The global supplements market was estimated at a value of $48.51 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.3% between 2023 and 2030. The market offers excellent opportunities for innovative new products, but it is also highly competitive. To succeed, you need to partner with professionals who have the facilities and resources required to create the finest products.

If you’re looking to get your supplements on the shelves as soon as possible but aren’t sure where to start, collaborating with a private label supplement manufacturer may be just what you need. Partnering with a quality supplement manufacturing company will allow you to turn your attention to growing your business.

The challenge is figuring out how to find the best one. Here’s everything you need to know about how to find a private label manufacturer that can enhance your product line and achieve mastery over your brand.

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What Is a Private Label Supplement Manufacturer?

A private label supplement manufacturer is a company that specializes in supplement production for other businesses that sell the supplements under their own brand name. These manufacturers work closely with retailers, online sellers, or health industry professionals to formulate and produce supplements that meet their specific requirements.

building custom formulation

Manufacturing quality supplements requires incorporating many elements, including research and development, industry regulations and best practices, and industry-specific equipment. Not everyone who sells supplements has the resources or expertise to support the development and manufacturing aspects of the process.

Fortunately, you can work with a private label supplement manufacturer who will handle all of these details for you. This is particularly wise for small businesses without the staff, space, equipment, or budget to make their own products.

Benefits of Working with a Private Label Supplement Manufacturer

Partnering with a private label supplement manufacturer offers several advantages to businesses. These manufacturers can leverage their expertise to help companies carve a distinct market presence through their production process.

A private label supplement manufacturer can help you:

Increase efficiency.
Monitor and manage the production process.
Organize packaging.
Market more effectively.
Develop new products.
Gather unusual ingredients.
Ensure everything meets the highest standards and complies with regulations.

Many business-savvy company owners prefer to outsource this part of the process so they can focus on the marketing, logistical, and financial aspects, along with day-to-day operations.

Private Label vs. White Label

Both private label and white label products are manufactured by one company and sold under another company’s name brand. The differences lie in how involved the brand can be and how much it can customize its product. Which product type a brand chooses often depends on the level of control it desires over the products it sells.

The most significant difference between white label and private label products is that white label items are made:

In bulk
In advance
For multiple buyers

Essentially, “white label” is a term for stock products sold by multiple companies using their own logos and brand names. White label products often have a higher ROI since they are created in bulk, ready and waiting to be used when needed. However, they require accepting the manufacturer’s generic product and do not allow you to create a product that is unique to your brand.

Private label products, on the other hand, are custom-made for a specific brand or seller. Although getting your product on the market may take longer, you can design it exactly how you want it. You’ll need to factor in time for research and development, but in the end, you’ll have a product exclusive to your brand.

12 Tips for Choosing the Best Private Label Supplement Manufacturer

Choosing a collaborative private label supplement manufacturer you can trust is essential. You’ll count on them to deliver products that meet your standards and specifications, and you don’t want to worry about whether they’ll get the job done. Below, we provide you with criteria you can use to identify the best private label supplement manufacturer.

1. Certifications

Manufacturer certifications are vital to the integrity of your supplement products. Look for a provider that has earned international certifications from third-party inspectors. These certifications will help you feel confident you’re working with a company that follows safety regulations and meets high industry standards.

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 establishes the criteria and monitoring of the safety and labeling of nutraceutical products. You want to make sure your supplement manufacturer complies with these criteria and has an impeccable current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standing.

When considering suppliers, you can also consult resources such as:

United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
NSF International
Informed Choice
Natural Products Association (NPA)

You will also have to consider any additional certifications your products may need. For your products to be labeled kosher, gluten-free, vegan, pesticide-free, etc., your manufacturer must take additional steps to maintain these standards.

2. Customizations

Find out if the manufacturer provides both private label and white label supplements. This way, you can offer your customers many popular stock items and a few custom brand formulas.

Some custom supplement manufacturers, like Soft Gel Technologies, offer their own branded formulas, allowing you to work with them to develop unique products by adding different ingredients to their original concepts. Custom products help you differentiate your offerings in a cluttered market, elevating your brand over your competitors.

For more information on how Soft Gel can help you create custom supplements, contact us. We’ll be happy to discuss your needs and options.

3. Industry Experience

Often, a manufacturer’s length of experience goes hand-in-hand with knowledge of the process and regulatory requirements. That doesn’t mean you need to confine yourself to using the company that has been in business the longest. New, up-and-coming manufacturers have the potential to bring new technology and techniques to the trade. But make sure to carefully vet the company and verify that it has solid knowledge of the industry, process, and regulations.

4. Quality Ingredients

Ask the provider what ingredient options it offers, where it sources them, and whether they’ve been tested for safety and potency. If the manufacturer can provide a wide variety of high-quality, patent-protected, international ingredients from an extensive supplier network, it will likely be able to accommodate your needs.

5. Confidentiality

When you work with a private label supplement manufacturer, knowing its policy for new products is essential. If you work with the manufacturer to create a unique formula, do you retain the rights to the recipe, or can the company share it with other buyers? Look for a company that will create a turnkey product just for you—a company that keeps the formula private.

6. Low Minimum Order Quantities

Research the company’s minimum order threshold. A manufacturer with lower minimum order quantities can better cater to businesses of all sizes and allow for greater flexibility in inventory management. This ability is especially crucial for niche markets or companies wanting to test market demand with different product offerings.

Review any minimum order requirements before entering into a manufacturing contract. If your order volumes don’t meet the minimums, you’ll waste money on products you can’t use.

7. Quick Turnaround Times

No matter your market, you need to stay competitive. Investigate the manufacturer’s production speed and its ability to meet tight deadlines. A manufacturer with quick turnaround times is more likely to respond to demand surges or help you capitalize on seasonal trends with a reliable supply chain.

Find out the manufacturer’s turnaround time from the time of order to the day of delivery. You should also determine whether turnaround times are the same for existing and new products.

8. The Highest-Caliber Lab and Research Facilities

Before committing to a private label supplement manufacturer, ask for a tour of its facilities. Not only do you want to make sure they are clean and well-run, but you also want to pay special attention to the laboratory facilities. When touring the lab, ensure the staff uses current equipment and procedures.

Consider working with a manufacturer who goes beyond production to pursue research and development opportunities, particularly if you want to expand the business.

9. Product Stocking and Order Fulfillment

Ask the manufacturer about its product stocking capacity and order fulfillment capabilities. Specific questions to ask include:

Can you keep specific products on hand at all times?
Are you able to fulfill a large order quickly and efficiently?

You want to be sure the manufacturer can keep up with your company’s order volumes.

10. Packaging, Shipping, and Storage Options

Depending on your business model, you may want to partner with a supplier who can package products on your behalf. Some manufacturers only offer wholesale products, which would put the packaging back on your team to handle.

It’s also important to consider the shipping and storage options various manufacturers offer. Review the numbers and determine if it makes more fiscal sense to outsource the packaging, shipping, and storage or handle those tasks internally.

11. The Ability to Develop Custom Formulations

Standing out in the industry often involves offering unique products with custom formulations. Make sure your manufacturer can oblige by creating customized products for your business.

Many manufacturers can create off-the-shelf supplements that are commonly sold by retailers. Every independent brand that hires a supplement manufacturer likely has its own branded version of the most popular supplements.

Custom supplement manufacturers are also able to help create entirely new supplements from scratch. This requires industry knowledge in research and development, regulatory compliance dealing with ingredients, and an understanding of how different ingredients interact. These are specializations that you may not be knowledgeable about but your trusted partner is capable of managing.

12. Manufacturing Using Your Own Ingredients

If you want to supply the ingredients for products, find out from the manufacturer whether this is an option and whether your company would be subject to an additional cost. Some manufacturers may only be willing to use their own sourced ingredients.

Frequently Asked Questions About Private Label Supplement Manufacturers

Below are answers to commonly asked questions about supplement manufacturers.

Can I make and sell my own supplements?

Yes, you can make and sell your own supplements by contracting with a supplement manufacturer like Soft Gel Technologies. Finding the right partner is the most important decision when developing your own line of supplements.

You want to look for a custom supplement manufacturer that can help you develop and produce unique formulations, manufacture your products, and deliver products to sell under your brand name. Working with a supplement manufacturer also ensures labeling, marketing, and packaging compliance for your products.

Partnering with the right manufacturer affords you numerous advantages, including:

Knowing your products are made of quality raw materials that are safe for your customers
Satisfying your customers’ unique dietary needs with various gelatin types
Trusting the manufacturer’s expertise in sourcing ingredients from a network of suppliers
Getting everything from branding and development to shipped products all from one contact
Complying with international regulatory requirements
Focusing on your core business while the manufacturer manages every stage of production
Developing completely unique products
Protecting your intellectual property
Standing out against your competitors by working with a manufacturer that doesn’t compete directly in the consumer market
Ordering a flexible range of quantities
Aligning with an environmentally friendly manufacturer that follows sustainable practices

How do I choose a supplement manufacturer?

To decide on a supplement manufacturer, research its reputation, experience, certifications, production capabilities, privacy, customization options, and ability to meet your order requirements. The right supplement manufacturer will align with your company’s needs and your brand’s standards with high-quality ingredients and various product offerings.

How much does it cost to start a supplement brand?

The cost of starting a supplement brand varies, depending on factors like product type, inventory complexity, packaging, order quantities, and the manufacturing process. Typical expenses include:

Formulation development (which may take some time)
Multiple samples to land on a final product
Manufacturing and marketing costs

In addition to product costs, it’s essential to consider other expenses, like your storefront, promotion, and business permits and licenses. It can be helpful to find a private label supplement manufacturer with low minimum order quantities and in-house support for development and manufacturing to maximize your startup budget.

Do I need a license to sell supplements?

You generally don’t need a license to start a supplement business or sell supplements in the United States, though requirements can vary from state to state. Either way, you must comply with specific labeling, manufacturing, and safety regulations.

These requirements are why it’s crucial to partner with a trusted supplement manufacturer. A certified private label supplement manufacturer understands your target market’s specific requirements for supplement formulation and labeling to ensure safety, quality, and consumer trust.

What’s the difference between OEM and private label manufacturers?

While an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) traditionally produces products based on a brand’s specifications, a private label manufacturer does this and also performs other services, such as assisting in creating custom formulations and branding. A private label supplement manufacturer offers a more comprehensive solution for businesses wanting to develop, produce, and sell unique products.

How do I find a private label manufacturer?

You can find a private label manufacturer for your supplement business by researching manufacturers in the industry and determining whether they have all the required tools and services to start your company and make your brand stand out. Research companies that specialize in your desired products—look at third-party certifications and order samples to get a feel for the quality of their formulations.

How do I choose a private label manufacturer?

There are several factors you should consider when looking for a private label supplement manufacturer. Consult resources like the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and Natural Products Association (NPA) to determine whether the manufacturer follows strict standards for safety.

Before you enter into a contract, request samples to gauge the quality of the manufacturer’s products and visit their facility in person. Search online for other businesses using the company’s services to see what they have to say about their experience.

If the manufacturer is in good standing with regulators and B2B customers, consider specific details like their minimum order quantities, their ability to help you develop unique products, and what range of packaging, shipping, and storage options they can offer.

What’s the difference between white label and private label supplements?

White label supplements are generic products that can be rebranded by retailers. The retailer is able to use its own unique name and packaging. The manufacturer is responsible for the ingredients and all aspects of production and quality control.

Private label supplements are unique products that a manufacturer produces exclusively for a single retailer, giving that retailer control over specifications, customizations, ingredients, and more.

White label products provide businesses a supply that is easy to manufacture and source, but they can also be difficult to sell if there are numerous competitors selling the same items under their brand.

Private label exclusivity helps retailers develop a niche in their field to compete against others who don’t offer the same products. Private label supplement manufacturers can typically source ingredients that may be harder to find for those who only produce white label products.

Can you private label supplements?

Yes, you can private label supplements by partnering with a manufacturer that is able to create custom products exclusive to your brand.

Private labeling lets you control the specifications, ingredients, and formulations that define your unique ideas for products, so you can stand out in the highly competitive supplements industry.

Do you need FDA approval to sell supplements?

You generally do not need FDA approval to sell supplements before you place them on the market. The FDA enforces minimum standards for safe practices, proper labeling, factory conditions, and not making false claims. As long as you meet these standards, you do not have to take any specific steps to seek FDA approval.

Additionally, your private label manufacturer isn’t required to prove the dietary safety of supplements before you can market them. However, if you are developing a custom product that contains a “new dietary ingredient,” you may need to inform the FDA.

Align Your Brand with the Best Private Label Supplement Manufacturer

With the global supplements market being so highly competitive and lucrative, it is vital that you align with supplement manufacturing professionals who have the facilities and resources to create competitive products using only the best ingredients.

Creating your own private label requires a partner who specializes in research and development, production regulations, sourcing the finest ingredients (including ingredients that are hard to find), and operating a manufacturing facility.

The right private label supplement manufacturer will have the necessary certifications to ensure your trust and will work closely with you to formulate and produce supplements that meet your needs while complying with regulatory requirements.

Why Soft Gel?

Soft Gel Technologies stands out as a superior private label supplement manufacturer. With our extensive industry experience, commitment to quality, and comprehensive services, we will provide you with an unmatched level of support.

Choosing Soft Gel Technologies as your manufacturing partner isn’t just about connecting with a company that can manage the creation and packaging of your product line. It’s about having a dedicated partner in the industry that understands what it takes to compete in a competitive and crowded market.

Discover how Soft Gel Technologies helps companies in various niches create custom products, provide private and white label supplements, and more.

We will work with you from the ground up, developing unique products, sourcing the hardest-to-find ingredients, and providing you with the trustworthiness and stability of products designed to stand the test of time.

Private Label Supplement Manufacturers [How To Find The Best One For You]