For craft beverage brands, finding the right bottling partner can be an important step in turning a unique beverage concept into a consistent, retail-ready product. As production volumes grow, handling manufacturing and packaging in-house can become more difficult, requiring specialized equipment, additional employees, quality control systems, and significant facility investments.
Working with an experienced beverage bottling company can give craft beverage brands access to the manufacturing capabilities they need without having to build and maintain their own production facility. However, not every bottling company specializes in the same types of beverages.
So, which bottling companies specialize in craft beverage production, and what should a beverage brand look for when choosing a manufacturing partner?
What Is a Craft Beverage?
Craft beverage is a broad term that can describe drinks made with unique formulations, specialty ingredients, distinctive flavors, or a particular emphasis on quality and brand identity. Unlike traditional mass-market beverages, craft products often have more specialized formulations or packaging requirements.
Craft beverages can include:
- Craft sodas
- Kombucha
- Probiotic beverages
- Functional beverages
- Specialty waters
- Flavored and enhanced waters
- Ginger beer
- Tonic water
- Cocktail mixers
- Mocktails
- Sports and hydration beverages
- Specialty teas
- Organic beverages
- Low-sugar and no-sugar beverages
Because these beverages can have very different formulations and production requirements, choosing a bottling company with experience in specialty beverage manufacturing can be especially important.
What Should You Look for in a Craft Beverage Bottling Company?
When researching bottling companies, beverage brands should look beyond whether a manufacturer can simply fill and package a product. Craft beverages can involve specific ingredients, carbonation levels, processing methods, packaging requirements, and shelf-life considerations.
A bottling partner should have the equipment, production experience, and quality control processes necessary to manufacture the beverage consistently while providing enough flexibility to support the brand as it grows.
Experience With Specialty Beverage Categories
One of the first things to consider is whether the bottling company has experience producing beverages similar to the product being developed.
A manufacturer that regularly works with craft sodas, kombucha, functional beverages, specialty waters, teas, or other specialty drinks may already understand many of the production considerations associated with those products.
Before selecting a bottling partner, ask which beverage categories they currently produce and whether they have experience with similar ingredients, formulations, processing requirements, and packaging formats.
Flexible Beverage Manufacturing Capabilities
Craft beverage production can require more flexibility than traditional high-volume beverage manufacturing. Depending on the product, a brand may need specific filling processes, carbonation capabilities, pasteurization methods, packaging formats, or handling procedures.
A bottling company with a range of manufacturing capabilities can make it easier to find a production process that fits the beverage rather than forcing the beverage to fit a limited production setup.
Matrix Bottling Group provides beverage manufacturing and co-packing capabilities for a wide range of beverage categories. Their capabilities include craft sodas, kombucha, functional beverages, specialty waters, teas, hydration beverages, cocktail mixers, and other specialty products.
Quality Control and Consistency
Consistency is essential for any beverage brand. Customers expect the same flavor, appearance, carbonation, and overall quality every time they purchase a product.
A professional bottling company should have quality control procedures throughout the manufacturing process. Depending on the product, this can include ingredient checks, production monitoring, batch tracking, product testing, packaging inspections, and finished-product quality control.
For craft beverages, these processes can be particularly important because specialty formulations may have specific stability and production requirements.
Scalable Production
Many craft beverage brands begin with smaller production runs and gradually expand into additional retail locations, restaurants, distributors, grocery stores, and other markets. The bottling company selected at the beginning of that process should ideally be capable of supporting future growth.
Working with a co-packer can provide access to professional manufacturing equipment and production capacity without requiring a brand to invest in its own bottling facility.
Matrix Bottling Group can support beverage brands as they scale production, providing access to commercial beverage manufacturing infrastructure while allowing brands to focus on product development, marketing, sales, and distribution.
What Types of Craft Beverages Can Be Bottled?
The types of beverages a bottling company can produce will depend on its equipment, facilities, processing capabilities, and experience. Craft beverage brands should confirm that a potential manufacturing partner can accommodate the specific requirements of their product.
Craft Sodas
Craft sodas can require precise carbonation, filling, and packaging processes to maintain the intended taste and consistency. Flavor combinations can also require specialized formulations and ingredient handling.
Matrix Bottling Group can manufacture a variety of carbonated beverages, including craft sodas, organic sodas, ginger beers, tonic water, cocktail mixers, and mocktails.
Kombucha and Fermented Beverages
Kombucha and other fermented beverages can have different production considerations than conventional soft drinks. Formulation, processing, packaging, shelf stability, and quality control all need to be evaluated based on the specific beverage.
Matrix Bottling Group provides manufacturing capabilities for kombucha, probiotic beverages, and specialty teas, making them a potential manufacturing partner for brands developing products in these categories.
Functional Beverages
Functional beverages are another growing category within specialty beverage manufacturing. These products may contain ingredients such as electrolytes, protein, adaptogens, nootropics, vitamins, or other functional ingredients.
Specialty formulations can require additional attention during manufacturing to ensure ingredients are handled appropriately and the finished beverage maintains its intended characteristics.
Matrix Bottling Group can produce functional beverages featuring ingredients such as electrolytes, adaptogens, nootropics, and protein blends. Their capabilities also include low-sugar, no-sugar, non-GMO, organic, and Kosher formulations where applicable.
Specialty Waters and Hydration Beverages
Specialty waters and hydration products can range from enhanced waters and electrolyte beverages to products developed for specific wellness or performance applications.
These beverages may require different formulations and packaging strategies depending on the ingredients and intended market. A bottling company with experience across multiple beverage categories can help brands determine the production approach that best fits the product.
Why Do Craft Beverage Brands Use Co-Packers?
Building a beverage manufacturing facility requires a significant investment in equipment, property, employees, utilities, maintenance, quality control systems, and regulatory compliance.
For many craft beverage brands, outsourcing production to a co-packer can provide a more practical way to access commercial manufacturing capabilities.
A co-packer can handle many of the production steps involved in turning a beverage formulation into a finished product, including manufacturing, filling, packaging, and quality control. This allows the beverage brand to focus on building the business rather than managing an entire manufacturing operation.
For growing craft beverage companies, co-packing can also provide a way to increase production without immediately investing in a dedicated manufacturing facility.
Does Packaging Matter for Craft Beverages?
Packaging is an important consideration for craft beverage brands. The bottle, can, or other container needs to protect the product while also fitting the brand's visual identity and distribution strategy.
Depending on the beverage, brands may consider glass, aluminum, plastic, or other packaging formats. The right option can depend on the product, shelf-life requirements, transportation needs, retail environment, price point, and overall brand positioning.
Matrix Bottling Group can work with different packaging formats, including glass, plastic, and aluminum, depending on the beverage and production requirements. Having multiple packaging options can give craft beverage brands greater flexibility when developing a finished product.
What Questions Should You Ask a Craft Beverage Bottling Company?
Before choosing a bottling partner, it is helpful to have a clear understanding of their capabilities, production process, quality standards, and capacity.
Consider asking:
- What types of craft beverages do you manufacture?
- Have you produced beverages similar to mine?
- What filling and processing methods do you offer?
- Which packaging formats can you accommodate?
- What quality control procedures are used during production?
- Can you manufacture organic or specialty formulations?
- What production volumes can you accommodate?
- Can you support increased production as the brand grows?
- How are ingredients and finished products tested?
- How is batch tracking handled?
- Can you assist with packaging components?
- Do you provide co-packing or private label manufacturing?
- Where are your manufacturing facilities located?
Getting answers to these questions can help a beverage brand determine whether a bottling company is simply capable of producing the product or whether they can provide the long-term manufacturing support the brand needs.
Craft Beverage Co-Packing vs. Private Label
Craft beverage brands should also understand the difference between co-packing and private label manufacturing when researching bottling companies.
With co-packing, a beverage brand generally has its own formulation, branding, and product specifications. The co-packer manufactures and packages the beverage according to those requirements.
Private label manufacturing can work differently. A manufacturer may provide an existing beverage formulation or assist with developing a product that will ultimately be sold under another company's brand.
Both approaches can be useful, but the right option depends on how much control a brand wants over its formulation, ingredients, branding, packaging, and manufacturing process.
Why Does the Location of a Bottling Company Matter?
Location can also be an important consideration when selecting a beverage manufacturer. Finished beverages are heavy, and transportation costs can become a larger consideration as production volumes increase.
A bottling company with multiple manufacturing facilities can provide additional flexibility when a beverage brand expands into new markets.
Matrix Bottling Group operates manufacturing facilities in California, Nevada, and North Carolina. Their multiple-facility approach can give beverage brands additional options as production and distribution needs change.
For brands distributing beverages across different regions, discussing manufacturing locations and freight considerations early in the process can help create a more efficient production and distribution strategy.
What Certifications Should a Craft Beverage Bottler Have?
Food safety and quality should be a major consideration when selecting a beverage manufacturing partner. Depending on the product and distribution strategy, brands may also have specific certification requirements related to ingredients, retailers, or customers.
When comparing bottling companies, ask about food safety programs, facility certifications, regulatory registrations, auditing procedures, and quality management systems.
Matrix Bottling Group maintains certifications and registrations that include SQF, FDA registration and compliance, USDA Organic where applicable, Kosher where applicable, and HACCP. Their facilities also undergo audits from major beverage companies.
How Do You Choose the Right Bottling Company for a Craft Beverage?
The right bottling company will depend on the beverage itself, the desired packaging, production volume, distribution strategy, and long-term goals of the brand.
Start by looking for a manufacturer with experience in the specific beverage category. From there, consider production capabilities, packaging options, quality control, certifications, facility locations, minimum order requirements, and the ability to scale with the brand.
It can also be helpful to choose a bottling partner that understands specialty beverage production rather than one that primarily focuses on a narrow range of conventional products.
Matrix Bottling Group for Craft Beverage Production
Matrix Bottling Group provides beverage manufacturing and co-packing services for brands developing and scaling a wide range of craft and specialty beverages. Their capabilities include craft sodas, kombucha, functional beverages, specialty waters, teas, hydration beverages, cocktail mixers, and other beverage categories.
With manufacturing facilities across the United States and capabilities designed for both specialty and high-volume beverage production, Matrix Bottling Group can help brands move from beverage development into commercial-scale manufacturing.
For craft beverage brands looking for an experienced manufacturing partner, Matrix Bottling Group can provide the production infrastructure and beverage manufacturing expertise needed to bring a product to market and support continued growth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Craft Beverage Bottling
What types of craft beverages do bottling companies produce?
Depending on the manufacturer, craft beverage bottling companies may produce craft sodas, kombucha, functional beverages, specialty waters, teas, hydration beverages, ginger beer, tonic water, cocktail mixers, mocktails, and other specialty drinks. Always confirm that the manufacturer has experience with the specific type of beverage being produced.
What is a craft beverage co-packer?
A craft beverage co-packer is a contract manufacturer that produces and packages beverages for a brand. The brand typically provides the formulation, branding, and product specifications while the co-packer manages the manufacturing and packaging process.
Can a co-packer help a craft beverage brand scale?
Yes. Working with a co-packer can give a growing beverage brand access to commercial manufacturing equipment and production capacity without requiring the brand to build its own bottling facility. Production capabilities and minimum order requirements vary, so brands should discuss current and anticipated volumes with potential manufacturing partners.
Can craft beverage bottlers produce organic beverages?
Some beverage manufacturers have the certifications and production capabilities necessary to manufacture organic beverages. Brands interested in organic production should ask about certifications, ingredient handling, production procedures, and any applicable requirements before selecting a manufacturer.
How do I find the right craft beverage bottling company?
Start by comparing each manufacturer's experience with your beverage category, production capabilities, packaging options, quality control procedures, certifications, manufacturing locations, production capacity, and ability to scale. A bottling company should be able to meet the current needs of the brand while providing a path for future growth.
Ready to Find the Right Craft Beverage Bottling Partner?
If you are ready to take your craft beverage from development to commercial production, Matrix Bottling Group can help. Their experienced team provides beverage manufacturing and co-packing services for a wide range of craft and specialty beverages, with capabilities designed to support both growing and established brands.
Contact Matrix Bottling Group to discuss your beverage, production needs, and next steps for bringing your product to market.
