Beverage MOQs vary more in this category than almost any other, typically starting from 30K cans, because the minimum run size is driven heavily by your chosen fill method and packaging format rather than the recipe itself. Carbonated and canned lines, for example, often carry different minimums to still, bottled production. We provide a detailed quote once we understand your fill type, formulation and packaging preferences.

Both paths are available. If you have a tested recipe or concept, we’ll assess whether it can be replicated commercially or needs adjustment for your chosen fill method. If you’re starting from a product idea, we develop a formulation collaboratively based on your brief, with sample rounds for taste approval throughout.

We work with manufacturers across still, carbonated, hot-fill and aseptic filling. Each fill type requires genuinely different equipment, so the manufacturing partner we recommend depends entirely on your product. We also formulate functional beverages with caffeine, electrolytes and adaptogens, though caffeine-containing drinks carry specific FSANZ labelling requirements around maximum permitted levels and mandatory advisory statements, which we build into your label copy from the start.

Yes, sample and pilot batches are a standard part of the process before any commercial production commitment. Because different fill methods use different equipment, a lab-scale sample may present slightly differently to a full commercial run, but the recipe and taste will be representative. We won’t proceed to a commercial-scale run without your sign-off.

We can source cans, glass, PET and pouch formats, with the right choice depending on your fill method, target shelf life and distribution channel. Higher-heat processes like retort or extended hot-fill can affect delicate flavour compounds more than gentler methods like aseptic filling, which is why premium juice and functional drink brands often specifically seek out aseptic-capable manufacturers even at a higher cost. We’ll walk you through this trade-off before recommending a manufacturing partner.

Shelf life is determined through accelerated and/or real-time stability testing specific to your formulation, packaging and fill method, not a figure carried over from a similar product. As a general guide, expect 6–8 months from initial brief through formulation, stability testing, sample approval and a first production run.

Both. Many brands start with a single production run to validate the market before committing to ongoing supply. Once you’re ready to scale, we can set up a recurring production schedule, which often comes with improved per-unit pricing and priority production slots compared to one-off orders.