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    Separating the Con Man From the Co Man: How to Source a Contract Food Manufacturer
    Separating the Con Man From the Co Man: How to Source a Contract Food Manufacturer
    Separating the Con Man From the Co Man: How to Source a Contract Food Manufacturer
    Ebook123 pages2 hours

    Separating the Con Man From the Co Man: How to Source a Contract Food Manufacturer

    By William Madden

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Have you been searching for a contract manufacturer for the last 6 months, but you still haven’t found a good match?

    Have you been manufacturing your product yourself and have come to the realization that you are ready to outsource?

    If you answered yes to any one of these questions, you need expert guidance as you sift through the dozens of con men to find the right co-manufacturer. Will Madden uses his two decades of experience to navigate the twists and turns of the food industry maze, empowering food companies to find the elusive needle in a haystack: the perfect co-manufacturer or co-packer.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCaroline Madden
    Release dateJun 10, 2016
    ISBN9780990772880
    Separating the Con Man From the Co Man: How to Source a Contract Food Manufacturer
    Author

    William Madden

    Will Madden has worked in the food industry for the past two decades. His specialty is negotiating contracts between food companies and co-manufacturers. Madden has helped everything from start ups to multimillion-dollar businesses find perfect-match contract manufacturers, setting them up for long term success.

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      Book preview

      Separating the Con Man From the Co Man - William Madden

      ~~~~~

      How to Source a Contract Manufacturer

      ~~~~~

      Table of Contents

      INTRODUCTION

      PART I: UNDERSTANDING THE FOOD INDUSTRY LANDSCAPE

      CHAPTER 1: FINDING YOUR WAY

      CHAPTER 2: BEFORE YOU EVEN START LOOKING FOR A CO-MAN

      PART II: THE I HAVE A DREAM PEOPLE

      CHAPTER 3: WHY YOU NEED A SCALABLE, PROVEN RECIPE

      CHAPTER 4: WHY YOU NEED TO HAVE THE FINANCES WORKED OUT

      CHAPTER 5: PROBLEM - NOBODY THINKS YOUR PRODUCT IS SPECIAL (EXCEPT YOU)

      CHAPTER 6: YOU HAVEN’T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT BRANDING

      CHAPTER 7: PRACTICAL MATTERS – STORING AND TRANSPORTING PRODUCT

      CHAPTER 8: YOU HAVE NO CLUE HOW YOUR PRODUCT SHOULD BE PACKAGED

      CHAPTER 9: YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT REGULATIONS APPLY

      CHAPTER 10: YOU DON’T HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN OR PROOF YOU ARE READY TO SCALE

      PART III: COMPANIES ALREADY MANUFACTURING ON A COMMERCIAL SCALE

      CHAPTER 11: SMALL COMPANY WORKING WITH LARGE MANUFACTURER

      CHAPTER 12: LARGER COMPANY USING SMALLER CONTRACT MANUFACTURER

      PART IV: PREPARING FOR THE INVESTMENT

      CHAPTER 13: PREPARE YOUR PERSONAL LIFE

      PART V: ADVICE FOR THE TRUE DO-IT-YOURSELFER

      CHAPTER 14: GO IN WITH YOUR EYES WIDE OPEN

      CHAPTER 15: MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY

      CHAPTER 16: LEARN FROM MY EXPERIENCES

      CONCLUSION: NOW MY SHAMELESS PLUG

      ~~~~~

      Introduction

      If you are reading this book, you are one of three types of people:

      1. A person who has always thought that your product X (your grandmother’s sauce, your chocolate recipe, etc.) was great, but you don’t even know where to start to find a contract manufacturer.

      2. A person who has been looking for the needle in the haystack (contract manufacturer) for the last 6 months.

      3. A person who has been manufacturing the product yourself and realizes that this is a huge distraction and financial suck.

      This book is for all three types of people.

      My name is Will Madden, and I’ve worked in the food industry for the past 18 years. I know the industry inside and out and have seen it all. I’ve helped startups and multimillion-dollar businesses find the perfect contract manufacturers, setting them up for long-term success.

      However, I recognize that not everyone is able to afford my consulting fees. Or perhaps you’re a true Do-It-Yourselfer and figure you will give it a try. Whatever your situation, this guide is designed to educate you on the process of sourcing a contract manufacturer for the food industry.

      This book is written in plain, easy-to-understand English. I am not a professional writer, but you’ll quickly see that I know my stuff, and I can save you a truckload of trouble if you’ll listen to what I have to say.

      In fact, I’d like to start this book out with a disclaimer. You know, like the disclaimers you see on diet pill labels, saying Not FDA Approved. Here it is:

      At times while reading this book, you may find yourself thinking something along the lines of, Man... this Will Madden sure is an arrogant prick.

      I want you to be aware that I know this. Some of the things I’m going to say in here may rub you the wrong way, and for that, I apologize. My hope is that by the end of this book, you will start thinking things like, "Man... this Will Madden is a likable arrogant prick who actually knows this business inside and out. In fact, I want to buy this guy a couple of beers."

      The other reason I’ve written this book in this style and tone is because frankly, this subject isn’t the most exciting topic on the planet. At dinner parties, when people ask me what I do, their eyes glaze over if I don’t spice it up a little. In fact, at times I just say I sell life insurance so I don’t have to go into it. I’m warning you in advance: If you get offended by a minor swear word or two, you won’t want to read this book. I curse for emphasis because sometimes there is no better way to say something—and it adds entertainment value. I’m hoping to get a chuckle out of you now and then.

      Also, I will be honest, at times brutally so. I don’t sugar coat things; I tell you how it really is. Because that’s what you want to know, isn’t it?

      There are all kinds of bullshitters out there who will tell you, You can make your dream come true! without giving you a shred of useful information. They’ll feed your optimism, but they’ll just waste your time, money, and energy. I’m all about telling you what the truth is in this industry so you can determine if you have the drive, resources, and stones to make your dream business get off the ground.

      It is my hope that this book will truly help you. I know this industry well because I’ve worked on both sides of the industry, and I’ve negotiated enough contracts to have seen it all. I’ll help you identify and avoid the pitfalls of the industry as you pursue your plans to establish or expand your business in the food industry.

      Ready to do this thing?

      Then let’s get going.

      ~~~~~

      Part I: Understanding the Food Industry Landscape

      If you’ve been thinking about starting your food business and are finally ready to take on this challenge, you are in luck. Your timing is impeccable. Want to know why?

      Because right now small niche food businesses are the up-and-coming trend. Consequently, there is a ton of money going into the industry. They’re the latest fad, the coolest thing.

      Why?

      Because all of the following trends are converging in your favor:

      1. People all over the country are interested in supporting small businesses.

      2. Local, organic, or small-batch products are considered premium.

      3. Healthy alternatives to popular junk foods are big sellers.

      Here’s a real life example, something you can Google and read about right now to see that I’m not just blowing smoke up your ass. At this time (Winter 2015), Whole Foods is sponsoring an effort to support small, local, start-up food businesses. They’ve held workshops along with the city of Chicago with the Greater Engelwood Community Development Corporation through which they inspire small food companies to use commercial kitchens and apply for loans so they can launch their products and sell them in Whole Foods.

      This isn’t happening just in Chicago. Commercial kitchens and indie food companies are springing up all over the country. Grocery stores like Whole Foods, Earth Fare, and Publix are looking to buy from small niche food companies so they can cash in on this opportunity. Like any smart business, they are tracking consumer trends and trying to position themselves on the front end of the movement.

      So... you’ve got three things in your favor: timing, a positive business trend and a move towards health foods as opposed to junk foods. However, you’ll need to consider a lot more than these three factors as you set out to start a business. Read on to learn what you need to know.

      ~~~~~

      Chapter 1: Finding Your Way

      As you get started, you’ll quickly discover that you don’t know what you don’t know. It’s my goal to help you figure out the basic layout of the land so you can navigate this tricky territory. That means you need to learn the terms people in the industry use and how to talk like someone who has been around the block a time or two. You need to know this information BEFORE you start approaching co-manufacturers.

      Jargon

      Before you speak to anyone in this industry, you need to familiarize yourself with the terminology. The following are terms you will use frequently when discussing your product.

      3PL

      Third party logistics- A third-party logistics provider (abbreviated 3PL, or sometimes TPL) is a firm that provides service to its customers

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