Cost per unit is driven mainly by ingredient cost (particularly protein source, whey isolate, plant protein blends and collagen all price very differently), packaging format, and your order volume. Our typical starting MOQ is 5000 bars/balls, though this depends on format, since baked bars, no-bake/raw bars and rolled balls each use different equipment and ingredient minimums. Multi-flavour launches will usually need a higher combined MOQ across the range than a single-flavour launch. We provide a detailed written quote once we understand your formulation and packaging preferences.

Either approach works. If you have a tested recipe, we’ll assess whether it can be scaled to commercial production as-is or needs adjustment for shelf stability and consistent batching. If you’re starting from a concept rather than a finished recipe, we develop one collaboratively based on your brief, covering protein source, flavour, texture and allergen requirements. You’ll taste and approve samples at each stage regardless of which starting point you begin from.

Yes to both. We work with manufacturers who operate genuinely allergen-controlled lines for nut-free, gluten-free and dairy-free production where that’s a requirement of your brand positioning, this affects ingredient selection and which facility is eligible to run your product, so tell us your allergen requirements at the very start. We also work across both baked (firmer texture, longer natural shelf life) and no-bake/raw formats (better supports a “minimally processed” claim but needs tighter moisture and binder control), and we’ll talk through which suits your brand positioning before recommending a manufacturing partner.

Shelf life depends heavily on moisture content, water activity, and the binder system used, but naturally-preserved bars and balls typically achieve 4–8 months ambient shelf life when formulated correctly. Getting this right without synthetic preservatives comes down to controlling water activity rather than just the ingredient list. We run shelf-life and stability testing on new formulations before committing to a full production run, so the date on your pack is a verified figure.

Yes, and we strongly recommend you personally taste and approve every sample round before we move to production. Typically this means 2–3 rounds of physical samples sent to you, where you provide feedback on taste, texture, sweetness and mouthfeel. Bars and balls are particularly sensitive to small formulation changes, so hands-on tasting matters more here than in most other categories.

We don’t require long-term exclusive contracts to get started. Most engagements begin project by project, covering formulation and a first production run, with no obligation to commit to ongoing volumes upfront. If you want a longer-term supply agreement with locked-in pricing or priority production slots as you scale, we can structure that once you’ve validated the product with an initial run.

We manage packaging sourcing (flow-wrap, pouch formats, materials) and compliance labelling, but graphic design of your branding and artwork is typically handled separately. As a general guide, expect 4–8 months from an initial brief through formulation, sample approval and a first production run. Cost-per-unit drops meaningfully as volume increases, which is why many founders launch at a moderate MOQ to validate the market before committing to the volume needed for the most competitive per-unit pricing.