The Secret to a Great Brand Owner/Contract Manufacturer Relationship

 In a recent online article from Natural Products Industry Insider, I saw this quote:

“Disruptions and delays in global supply chains are ravaging the supplements and nutraceutical markets, with many contract manufacturers dropping the ball when it comes to honest and open communication about development and lead times in this difficult era.

This is why a contract manufacturer that places transparency above all else is so valuable.”

I cannot agree more with that last sentence and would add that it also applies to the Brand Owner.

I recently collaborated with a Client to find an alternative Co-Man for their highly regarded product. We located what we thought was a good fit. However, after numerous trials, as well as the situation the Co-Man and Brand Owner were in, it turned out to not be a good fit. Why would I call-out a story like this as an example of transparent communication? Simply because both parties were under tremendous pressure to deliver, and it was transparent communication and sharing of specific details that helped the process go as quickly as it could. The answer, while not the one either party expected or wanted, could have been dragged out over additional months if all the pertinent information wasn’t shared upfront. I have seen this happen all too often when one or both parties actively or passively shield critical information from the other party under the guise of it being ‘proprietary’.

The age of hiding all formulas, processes, and suppliers has been slowly ending for the past few years. Brand Owners AND Co-Mans must keep up this work to help build these relationships from Day One.