Why Do Brands Need a Turnkey Supplement Manufacturing Solution?

In an industry where who you choose to work with is just as important as what kind of supplement you're looking to produce, understanding your options and what each of those options actually entails is a must! With that in mind, we’re tackling a question that's constantly being asked by new supplement brand owners – what, exactly, is a turnkey supplement contract manufacturer? And more importantly, what distinguishes a “turnkey” service provider from any other service provider?

What is Turnkey Manufacturing?

As per the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word “turnkey” can be defined as:

of or involving the provision of a complete product or service that is ready for immediate use.

So, at least in theory, any business claiming to be a “turnkey service provider” will be able to offer you or your business a full suite of solutions all under one roof.

Also, according to Wikipedia, a contract manufacturer ("CM") is a manufacturer that contracts with a firm for components or products. Contract manufacturing is a form of outsourcing. In the food business, a contract manufacturer is called a co-packer.

Taking all of that into account, your average turnkey supplement contract manufacturer should (at least in theory) be able to help you manufacture your customer’s dietary supplements to specification while also providing you with a full suite of manufacturing and secondary services.

What is Turnkey Contract Manufacturing?

The key difference between a "turnkey" contract manufacturer and a contract manufacturer is the set of "secondary" services that exist beyond the scope of basic contract manufacturing.

Why Use Turnkey Solutions for Supplement Manufacturing?

The supplement manufacturing industry is growing rapidly. In order to stand out in this industry, you need to have a well-maintained balance between quality, speed, and costs. With turnkey contract manufacturing, you can conveniently outsource some of the processes to better all the three parameters. Turnkey solutions make supplement manufacturing smooth, as well as time and cost-effective.

What Kind of Services Can a Turnkey Supplement Contract Manufacturer Provide?

Along with the basics of supplement contract manufacturing, there are a number of additional or secondary services that become available when you choose to partner with a turnkey supplement contract manufacturer.

While you shouldn't expect every manufacturer to offer the same services, here are a few of the option that you're likely to encounter:

Delivery Method Options: The baseline is capsules, tablets, and powders.
Primary and Secondary Packaging Options: Along with standard HDPE and PET bottles, other options might include boxes, blister packs, stick packs, custom/enhanced label printing capabilities, and more.
Shipping and Fulfillment Options: Services that fall into this category might include cGMP warehouse storage and shipping & fulfillment (helping you get your products to where they need to be).

Ultimately, the processes of finding out which services a turnkey supplement manufacturer is capable of offering (and whether or not those services are capable of meeting the needs of your business) usually start with a phone call or an email.

Benefits of Turnkey Solutions for Your Supplement Business

More Efficiency

By outsourcing some of your supplement business’ processes to turnkey contract manufacturers, you can shift focus to other aspects of the business and pay greater attention to your customer’s requirements. Since your turnkey contract manufacturers are also highly experienced and professional, and are equipped with the necessary facilities, they also work efficiently, in turn improving the quality of your supplements.

Better Packaging

From production and testing to packaging, labeling, and distribution, your turnkey contract manufacturers provide you with all of these high-quality services in one place.

Predictable Timelines

Turnkey manufacturers have a great amount of experience. Skilled professionals, who have been in the industry for a long time, have a systematic way of working and delivering the products within stipulated timelines.

Are Turnkey Solutions Right for You?

In general, turnkey solutions are best-suited for businesses that need an immediate solution without a lot of customization. The benefits offered by turnkey manufacturers to the brand owners, would be the driving factors for the future growth in the dietary supplement markets.

Turnkey solutions are the right option for your business if you are looking for cost-savings, ready-to-go solutions, tried and tested products with predictable timelines and shorter lead times.[i]

Choosing Your Next Supplement Contract Manufacturer

Finding the right contract manufacturer to meet the needs of you, your business, and your clients is no small task – which is part of the reason why taking the time to map out those needs can be so incredibly useful.

Let's face it, the last thing anyone wants to be when starting a conversation with a potential business partner is unprepared.

You may also like...