Guides for CPG founders
Step-by-step guides for early-stage food and beverage founders: pricing, co-packers, a first retail launch and label claims, in plain language.
How to price a CPG product
Start from the price a shopper will pay on shelf and work backward. Each step below takes a cut, and what reaches you has to cover your product cost, your trade and selling costs, and still leave something over.
Read the guide →How to find and vet a co-packer
The co-packer you choose sets much of your cost of goods, your minimums, your lead times and your product quality. This guide takes you from a written spec to a signed agreement, so you compare offers on the same basis and know what to put in writing.
Read the guide →Your first retail launch: what to plan before the first PO
A first purchase order feels like the finish line, but it is the start of the costs. Before you say yes, work out what the account will pay you, what it will deduct, whether you can keep it supplied, and how you will know if shoppers are buying.
Read the guide →Food label claims: what to check before you print
Every claim on your package is a promise you have to be able to back up. Some claims have a legal definition, some need a certifier’s approval, and some mean only what you can prove. Check each one against your exact product before artwork goes to print.
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