Discover your next big idea at PACK EXPO Las Vegas this September
Experience a breakthrough in packaging & processing and transform your business with solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries.
REGISTER NOW & SAVE

What many brands don't understand about today's co-packing business

This is not your father's contract packaging industry; Coregistics' CEO Eric Wilhelm explains how evolving business models help brands unlock top-line growth opportunities.

Fig. 1: The rise of three business models.
Fig. 1: The rise of three business models.
Being situated between brand owners' view of the world and the retail customers those brands serve, contract packagers are "uniquely positioned to look both up and down the entire supply chain," says Eric Wilhelm, CEO of Coregistics, based in Cranberry, NJ., adding that those same brands—manufacturers and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies "have traditionally mismanaged contract packagers." 
 
The reason, he says, is that CPGs too often treat co-packers as minor vendors and not true partners, limiting their involvement strictly to packaging labor issues. The key to successful brand/co-packer relations is to treat the latter as a brand, not just a vendor and not just someone who does traditional, core packaging operations. 
 
Wilhelm offered these thoughts in a presentation at the 2012 Pack Expo in Chicago, where Kevin Hall, his chief operating officer, also spoke on the topic of late-stage customization. (This was covered separate article.)
Annual Outlook Report: Workforce
Hiring remains a major challenge in packaging, with 78% struggling to fill unskilled roles and 84% lacking experienced workers. As automation grows, companies must rethink hiring and training. Download the full report for key insights.
Download Now
Annual Outlook Report: Workforce
2024 PACK EXPO Innovations Reports
Exclusive access: Packaging World editor-curated reports revealing PACK EXPO's most groundbreaking technologies across food, healthcare, and machinery sectors. Each report features truly innovative solutions selected from hundreds of exhibitors by our expert team. Transform your operations with just one click.
Access Now
2024 PACK EXPO Innovations Reports