Vegan Gummy Manufacturer for Retail and Private Label

We run two pectin lines and two modified-starch lines. Pectin gummies suit fruit-forward flavours and clean-label positioning; starch-moulded gummies hold shape well for high-dose actives and sugar-free formats. Both systems are gelatin-free by design, so there is no cross-contact risk on the vegan lines. Changeover procedures include full allergen and animal-derived ingredient swabbing between runs. Each line handles 300,000 to 400,000 units per shift depending on gummy weight and mould size.

Tooling covers standard bear, cube, ring, bottle and drop shapes from 1.5 g to 5 g. Custom moulds are available at 5,000 to 8,000 units per shape for pilot runs, then scaled to full production. Depositing accuracy is held to plus or minus 3 percent of target fill weight. We can run up to 6 colours and 8 flavours in a single production window, which keeps changeover waste low for multi-SKU launches.

The main challenge with vegan gummies is texture over shelf life. Pectin needs the right calcium level and pH window to set properly; starch moulding needs controlled drying to avoid stickiness. We test water activity at 0.55 to 0.65 and pH at 3.2 to 3.8 for most pectin systems. Hardness is measured on a texture analyser at day 1, day 30 and day 90 to confirm the chew profile stays consistent. Typical shelf life is 18 to 24 months in sealed bottles.

Actives are the second variable. Vitamin C, zinc, elderberry, biotin, B12 and botanical extracts all interact differently with pectin and starch. We run compatibility trials before locking a formula, checking for off-notes, colour shift and potency loss. Overages are set based on 3-month accelerated stability data, not guesswork. Sugar-free versions use maltitol, xylitol or allulose, with fibre or erythritol blends to mask cooling effects. Vegan colours come from fruit, vegetable and algae sources where a clean label is required.

The facility is GMP-certified and holds ISO 22000 and HACCP. Incoming raw materials are quarantined until identity testing and COA review are complete. Every finished batch is tested for microbial load, heavy metals, pH, water activity and fill weight. Retain samples are kept for the full shelf life plus 6 months. We do not claim FDA approval; the facility is FDA-registered and can provide the registration number for US importers. halal and vegan certificates are available depending on the formula and ingredient sources.

Export paperwork includes commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, health certificate, free sale certificate and COA. We ship FOB Shenzhen or Yantian, with air freight for samples and urgent pilot runs. Standard retail packaging is 60 cc to 120 cc PET or HDPE bottles with induction seals, child-resistant caps and shrink bands. Labels can be printed and applied in-house, or supplied by your printer. Carton configurations are built to your pallet spec, typically 24 to 48 bottles per carton.

Each vegan gummy batch is sampled at three points: after cooking, after moulding and after curing. In-process checks cover pH (target 3.2-3.6 for pectin systems), water activity (0.55-0.65 aw), and hardness using a texture analyser. Finished-product testing includes identity and potency of actives by HPLC or UV-Vis, microbials (total plate count, yeast and mould, E. coli, Salmonella), heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury) by ICP-MS, and disintegration testing to confirm the pectin or starch matrix breaks down within the pharmacopoeia specification. All results are recorded against the batch number and retained for five years.

A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is issued for every batch and includes the batch number, production date, expiry date, test parameters, specifications, results and pass/fail status. Where a proprietary blend is used, the COA reports the marker compound rather than the full formula. Retention samples of each batch are stored at ambient conditions for the full shelf life plus six months, so any post-market query can be checked against the original material. Stability protocols follow ICH climatic zone II conditions (25°C/60% RH) with accelerated testing at 40°C/75% RH for six months to support a 24-month shelf life claim.

For vegan claims, we verify the absence of animal-derived processing aids and cross-check incoming raw materials against supplier declarations. Gelatin-free status is confirmed by a specific ELISA test where required. If your market requires organic certification, the batch is segregated and a mass-balance audit trail is maintained from raw material receipt to finished carton. These records are available for review during a customer audit or third-party inspection.

We fill vegan gummies into HDPE bottles (60, 90, 120 and 180 count), blister packs, stick packs and single-serve sachets. Bottles can be supplied with induction seals, desiccant sachets and child-resistant closures where required. Labelling follows the US FDA dietary supplement label format: statement of identity, net quantity, supplement facts panel, other ingredients, directions, warnings and allergen declarations. For EU markets, we apply the nutrition declaration and appropriate health claim wording only where authorised. Lot and expiry coding is applied by inkjet or laser on the bottle base, carton flap and outer shipper, using a format agreed with your quality team.

Cartons are specified with dimensions, board grade and print process (offset or digital) to match your artwork. Palletisation follows a standard pattern: 48 cartons per layer, 6 layers per pallet for 120-count bottles, giving 288 cartons per pallet, stretch-wrapped and corner-boarded. We can apply Amazon FNSKU labels, poly-bag units and print retail-ready cartons with GS1 barcodes. For club-store or pharmacy chains, we provide carton drop-test reports and artwork proofs before mass production. All packaging components are checked against your approved specification on receipt, and a packaging reconciliation is included in the batch record.

The sample timeline starts with a formulation brief and artwork review. We dispatch vegan gummy samples within 7-10 working days of receiving your brief and confirming the target dosage form. Sample batches are produced on the same moulding lines as commercial runs, so texture and flavour match production. If you need a custom shape or embossed logo, add 5-7 working days for mould fabrication. Sample costs are quoted per project and credited against the first mass-production order above 10,000 units.

Mass production runs 20-35 working days after sample approval and receipt of a 30% deposit. The window includes raw material testing, production scheduling, curing (typically 48-72 hours for pectin gummies), packaging and QC release. Peak season (August to November) may extend lead times by 5-7 working days, so we recommend confirming purchase orders early. We provide weekly production status updates and a pre-shipment inspection report before dispatch.

Shipping is arranged by air or sea depending on volume and urgency. Air freight from Shenzhen or Hong Kong to major EU and US airports takes 5-8 days door-to-door; sea freight to Rotterdam or Los Angeles takes 28-35 days port-to-port. We quote EXW, FOB Shenzhen/Hong Kong or DDP to your warehouse. Documents provided with each shipment include COA, MSDS, free-sale certificate, packing list, commercial invoice and, where relevant, phytosanitary certificate and certificate of origin. We do not arrange cargo insurance unless requested.