, then graduate to Private Label when the SKU earns it.

Browse the catalog
Ready when you are

Build something nobody else can copy.

A 30-minute briefing call with our R&D team is the fastest way to know whether Private Label is the right track for your brand.