1. Know who you are going to target to and formulate with the best interest of those consumers in mind. Google is a powerful tool and consumers are becoming more and more savvy regarding what is and what is not a quality formula. Make sure you are working with a vitamin manufacturer who has the experience, knowledge and expertise to help you target your audience.
2. Do not choose your vitamin manufacturer based on price. There are more than a few ways to cut corners that compromise the quality and potentially the safety of your product. Review fully the incoming raw material testing procedures. Is your vitamin manufacturer testing every lot for pathogens? Are they skip lot testing? Typically if a vitamin manufacturer cost more they do more. Of course that’s not always true but as a general rule it certainly applies to the vitamin manufacturing industry.
3. Don’t settle for marginal flavor. You can have the best formula in the world and if it doesn’t taste well it won’t sell. Work on the flavor until it is as good as it can be.
4. Choose a vitamin manufacturer who is available to take your call and/or has a sales staff dedicated to your needs. The amount of back and forth communication necessary to get a project off the ground and into production is staggering. It will take double the time to get to market if you’re working with a company that is unresponsive.
5. Build a relationship with a vitamin manufacturer you can trust to look out for the best interest of you and the consumers who are going to be taking your product. Visit the facility, see the lab and most of all get to know the people. An honest and open relationship with your vitamin manufacturer will make your life easier and will allow you to focus on your business.
6. Inquire about lead times and examine the processes and procedures that guarantee your product will be produced and delivered on time, every time.