How to Start a Supplement Brand: A Sourcing Guide

A contract manufacturer's equipment dictates which formats you can sell. Capsule filling lines typically run 60,000–120,000 capsules per shift, while gummy lines produce 2–5 tonne batches and powder lines handle 500–2,000 kg blends. If your launch plan includes multiple SKUs, confirm changeover time between products. A plant that runs capsules, tablets and powders under one roof reduces the number of suppliers you manage and keeps fill weights consistent across your range.

Capacity also determines whether your reorder arrives on time. Ask for monthly output figures per dosage form and current utilisation. A plant running at 70–80% capacity can usually slot a 5,000-unit run into a 20–35 working day window. One running at 95% may push you to 45 days. For pilot runs under 1,000 units, expect manual or semi-automatic lines and a higher per-unit cost.

Your formula should be built around clinically studied dosages, not label decoration. If a study used 500 mg of an extract, a 50 mg sprinkle will not support the same claim. Work with the manufacturer's R&D team to set actives, excipients and overage. Common capsule sizes are 0, 00 and 000, holding roughly 300–1,000 mg. Tablets range 250–1,200 mg. Gummies usually sit at 2–5 g, and powders at 5–30 g per serving.

Ingredient sourcing affects both cost and lead time. Standardised botanical extracts, marine collagen and probiotic blends may need 15–30 days to arrive at the plant before production starts. Ask whether the manufacturer holds stock or buys against your PO. For organic, halal claims, the ingredient supplier needs matching certification. Request a certificate of analysis for each lot and confirm the testing lab used for identity, potency and heavy metals.

A GMP-certified facility follows written procedures for blending, filling, packaging and batch records. ISO 22000 and HACCP add food-safety controls. These certifications support your label claims but do not replace market-specific rules. In the US, you file a structure-function claim notification if needed. In the EU, novel food status and health claims regulation apply. In the Middle East, halal certification and Arabic labelling are often required.

Shipping from Guangdong to Los Angeles takes about 18–25 days by sea; to Rotterdam, 28–35 days; to Jebel Ali, 20–28 days. Air freight runs 5–8 days at 4–6 times the cost. Confirm Incoterms, whether the manufacturer handles export documents, and who pays for any customs inspection. For retail bottling, request food-grade secondary packaging that survives transit without dents.

Every production batch is sampled at three points: incoming raw materials, in-process blend or fill, and finished goods. Identity testing by FTIR or HPLC confirms each active ingredient against its reference standard. Potency assays quantify actives to within 90–110% of label claim, while microbial testing covers total aerobic count, yeast and mould, E. coli and Salmonella. Heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury) are screened against USP <2232> or EU pharmacopoeia limits, and disintegration testing follows USP <701> for tablets and capsules. Gummies require additional texture and water-activity checks.

A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is issued per batch and typically lists the product name, lot number, manufacturing date, expiry date, tests performed, specification limits, results and the analyst's signature. For US-bound products, the COA should reference the finished-product specification agreed at sample approval. Retention samples of each batch are kept for at least one year past expiry under controlled temperature and humidity, so a query about a specific lot can be resolved without relying on production records alone.

Stability protocols follow ICH Q1A(R2) guidance: accelerated conditions at 40°C/75% RH for six months and long-term at 25°C/60% RH for the shelf life claimed. A typical supplement brand orders a 12-month real-time study alongside the accelerated arm, with interim timepoints at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months. If you plan to sell in the EU, the stability data should support the shelf life printed on the label, and any excipient or packaging change triggers a re-test.

Deviations are documented in a batch record that traces every ingredient lot, operator, equipment clean-down and in-process check. If a result falls outside specification, the batch is quarantined pending an investigation. Ask your contract manufacturer for a sample COA and a blank batch record before you place a deposit; the format tells you more about their documentation discipline than any brochure claim.

Primary packaging options include HDPE bottles (typically 60, 90, 120 or 180 count), PET jars for powders, blister packs for pharmacy channels, stick packs for single-serve powders and sachets for sample or travel sizes. Bottles can be supplied with induction seals, desiccant canisters or cotton, and child-resistant closures where required. Gummies usually ship in PET or glass jars with a shrink band. Confirm the bottle dimensions and closure thread with your manufacturer early, because tooling and label dielines depend on them.

For the US market, the FDA dietary-supplement label must carry a Supplement Facts panel with serving size, amount per serving and % Daily Value where established, plus a complete ingredient list in descending order of weight. The statement of identity, net quantity, name and place of business of the manufacturer or distributor, and allergen declarations are mandatory. Structure-function claims require the DSHEA disclaimer. For the EU, the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation governs wording, and the label must show the recommended daily portion and a warning not to exceed it.

Lot and expiry coding is applied by inkjet or laser on the bottle, carton and, where used, the shrink band. The format should match your market: in the US, a best-by date is common; in the EU, an expiry date is expected. Cartons are specified with board grade, print process and pallet configuration, typically 12 to 48 units per carton and 40 to 60 cartons per pallet. If you sell on Amazon, the FNSKU label must be applied so it covers the original barcode, and poly-bagged units need a suffocation warning.

Retail readiness also means checking that the dieline accommodates your mandatory text without font sizes falling below local minimums. A common delay is a label that looks correct on screen but fails the printer's pre-flight because of low-resolution images or missing bleed. Ask for a printed proof on the actual substrate before mass printing; the cost of a proof is small compared with reprinting 5,000 labels.

The sample timeline starts with a formulation brief and typically runs 7–10 working days for a stock formula, or 15–20 working days if a new flavour or custom blend is required. Sample costs are usually credited against the first production order. Once you approve the sample and pay the deposit, mass production takes 20–35 working days depending on dosage form and packaging complexity. Gummies and softgels sit at the longer end because of curing and drying steps.

Shipping method depends on volume and urgency. Air freight suits pilot runs of 50–200 kg and takes 5–10 days door to door, while sea freight is economical above roughly 500 kg and takes 25–40 days to the US or EU. Express couriers are used for samples and small replenishments. Provide your destination postcode and product weight so the manufacturer can quote accurately; volumetric weight often governs air costs for low-density powders.

Incoterms should be agreed in writing. EXW means you arrange collection from the Guangdong factory; FOB covers delivery to the named port, typically Shenzhen or Hong Kong; DDP means the manufacturer handles freight, customs and duties to your door, which simplifies accounting but usually carries a higher unit cost. For first orders, FOB is the most common choice because it gives you visibility of freight costs and insurance.

Documents provided with each shipment include the COA, a material safety data sheet (MSDS) for the finished product, a free-sale certificate, and a certificate of origin. For plant-derived ingredients, a phytosanitary certificate may be required by the destination country. Confirm the document set before booking freight, because missing paperwork at customs can add several days and demurrage charges.