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What is supplement contract manufacturing, and how does it work?
Contract manufacturing means a specialized company makes the product, and you sell it under your brand. In much of Latin America it is known as maquila.
Updated October 2026
Other names for the same thing
You will also see it called co-manufacturing or third-party manufacturing. In much of Latin America it is known as maquila, and the company that makes the product as the maquilador.
What the manufacturer does
- Buys and checks the ingredients.
- Blends the formula and makes the capsules, tablets or powder.
- Fills the bottles or sachets and applies your label.
- Tests each batch and keeps the production records.
What the brand does
- Decides the product and owns the brand, the label design and the customers.
- Makes sure the label and the advertising follow the rules where the product is sold.
- Sells and distributes the product.
Three ways to work together
With private label, you put your brand on a formula that is already developed. With a custom formula, the manufacturer develops a product only for you. And if you already have a formula, the manufacturer can produce it to your specifications; many established brands also use a second manufacturer as a backup, so a bestseller never runs out.
What decides the price
- The ingredients and their quantities in the formula.
- The format: capsules, tablets or powder.
- The packaging: bottles, sachets, and the label.
- The size of the order: larger orders cost less per unit.
Minimum orders
Manufacturers set a minimum order because each production run has fixed costs. Minimums usually start at around 1,500 to 2,000 bottles, and the exact number for your product comes with the quote.
How to choose a manufacturer
Compare manufacturers on facts: certificates, testing, minimums, timing and what happens if a batch has a problem. Our 10 questions to ask a manufacturer is a good list to start from, and the guide on FDA-registered versus FDA-approved explains what those words really mean.
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This is general information to help you plan. It is not legal or regulatory advice.