For emerging brands
Your first production run, without the guesswork.
A boutique co-packer that takes the time to get a new beverage right. Formulation, sleeved cans, a pilot before production, and a team you can reach.
Why founders come here
Large co-packers are built for volume. First runs are not volume.
A first run needs formulation help, small can orders, and someone who answers the phone when a question comes up. That is what a boutique line is for. We make non-alcoholic beverages in aluminum cans, with a specialty in functional beverages and hemp-derived THC and CBD drinks, and we run sparkling and still soft drinks, ready-to-drink coffee and tea, and non-alcoholic alternatives on the same line.
You get one team from the exploratory call through production, and a client portal that shows your run as it happens.
Before you start
What to have ready
Three things decide how fast a first run moves. None of them has to be perfect. All of them have to be honest.
01
Formula status
Tell us where the recipe stands. A finished, scaled formula moves fastest. A kitchen recipe or a concept is enough to start; our formulation service turns it into a production spec.
02
Artwork
Label or sleeve artwork, or a designer lined up. Packaging specs and required label content are part of the paperwork stage, so artwork does not need to be final on day one. It does need to exist before materials are ordered.
03
Cash for materials
Cans, ends, ingredients, and packaging are bought before the run. Have a budget for materials in hand. If we source for you, the quote shows what is due and when.
How we de-risk it
Three decisions that protect a first run
Formulation on our side
We scale the recipe to our line and plan shelf life and process authority where required. You are not guessing at pH, carbonation, or dosing on your first run.
Sleeved cans first
Shrink sleeves let you order fewer cans and change artwork between runs. Printed cans cost less per can at volume but need a larger order and longer lead time. Most first runs are better served by sleeves.
The pilot as a gate
A pilot on the actual production line proves fill, carbonation, dosing uniformity, and seams before we commit your materials to a full run. You sign off on taste. Problems get fixed here, not discovered on a pallet.
The full process, from the four-minute form to shipping, is on the how it works page. Formats and options are on capabilities.
A note on fit
We are selective, and we say so up front
A boutique line has limited hours. We fill them with projects we can run well. That means some products are not a fit for us, because of the formula, the packaging format, the batch size, or the timeline.
The qualification form asks about those four things first so that neither of us spends weeks finding out. If the answer is no, you will hear it early, and where we can, we will tell you what would change it.
First-run questions
Do I need a finished formula before I contact you?+
No. Tell us where the formula stands on the form. A kitchen recipe or a concept is enough to start. Our formulation service turns it into a production-ready specification. A finished formula moves faster.
Why do you recommend sleeved cans for a first run?+
Shrink sleeves let you order a smaller quantity of cans and change artwork between runs. Printed cans cost less per can at volume but require a larger can order and a longer lead time. Most first runs are not ready for that commitment.
What if the pilot run shows a problem?+
We fix it before production. That is the point of the pilot. Fill, carbonation, dosing, seams, and taste are checked on the line, and we adjust the process or the spec before committing your materials to a full run.
What does UBC look for in a first-run brand?+
A formula that can be made safely on our line, a packaging format we run, a realistic budget for materials, and a founder who wants to understand the process. We say no when a project is not a fit, and we say so early.
Can you help source cans and ingredients?+
Yes. We source cans, ends, trays, and ingredients through our supplier relationships, or you supply your own. Client-supplied materials are received against a purchase order and tracked by lot.
Ready to plan a first run?
Tell us about the formula, the format, the batch size, and the timeline. If it is a fit, you will book a call with the team that runs the line.