Abita offers contract production and private label beverage manufacturing services, specializing in functional beverages like energy drinks. With over 35 years of experience, the company provides co-packing solutions for brands in the beverage industry.
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Kombucha Co Packers
Last updated: February 2026
This directory lists 85 kombucha co packers across the United States, from small-batch craft facilities ideal for emerging brands to high-throughput operations serving national distributors.
Buyers engage these co-packers to solve specific scaling problems: expanding market reach, introducing new SKU variations with complex flavorings, or streamlining production of existing lines. These partners bring expertise in everything from force carbonation techniques to efficient aseptic filling lines, crucial for consistent product quality and volume.
Supplier types in this sector distinguish themselves through various specializations. Some are dedicated kombucha brewers, offering deep experience with specific fermentation protocols and SCOBY management. Others are multi-beverage co-packers with specialized kombucha lines, capable of handling a wider array of packaging formats. There are also distinct capabilities for raw, live culture products versus those optimized for extended shelf stability through flash pasteurization.
Preparing for engagement with a co-packer involves more than just a recipe. Buyers should arrive with detailed brew sheets, a clear understanding of target cost of goods sold (COGS), proposed packaging specifications, and realistic volume forecasts. Suppliers, in turn, expect clarity on desired certifications, ingredient sourcing, and specific sensory profiles to ensure they can meet the brand's unique production requirements.
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Company Directory
85 companies nationwide
Based in Bloomingdale, IL, Assemblies Unlimited, Inc. is a turnkey contract packaging and co-packing provider. They offer comprehensive solutions for various products, including food, powders, supplements, and liquids, serving commercial customers across multiple industries.
Based in Windsor, CA, Barrel Brothers Brands offers comprehensive co-packaging services with seven years of experience. They operate as a one-stop shop for diverse beverage packaging needs, leveraging their expertise to support businesses. The company provides reliable co-packing solutions suitable for various products, including kombucha.
Based in Oceanside, CA, Beer & Beverage Co-Packing provides full-service beverage co-packing. They specialize in crafting and packaging diverse beverages, guiding products from concept to market. Services include batching, production, pack-out, innovation, and warehouse storage, ensuring quality and reliability for brands seeking beverage production assistance.
Berner Food & Beverage offers extensive co-packing and private label manufacturing services for a diverse range of food and beverage products. Operating from a 290,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility, they produce items such as dips, coffee, energy drinks, protein shakes, and cheese sauces for client brands.
Best Bev provides beverage co-packing for energy drinks, RTDs, wines, juices, and functional beverages. Operating from a 130,000 sq ft facility in Waverly, NY, they offer high-speed canning, in-line sleeving, tunnel pasteurization, and on-site micro testing. They also provide comprehensive turnkey solutions and material sourcing.
Based in Cerritos, CA, Better Beverages Inc. offers private label co-packing solutions for fermented and functional beverages, specializing in kombucha and prebiotic sodas. They also provide distribution of name-brand and house-branded fountain syrups, juices, and bar mixes, alongside beverage dispensing system design and installation.
Based in Los Angeles, CA, BevPack LA provides high-speed beverage co-packing services, catering to brands from pilot batches to large-scale production. They specialize in probiotic drinks, energy drinks, and flavored sparkling water, holding organic and SQF certifications. Capabilities include blending, canning, labeling, tunnel pasteurization, and lab testing.
Big Brands Alcoholic Co-Packing provides customized co-packing services for Kombucha beverages. They offer both alcoholic and non-alcoholic co-packing solutions to meet diverse client needs for beverage production.
Big Brands, LLC provides turnkey formulation and contract manufacturing services for various beverages, including hard kombucha, alcoholic, functional, and CBD/THC drinks. They offer mass production co-packing in cans, PET, and glass bottles, with hot fill, cold fill, pasteurization, and retort capabilities nationwide.
Based in Portland, OR, Bon Foods is a co-packer and co-manufacturer of liquid and dry products for the food and supplement industries. They offer custom blending, hot and cold fill co-packing, and contract beverage manufacturing. Bon Foods provides turnkey solutions, including repackaging and particle grinding, from its ISO 9001:2008 certified facility.
Brau Brothers Brewing Co., based in Marshall, MN, leverages over 25 years of industry experience to provide contract brewing and co-packing services. Operating a brew house seven days a week for small-batch production, they offer capabilities suitable for diverse beverage co-packing needs.
California Aseptic Beverages provides high-acid co-packing services for beverages. The company operates A3 speed equipment, capable of producing over 1,200 packs per minute, assisting brands in expanding their market presence. They specialize in aseptic beverage co-packing capabilities for various clients.
Based in Irvine, CA, California Probiotics offers private labeling and contract manufacturing services for premium probiotics and fermented health products. They provide full turnkey solutions, including specialty ingredients and bespoke label design, for clients needing to scale production.
Based in Boulder, CO, Colorado Copacking Company operates an FDA-approved kitchen and processing facility. They specialize in co-packing services for a variety of liquid products, including sauces, condiments, and drinks. The company provides comprehensive manufacturing solutions for brands in the food and beverage industry.
Based in Wilmington, NC, FedUp Foods manufactures private label fermented beverages for global retailers. The company specializes in turnkey private labeling of organic functional ready-to-drink products, including kombucha and cold brew offerings. They focus on crafting high-quality beverages.
Based in Tulsa, OK, Firefly Brew provides professional kombucha co-packing and private label services. They specialize in custom formulations using organic ingredients and offer scalable production. Their expertise includes crafting functional kombucha with elements like mushrooms and herbs, focusing on low-sugar, organic beverages for client brands.
Florida Canning Company provides comprehensive co-packing and private label services for a diverse range of ready-to-drink beverages. They specialize in brewing, blending, and packaging products like kombucha, teas, juices, and sparkling waters. Offering end-to-end solutions from recipe development and ingredient sourcing to filling and logistics, they support both small batch and large-scale production.
Foodies Urban Kitchen, a Los Angeles-based co-packing facility, supports small-scale artisanal food brands. They specialize in complex recipes like fermented, raw, vegan, paleo, keto, and gluten-free products. Operating a full-service commercial kitchen, they meet HACCP and GMP standards, helping businesses scale for retail market entry.
Gehl Food & Beverage is a US-based contract manufacturer specializing in aseptic processing and packaging services. They produce high-quality, shelf-stable food and beverage products, including various RTD beverages like teas and non-dairy options. The company offers research & development expertise and diverse validated packaging solutions for consumer brands.
Greenwood Aseptics specializes in aseptic filling and packaging services for liquid food and beverage products. Based in Niles, IL, they offer comprehensive co-packing solutions, including product development support. Their capabilities extend to juices, dairy alternatives, teas, coffee drinks, and nutraceuticals, ensuring safe and shelf-stable products for commercial clients seeking beverage co-packing.
Based in San Diego, CA, Intelligent Blends manufactures coffee, tea, and functional beverages. They offer co-packing services including blending, mixing, infusing, and R&D formulation. The company provides flexible packaging options such as recyclable K-Cups, stick packs, coffee bags, and gusset pouches for diverse market needs.
Based in Manchester, NH, Iron Heart Canning provides mobile canning and comprehensive contract co-packing services for diverse beverage types. They partner with small and middle-market producers, offering packaging solutions across the US East Coast and beyond, focusing on quality and operational excellence.
Based in Santa Maria, CA, Jungle Beverage specializes in flexible beverage manufacturing and expert in-house formulation. Offering no-minimum orders, they help brands in Central and Southern California test and scale new beverage ideas. With over 23 years of industry experience, they support beverage development and production from concept to launch.
Raw Brewing Co. offers comprehensive private label kombucha, co-packing, and contract manufacturing capabilities. Based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, the company specializes in producing professional-quality kombucha products for commercial clients. They also provide resources and products for homebrewing enthusiasts.
Manna Beverages offers comprehensive beverage manufacturing and co-packaging for commercial brands across the U.S. They co-package ready-to-drink products, including juices, carbonated, and organic beverages, tailored to client specifications. The company also provides warehousing, storage, and logistics services.
Based in San Leandro, CA, Marathon Packing offers specialty co-packing services for liquid food ingredients. They provide hot and cold fill bottling, labeling, casing, and palletizing for diverse products, including functional beverages, teas, juices, and specialty waters, for commercial clients.
Based in Greenville, SC, Multi-Pack Solutions offers contract bottle filling and packaging for a diverse range of liquid products. They specialize in food and beverages, including sauces, syrups, and drinks like kombucha. Operating FDA-registered facilities, the company ensures product safety and integrity with strict quality control for comprehensive packaging.
Based in Orange, CA, Newport Bottling & Canning offers comprehensive beverage co-packing and development services. They specialize in liquid and powdered beverage formulation, bottling, and canning, including capabilities for kombucha drinks. The company provides full-service lines from pilot production to launch.
Based in Seabrook, NH, NOBL Beverages offers co-packing services for ready-to-drink products, including cold brew coffee, tea, and kombucha. The company also provides beverage coolers and draft systems, distributing its products from Rhode Island.
Based in Fresno, CA, Pacific Choice provides quality contract packaging and food manufacturing services. They specialize in high-quality specialty food items, offering recipe development, private label co-packing, and a full pilot plant for new product development. They feature flexible production lines and hold BRC/GFSI, Organic, Kosher, and FDA certifications.
Based in Chicago, IL, and Milwaukee, WI, Pilot Project Brewing serves as a beverage incubator. They offer co-packing services, supporting start-up beverage brands, including kombucha, with recipe R&D and production scaling. Utilizing their own brewing facilities, Pilot Project helps new beverage concepts launch and grow effectively.
Based in Elk Grove Village, IL, Poco Packing Co. provides innovative, end-to-end co-packing solutions for emerging food and beverage brands. They offer product development and co-packing with automatic flex pack stand-up pouch production and liquid sachets. USDA Organic and MOSA Certified, they are well-equipped for organic liquid products like kombucha.
Based in Hudsonville, MI, Proper Beverage offers end-to-end beverage co-packing services for both non-alcoholic and alcoholic brands. They specialize in handling intricate formulations and high-volume distribution, providing manufacturing precision, scalable infrastructure, and operational excellence to ensure product quality and brand integrity.
Based in Frederick, CO, Quantum Canning offers co-manufacturing services for beverages. They utilize a state-of-the-art, fully automated counter-pressure filler for accurate fills and minimal dissolved oxygen. Services include flash pasteurization to ensure shelf stability, complemented by warehousing and logistics, providing complete co-packing solutions.
Based in Des Moines, IA, Red Boot Beverage provides co-packing services for a variety of beverages, including carbonated drinks. They offer packaging options such as glass, cans, and plastic, alongside tunnel pasteurization to enhance shelf life. Specializing in comprehensive bottling and canning solutions for commercial clients.
Based in Seattle, WA, San Juan Seltzer provides co-packing services for various beverages. Their production facility offers blending, filling, and packaging solutions for a wide array of can packages, variety packs, and kegs, utilizing their experience in craft beverage production.
Based in Vergennes, VT, Shacksbury Cider provides comprehensive co-packing services for a wide array of beverages. Leveraging over a decade of expertise in beverage production, the company partners with businesses to offer reliable packaging solutions.
Based in Salt Lake City, UT, Silver King Beverage Company provides a turnkey beverage manufacturing solution with an integrated facility. They offer on-site can making, can filling, variety packing, warehousing, and logistics services. Their co-packing capabilities support partners in bringing beverage products to market efficiently.
SOMA Kombucha offers contract manufacturing, private labeling, development, and consultation services for kombucha and jun. The company operates a thriving co-manufacturing and formulation arm, supporting other brands with their production needs.
Based in Santa Rosa, CA, Sonoma Beverage Company provides co-packing for carbonated and non-carbonated beverages. They offer canning for sleek/standard aluminum and bottling for various glass sizes. Services include tunnel pasteurization and cold storage, adhering to GMP. The facility is Organic, Kosher, Gluten-Free, and Industrial Hemp Certified.
SunOpta offers customized supply chain solutions and manufacturing for a broad portfolio of beverages and better-for-you snacks. They produce plant-based and nutritional beverages, utilizing aseptic packaging, for top brands, retailers, and foodservice providers across North America.
THRĪV Drink Project provides beverage co-packing and contract manufacturing services from its Cypress, CA facility. Specializing in cold-pressed juices, functional beverages, and teas, the company offers turnkey solutions, blending, and filling. They utilize HPP technology for extended shelf life and hold certifications including Organic, Kosher, Gluten-Free, and SQF.
Very Good Manufacturing specializes in co-packing and co-manufacturing services for diverse beverage brands. Operating high-speed bottling and canning lines in Texas, they handle both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including spirits, RTDs, and wines. Based in Wilmington, DE, the company provides efficient production solutions.
Based in Roseville, CA, Well Above Bottling and Canning provides comprehensive co-packing services for a variety of beverages, including sparkling, still, and flavored drinks. They offer R&D customization, operate state-of-the-art bottling and canning lines, and maintain strict quality assurance with SQF, GSFI, NSF, and HACCP certifications.
Based in Nottingham, MD, Wildpack offers comprehensive beverage co-packing services for middle-market brands. They specialize in canning, providing printed and sleeved cans, material sourcing, label design, and filling. With multiple US canning facilities, Wildpack ensures efficient and reliable beverage production and packaging.
CA Manufacturing Partners offers ISO-certified beverage manufacturing and flexible copacking services. They specialize in aluminum can packaging, ensuring label compliance for their clients. The company utilizes integrated ERP systems to streamline operations and provide efficient beverage production solutions.
Co Packing Los Angeles specializes in micro canning and bottling services for carbonated beverages, including kombucha. Based in Los Angeles, California, they support partners from initial formulation through brand development. Their comprehensive co-packing solutions cater to both emerging and established beverage companies.
Based in Odessa, FL, Craftek Beverages is a family-run boutique beverage co-packer. Specializing in small-batch production with low minimums, they offer personalized, full-service support. With over 15 years of experience, rooted in craft beer, they serve various beverage brands as a direct provider.
Indiana-based Crossroads Kombucha offers co-packing for craft kombucha brands. They use a small-batch, continuous brewing method, fermenting a proprietary tea blend. Premium, locally-sourced fruits and florals are added in a second fermentation, ensuring consistent, high-quality kombucha for partners.
Based in Nashville, TN, Walker Brothers Beverage Company operates its own production facility, offering kombucha co-packing services. The company also brews and sells its own brand of craft kombucha, including hard kombucha, alongside a line of non-alcoholic botanical sodas, emphasizing natural ingredients and probiotics.
Lucky To Be Beverage Manufacturing (LTBB) offers turnkey co-packing and private label solutions for functional beverages. They produce in various formats like bottles, shots, and cans, providing custom formulations for health-conscious brands. LTBB is an NSF, cGMP, Sprouts, Organic, and Non-GMO certified facility, managing product development from concept to 3PL services.
Based in San Diego, OC Brewpack specializes in co-packing premium non-beer RTDs and functional beverages, including kombucha, seltzers, and cocktails. They offer certified organic processes, meticulous quality control, and expert formulation. Their team provides comprehensive support from concept to commercialization for scalable production.
Headspace, based in Long Beach, CA, provides full-service beverage co-packing and contract fermentation. They specialize in batching, canning, and production, offering tailored solutions from product development to advanced packaging, including shelf-stable methods for diverse beverages.
SIP Manufacturing offers contract packaging solutions for beverage co-packaging needs, from development to shipment. This licensed, BRC, Organic, Kosher, and GMP-certified facility specializes in high-quality aluminum canning and PET/aluminum bottling. They leverage state-of-the-art capabilities like carbonation, HTST, and cold fill for diverse beverage types.
Based in Springfield, MO, Spring Branch Kombucha offers private label kombucha manufacturing. Through their private label program, businesses can develop and market unique kombucha brands tailored to their customers, leveraging Spring Branch Kombucha's production capabilities.
The Nations Brewing Company provides comprehensive contract brewing and beverage co-packing services. They offer solutions including low minimum order quantities, dedicated project management, and expertise in recipe creation and scaling for various beverage types. This makes them a suitable partner for businesses seeking beverage manufacturing.
Tiny Keg Can Co provides comprehensive beverage co-packing and mobile canning solutions. They offer facility-based and on-site services for still and carbonated beverages, including filling, seaming, date coding, and labeling with pressure-sensitive or shrink sleeve options, utilizing various can sizes.
Wana Beverage offers private label and co-packing services for kombucha and other beverages. Based in San Diego, CA, they specialize in 320ml canned drinks with natural probiotics. They provide full-service solutions, helping brands with custom formulations and efficient manufacturing for their products.
Based in Wauwatosa, WI, American Pasteurization Company (APC) provides High Pressure Processing (HPP) services for the food manufacturing industry. HPP pasteurizes foods and beverages on a commercial tolling basis, extending shelf life while preserving fresher taste, appearance, texture, and nutrition without using heat.
Build a Blend provides wholesale co-packing and private label services for custom wellness teas and natural products. Specializing in ingredient sourcing, formulation, and contract growing, they leverage tea expertise to develop unique tea-based beverage solutions for commercial partners.
Ludford's Inc. Packing Co. is a family-owned packing and bottling firm, specializing in quality co-packing and private label services. They provide dependable beverage production solutions, likely including kombucha, for clients seeking professional bottling and packaging expertise.
Based in Cayce, SC, Capacity Tap is a functional beverage co-packer specializing in top-performing and trend-setting beverage categories. Their state-of-the-art facility handles a wide range of beverage types, including sparkling waters, teas, juices, energy drinks, and other functional beverages, providing comprehensive co-packing services for commercial clients.
Carolina Beverage Group is a specialty beverage co-packer for national and international brands. They produce non-alcoholic carbonated and non-carbonated drinks, including teas, functional beverages, and energy drinks. Operating from multiple US facilities, they offer a broad range of packaging and blending solutions.
Based in Bridgeton, NJ, Cumberland Dairy offers co-packing for diverse liquid food products. Their state-of-the-art facility processes ultra-pasteurized milks, extended shelf-life items, and non-dairy beverages, making them suitable for kombucha co-packing. They serve foodservice, retail, and wholesale distributors with comprehensive manufacturing solutions.
Based in Traverse City, MI, Cultured Kombucha Co specializes in producing high-quality kombucha. In addition to their own brand, they offer comprehensive private label co-packing services for other businesses. They also provide consultation on flavor development, formula tweaking, and market strategies to support brand growth.
Based in Maitland, FL, H&H Products Company offers co-packing and private label services for liquid ambient fill products. They blend and package proprietary beverage concentrates, syrups, and ingredients with a minimum batch size of a few hundred gallons.
HPP Los Angeles provides high pressure pasteurization (HPP) services for various food types, including contract packaging for juices and related product lines. The company supports clients in the Los Angeles area seeking specialized food and beverage processing and packaging.
Based in Los Angeles, CA, Matrix Bottling Group offers full-service beverage co-packing and private label solutions. With three US facilities nationwide, they provide over 100 million bottles monthly capacity across diverse formats and beverage categories, supporting brands with quality and speed.
MSI Express, INC, based in Portage, IN, is a single-source contract manufacturing and packaging company. They specialize in liquid blending, bottle filling, and dry foods packaging. The company holds organic, kosher, SQF, FDA, and GMP certifications, providing comprehensive solutions for food and beverage brands.
Based in Las Vegas, NV, The Drink Ink provides comprehensive beverage manufacturing services. They specialize in custom private label beverages, offering formula development, production, bottling, and co-packing for a variety of drinks. The company serves brands seeking efficient and reliable beverage production solutions.
Based in Lincoln, NE, Universal Pure offers beverage bottling and co-packing services, specializing in High Pressure Processing (HPP) for clean-label products. They provide comprehensive integrated solutions including cold storage, kitting, packaging, labeling, storage, and distribution for food and beverage brands.
WePackItAll, based in Duarte, CA, delivers custom filling and co-packaging solutions for health and wellness brands. With nearly 50 years of experience, they provide primary packaging for stick packs, sachets, bottles, and pouches, supporting CPG and private label growth.
Based in Gypsum, CO, BetterBeverage Group manufactures and co-packages functional fermented beverages. They specialize in private label, raw kombucha with customizable flavors and packaging, certified USDA Organic and non-alcoholic. Their offerings also include prebiotic sodas, tepache, and functional energy drinks for B2B clients.
Big Brands SoCal Co-Packing, with 30 years of experience, operates beverage co-packing facilities in Los Angeles and San Diego, CA. They offer comprehensive services for various beverages, including kombucha. Capabilities feature cold and hot fill, pasteurization, and packaging options in glass, PET, and aluminum cans.
Big Watt CoPack provides comprehensive beverage co-manufacturing services, guiding brands of all sizes from concept to consumer. They offer product formulation, R&D, packaging, and manufacturing for canned and kegged beverages. Capabilities include alcoholic, non-alcoholic, CBD/THC infused, functional beverages, cold brew coffee, and teas.
Based in Los Angeles, CA, California Custom Beverage provides custom co-packing services for a variety of beverages. With bi-coastal facilities in Los Angeles, CA, and Latrobe, PA, they offer wide-ranging production experience and maintain SQF level certification.
Circle Beverage is a turnkey beverage manufacturer specializing in complex canned beverage products for high potential brands and retailers. They employ a Full Circle Manufacturing Method, providing clients with quality and responsive co-packing services. The company emphasizes service and a structured approach to manufacturing, ensuring consistent delivery.
Based in Fullerton, CA, Common Collabs is a co-packer, co-manufacturer, and incubator for beverage brands. Their experienced team partners with clients from concept to market, specializing in cold brew, tea, cocktails, and craft sodas. They focus on making high-quality beverages common through collaboration.
ProtoPackers, based in Southern California, is an ultra short run beverage co-packer specializing in services for small and start-up beverage brands. They offer co-packing for both still and sparkling beverages, including brewed teas, lemonades, craft sodas, and seltzers.
DrinkPAK, LLC is a contract manufacturer specializing in high-speed co-packing for non-alcoholic and alcoholic canned beverages. They offer comprehensive services including batching, filling, testing, and automated variety repacking. With advanced facilities in California and Texas, DrinkPAK produces billions of cans annually for various brands.
ICL Toll Blending Services provides expert contract manufacturing for liquid and dry formulations, including beverages. With coast-to-coast capacity in the United States, they offer flexible packaging solutions and comprehensive regulatory support for diverse products, making them a suitable partner for kombucha co-packing needs.
MACRO Brands provides co-packing and turn-key manufacturing for shelf-stable beverages. They offer aseptic bottling, JBT Static Retort Pasteurization, carbonation, and nitrogen infusion. Services encompass pilot trials, process development, and packaging for cold brew coffee, tea, juices, smoothies, and other functional drinks.
Refresco North America, based in Tampa, FL, provides comprehensive beverage co-packing and contract manufacturing services. The company partners with retailers and A-brands, offering product development, industry insights, and extensive production capabilities for a wide range of liquid refreshment beverages, suitable for kombucha.
US Beverage Manufacturing provides comprehensive beverage development, formulation, and co-packing services. They assist new companies and existing brands with custom private label beverages, FDA label consultation, and TTB regulatory guidance. The company manages beverage manufacturing and supply chain needs from concept to market.
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How to Choose a Company
- Verify their expertise in maintaining SCOBY health, managing batch consistency, and ensuring appropriate pH levels throughout fermentation to deliver stable live cultures.
- Confirm their capabilities for rigorous cold chain storage from finished product to distribution, especially if targeting raw, unpasteurized kombucha with specific shelf life requirements. Ask about temperature monitoring and testing protocols.
- For organic products, ensure they hold active USDA Organic certification and understand the annual audit process. For functional kombucha, inquire about NSF or specific dietary certifications (e.g., Gluten-Free, Kosher).
- Demand clarity on their process for managing and testing alcohol content, particularly for kombucha under 0.5% ABV, and their experience with TTB regulations and reporting. Mismanagement here is a major red flag.
- Evaluate their ability to integrate complex natural flavorings (e.g., fruit purees, botanical extracts) at your desired batch sizes, ensuring consistent taste profiles from pilot run to commercial scale without cross-contamination.
- Be wary of co-packers who push for flash pasteurization without thoroughly discussing your brand's commitment to raw, live cultures, or those who lack dedicated lines, risking cross-contamination with non-fermented beverages.
Supplier Types at a Glance
| Type | Best For | Typical MOQ |
|---|---|---|
| Small-Batch Craft Brewer | Startups, R&D, niche flavors, brands focused on hyper-local distribution and proprietary SCOBYs. | 500-2,000 gallons |
| Mid-Scale Specialty Co-Packer | Growing brands, regional distribution, specific certifications (e.g., Organic, Kosher), seeking more complex flavor integration. | 2,000-10,000 gallons |
| Large-Volume Aseptic/HTST Facility | Enterprise brands, national distribution, extended shelf life, consistency, flash pasteurization or de-alcoholization capabilities. | 10,000+ gallons |
| Functional Beverage Co-Packer | Brands integrating adaptogens, CBD, or other functional ingredients into kombucha, requiring specialized mixing and compliance. | Varies, often similar to Mid-Scale |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the typical Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) for kombucha co-packing, and how does it vary?
MOQs vary significantly based on the co-packer's scale and equipment. Small craft co-packers might start at 500-1,000 gallons (equivalent to ~5,000-10,000 bottles), ideal for startups. Larger facilities often require 5,000-10,000+ gallons per SKU (50,000-100,000+ bottles), with MOQs typically tied to tank capacity and packaging line changeovers for efficiency.
How do co-packers manage the alcohol content in kombucha to stay under the 0.5% ABV legal limit?
Experienced co-packers employ strict fermentation monitoring, tracking metrics like pH, Brix, and specific gravity. They often use controlled fermentation techniques or de-alcoholization methods, such as reverse osmosis, to ensure ABV remains below 0.5%. They should also have robust in-house or third-party testing protocols (e.g., gas chromatography) and a clear understanding of TTB compliance for reporting.
What is a 'brew-in-bag' system, and when should I look for a co-packer using one?
A brew-in-bag (BIB) system involves brewing kombucha in large, sterile, single-use bags within fermentation tanks, preventing direct contact with the tank walls. This system often appeals to co-packers prioritizing flexibility, reduced risk of cross-contamination between different products, and the ability to handle smaller, more diverse SKUs, though it may not be the most economical for the highest volume productions.
Should I provide my own SCOBY, or will the co-packer use theirs?
This depends on your brand's specific requirements and the co-packer's capabilities. Many co-packers have established, healthy SCOBYs they prefer to use for consistency and scalability. However, if your brand identity is deeply tied to a proprietary culture, some co-packers will work with your starter culture, provided it's robust, stable, and validated for commercial-scale use, often after a rigorous testing phase.
What are the critical packaging considerations for kombucha, beyond just the bottle?
Beyond glass or PET bottles, key considerations include closures (e.g., crown caps, ROPP caps for tamper-evidence), labels (pressure-sensitive or shrink sleeve, ensuring they withstand cold chain moisture and condensation), and secondary packaging (trays, cases, multi-packs). Crucially, all packaging components must be pressure-rated to safely contain the natural carbonation, particularly in raw, unpasteurized kombucha, to prevent bursting or seal failure.