A production-ready formula
A formula written as a specification, not a kitchen recipe. If you are not there yet, our formulation team gets you there.
Before your first run
The ready-to-run checklist for beverage brands
Five documents are required before we schedule production, and four decisions make the run go faster. You do not need any of them to start the conversation.
Required before production
Five items on file before a run is scheduled
- 1
Process authority letter
A letter from a qualified process authority reviewing your formula and process for safety and stability. It is required before production, not before the first call. If you do not have one, we can tell you what the process authority will ask for.
- 2
Shelf-life study
Evidence that the product holds flavor, color, and safety for the shelf life you plan to print. For hemp THC beverages this includes potency over time, since an emulsion that drifts changes the milligram claim on the can.
- 3
Certificate of analysis
A current COA for the actives you supply, such as a THC emulsion or distillate, so the dose on the label starts from a verified number. Finished product is tested again after the run.
- 4
Signed co-packing agreement
The agreement that sets out the specification, pricing, responsibilities, and what happens if a batch is out of spec. It follows the written quote.
- 5
Production deposit
A deposit before production is scheduled. Materials such as printed cans and ingredients are bought before the run, and the deposit covers that commitment.
Decisions that speed things up
What to have ready for the first call
Can format and artwork
Which can you are running and final artwork for printed cans. Printed cans are usually the longest lead item.
Volume and timeline
How many cans per flavor and when you need them. Runs start around 2,500 cans; a typical client run is about 20,000.
Where you will sell
The states and channels you are selling into determine labeling and, for hemp THC, whether and how the product can be sold.
Early stage is fine
Missing most of this list?
Most brands are when they first reach out. Tell us where you are on the project form. Our formulation team can take a concept to a production spec, and we will point you to what comes next. Planning a hemp THC product? Read the hemp THC page first.
Frequently asked
What documents does a beverage co-packer need before production?+
At Upstate Beverage Consultants, five items are required before a run is scheduled: a process authority letter, a shelf-life study, a certificate of analysis for supplied actives, a signed co-packing agreement, and a production deposit. You do not need them to start the conversation, only before production.
What is a process authority letter?+
A process authority letter is a written review by a qualified process authority confirming that a beverage formula and its production process are safe and stable as specified. Co-packers require it before production because it documents that the product can be made and stored safely at scale.
Can I contact a co-packer before I have a process authority letter or shelf-life study?+
Yes. Many brands contact Upstate Beverage Consultants at the concept or kitchen-recipe stage. The project form asks where your paperwork stands so we can tell you what is needed and in what order before a production date is set.
Why does a co-packer require a shelf-life study?+
The shelf-life study backs up the date you print on the can. For hemp THC beverages it also shows the dose holds over time. Without it, a brand risks product that tastes wrong or misstates its milligrams before it sells through.
Ready to talk about your beverage?
Tell us about your product, volume, and timeline. If we are a fit, you will book a call with the team, not a sales rep.