Bulk
Bulk means the producer ships the product in industrial packaging (drums, IBCs, flexitanks, food-grade bags) for you to repack or process at destination.
- Best for: repackers, blenders, industrial users, foodservice groups with their own filling lines.
- Advantages: lowest unit cost, maximum control over final format, no dependence on producer packaging lines.
- Disadvantages: requires destination filling capacity, quality-control burden, storage cost.
- Typical MOQ: one flexitank (about 22 tonnes for olive oil) or one truck of drums.
Private label
Private label means the producer manufactures a finished consumer product with your brand on it, to a specification you approve. This is the most common model for retailers, distributors and challenger brands.
- Best for: retailers, distributors, HoReCa groups, brand owners.
- Advantages: full brand equity, control over recipe and format, retail-ready pallets.
- Disadvantages: MOQ per SKU, artwork lead time, dependence on producer's packaging capabilities.
- Typical MOQ: one to three pallets per SKU for ambient categories; a full truck or more for chilled dairy.
Co-packing
Co-packing sits between private label and bulk. The producer manufactures to your recipe and specification, but the arrangement is longer-term, deeper and typically involves shared investment in tooling, moulds, artwork masters or dedicated production windows.
- Best for: established brands moving from private label to a dedicated production relationship.
- Advantages: recipe protection, priority in the production plan, deeper technical collaboration.
- Disadvantages: contractual commitment, minimum annual volumes, upfront investment.
- Typical MOQ: annual volume commitment, often a truckload per month or more.
How to choose
| Model | Brand equity | Unit cost | MOQ per SKU | Lead time | Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk | None | Lowest | 1 flexitank / 1 truck | 3–5 weeks | Highest at destination |
| Private label | Yours | Middle | 1–3 pallets ambient / 1 truck chilled | 6–10 weeks first order | Recipe and pack, not process |
| Co-packing | Yours | Middle to low | Annual commitment | 8–14 weeks first launch | Recipe, pack and production window |
The mixed reality
Most theGreex client programmes combine two models: bulk EVOO for an existing filling line plus private-label PDO Kalamata for the same brand's premium tier, or a private-label yoghurt cup range plus a foodservice bulk pail line under the same producer relationship. The point of a good sourcing partner is to let you switch between models as your business grows, without changing producer relationships.