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Whether you’re looking for the next big product for your beverage company or just starting to produce your own soft drinks, searching for the most suitable manufacturer for your beverage brand can take a lot of time and work.
Although there are plenty of reliable soft drink manufacturing companies out there for you to work with, reviewing the capabilities and offerings of each one can be a time-consuming process. So, to help narrow your options, we’ve come up with a comprehensive list of some of the best soft drink manufacturing companies and co-packers in the country.
Want to narrow your options even more? Create a profile with PartnerSlate today. With the help of our advanced matching process, you will have a much easier time discovering and connecting with your next contract manufacturer!
Where are soft drinks manufactured?
Most soft drinks are made inside the manufacturing plants of independent manufacturers. Independent manufacturers are typically granted licenses to produce the products of popular franchise companies like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola.
With access to the secret formulas of soda drinks, the independent manufacturers are able to follow the procedures and source the ingredients they need for production. Normally, the manufacturers are also responsible for the packaging and distribution process of the products.
What is the soft drinks manufacturing process?
Soft drinks are normally produced using a multi-step process and a set of high-purity, food-grade ingredients. Some of the common ingredients used in the production include water, carbon dioxide, sugar, flavors, and acids.
The manufacturing process of soft drinks is fairly easy to understand. However, if you want to learn more about the manufacturing process of soft drinks, don’t forget to read more about it down below.
Soft drink manufacturing flow chart
(Photo from ResearchGate)
1. Clarifying and Processing the Water
When it comes to the production of soft drinks, the water that’s used for production should have no impurities. That’s why suspended particles and bacteria are normally removed using a series of water treatments.
The first process is commonly referred to as clarification. Clarification aims to separate any suspended particles or matter from the water. During the process, flocs are mixed into the water to absorb suspended particles.
After the clarification process separates the flocs or suspended particles from the clear water, the water will go through filtration and disinfection.
The water will go through various filters that are made up of different materials and pore sizes. Once the flocs are completely removed, a small amount of chlorine is added in to kill any remaining bacteria or parasites. After a few hours, the water is then dechlorinated using an activated carbon filter.
2. Syrup Formulation and Pasteurization
Once all the ingredients are ready for production, the manufacturers will focus on mixing all the ingredients together. The flavor concentrates and sugar are mixed into a tank, and the syrup will go through a heat treatment process called pasteurization.
Pasteurization will help kill any harmful microbes and extend the shelf life of the syrup. Shortly after, mixing equipment is used to carefully combine the syrup and water.
3. Carbonation & Filling tonight
After all the ingredients are properly processed and combined, the manufacturers will add the carbonated water to the mixture and start the filling or bottling process. Carbonated water is the main ingredient of soft drinks, and as you might already know, it adds that special fizz that we all see through plastic or glass soda bottles.
4. Packaging and Distribution
After the bottled or canned sodas are put into containers, the manufacturers will then pack them into cartons or other types of packaging. The manufacturers will then ship them to warehouses or directly to a variety of distributors, most of which are merchants.
Once you fully understand the manufacturing process of soft drinks, you will be able to produce and perfect your own soft drinks. But how can you produce, package, and distribute your own soft drinks if you don’t have your own working facility or set of equipment?
How to do small-scale soft drink manufacturing
Getting your own manufacturing plant or equipment for production isn’t necessarily a good idea, especially if you don’t have a considerable amount of capital or resources to work with. It can become much riskier and more expensive once you start to invest in different assets for the production run of your products.
That’s why you might want to partner with a beverage contract manufacturer or co-packer instead. With the help of a beverage contract manufacturer, you will have less time to worry about your production costs. You will also be able to scale up the production of your soft drinks more efficiently.
Top Soft Drink Manufacturers for Your Beverage Product
Finding the right co-manufacturer or co-packer isn’t a straightforward and easy process. The process can take months, or even years. Not to mention, you will probably need to learn a few helpful hints before you’re able to find the most suitable manufacturers for your beverage brand.
So to help you get started on finding the right match for your business needs, here are some of the top soft drink manufacturing companies that you might want to consider. Just know: there are so many great drink manufacturing companies. It’s really just about finding the right fit for your product and business.
(Hint: PartnerSlate can do that matching process for you in half the time. Make your free account here.)
Blue Marble Productions
As one of the most reputable names in the beverage manufacturing industry, Blue Marble Productions, Inc. provides a wide range of services, including co-packing, private labeling, and in-house laboratory testing.
The company also offers warehousing and other fulfillment services with the help of their 425,000 square foot facility. Blue Marble ensures to deliver ultra-premium products through sustainable packaging and responsible co-packing processes.
Services:
- Beverage formulation and canning
- Pasteurization and batching
- Can sleeving and laser encoding
- Carbonation and nitrogen dosing
- Shrink sleeving
- Co-packing and private labeling services
- Contract manufacturing
- Hot and cold fill
- Liquid blending
- Ingredient sourcing
- TTB services
- Supply chain management
- Packaging solutions (4-24 packs)
Product Types:
- Variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic canned beverages
- Spirits
- Vintners
- Sugar brew
- Malt beverages
- Teas
Specialty product capabilities:
- Dairy-free
- Allergen-free
- Organic certified
- Kosher
- Gluten-free
Location: 7520 Georgetown Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268
California Custom Beverage LLC
With over 30 years’ worth of experience in the carbonated beverage industry, California Custom Beverage strives to bring quality, natural products to the private-label market.
In addition to their production lines for non-alcoholic beverages, they also manufacture other beverage products such as beer and cider. With access to exclusive Chinese glass suppliers, California Custom Beverage is able to provide private label brands with unique and economical bottles.
Services:
- Private label manufacturing
- Contract packaging
- Contract manufacturing
- Ingredient sourcing
Product Types:
- Carbonated beverages and other non-alcoholic drinks
- Beer and cider
- Still water
Speciality Product Capabilities: Not specified.
Location: 13000 S Spring St., Los Angeles, CA, 90061
Green Mountain Beverage
Green Mountain Beverage offers a wide range of quality services. From product and research development to packaging services and distribution, the company is fully equipped to meet all the needs of new and growing beverage brands.
As one of the most reliable end-to-end supply chain services, Green Mountain Beverage strives to provide customers with the highest level of production knowledge and expertise.
Services:
- High-speed canning and bottling
- Kegging and cellaring
- Cold block and tunnel processing
- Supply chains (procurement, warehousing, shipping)
- Product development (vendor sourcing, pilot scale production, etc.)
- QA/QC and laboratory services
Product Types:
- Beer, wine, and cider
- Carbonated beverages
- Ready to drink beverages
- Flavored malt beverages
Specialty product capabilities:
- Organic
- Gluten-free
Location: 1321 Exchange St., Middlebury, VT 05753
Pack Labs
If you’re in search of a beverage contract manufacturer that excels at small-batch production, Pack Labs should certainly be one of your top options. The company offers reliable manufacturing solutions to small and large businesses.
In addition to their manufacturing services, they also help market and develop the brands of various CPG businesses. As a responsible and sustainable contract manufacturer, Pack Labs is primarily focused on supporting wellness-based products and ethical sourcing.
Services:
- Canning, bottling, and boxing
- Warehousing
- Product development
- Supply chains
- Private label manufacturing
- Contract manufacturing and co-packaging
Product Types:
- Beer, wine, and cider
- Ready to drink beverages
- Flavored malt beverages
Specialty product capabilities:
- Kosher
- Gluten-free
- Organic
- Non-GMO
Location: 456 Acorn Ln., Downingtown, PA 19335, United States
Portland Bottling Company
Founded in 1924, the Portland Bottling Co. initially operated as a bottling company and distributor for famous brand names such as 7UP and RC Cola. Today, Portland Bottling specializes in manufacturing teas, energy drinks, and other ready-to-drink beverages.
Portland provides a wide variety of aluminum can sizes for contract packaging. They primarily distribute their products throughout Canada and the Pacific Northwest region.
Services:
- Contract manufacturing
- Private label manufacturing
- Contract packaging
- Bottling
- Ingredient sourcing
Product Types:
- Energy drinks and other carbonated beverages
- Non-carbonated beverages
- Organic certified beverages
- Functional beverages
- Other ready-to-drink beverages such as teas and juices
Speciality Product Capabilities:
- Kosher
- Gluten-free
- Organic
Location: 1321 NE Couch St., Portland, OR, 97232
Proper Beverage Co.
The Proper Beverage Co. is a premier co-manufacturer that specializes in making carbonated beverages and ready-to-drink beverages for mid to large businesses. They provide brands with different aluminum can options, including specialty coatings and sleek sizes.
Proper Beverage Co. believes that beverage products should be produced with creative integrity, and pure, natural ingredients. In addition to their co-packing offerings, they also help connect brands to other kinds of partner services such as marketing, consultation, and legal services.
Services:
- Contract manufacturing
- Contract packaging
- Private label manufacturing
- Storage and logistics support
- Tunnel pasteurization
- Forced carbonation
- Ingredient sourcing
- Particulate and plate filtration
Product Types:
- Sodas & tonics
- Energy drinks
- Flavored seltzer
- Teas and coffee
- Distilled spirits cocktails
- Wine, beer, and cider
- Still water
Speciality Product Capabilities: Not specified.
Location: 1826 Chicago Dr, Jenison, MI, 49428
Rocky Mountain Soda Co.
Rocky Mountain Soda Co. is a family-owned and managed beverage company located in Denver, Colorado that specializes in making authentic craft sodas.
Rocky Mountain Soda is committed to delivering the best tasting and most unique sodas on the market. They use the finest natural ingredients for production and custom craft every flavor they create in small batches.
Services:
- Contract manufacturing
- Private label manufacturing
- Contract packaging
- Ingredient sourcing
- Wholesale
Product Types:
- Carbonated beverages (craft sodas)
Speciality Product Capabilities:
- Kosher
- Gluten-free
Location: 4420 Glencoe St., Denver, CO, 80216
Rocky Mountain Cultures
Located in Gypsum, Colorado, Rocky Mountain Cultures is primarily focused on co-packing organic ready-to-drink beverages in glass bottles and aluminum cans.
Rocky Mountain Cultures seeks to deliver authentic probiotic cultured beverages such as kombucha, kefir, and other niche beverages. The company is capable of partnering with regional and national beverage brands.
Services:
- Fulfillment services
- Contract packaging
- Contract manufacturing
- Private label manufacturing
- Ingredient sourcing
- Research and development services
- Warehousing and logistics
Product Types:
- Probiotic beverages (kombucha, kefir, jun, etc.)
- Beer and cider
- Sparkling and still water
- Carbonated and non-carbonated beverages
- Functional beverages
- Prebiotic beverages
Speciality Product Capabilities:
- Organic
- Kosher
Location: 770 Lindbergh Drive, Gypsum, CO, 81637
How to start a soft drink company
Starting a soft drink company from scratch can be very challenging and time-consuming. Apart from the development and production of your products, you will also need to plan and carefully consider your potential sales channels as well as initial funding options. Fortunately, at PartnerSlate, you can get to the first production run of your products faster!
Get started with PartnerSlate today to discover which manufacturing company is the perfect fit for your brand.
If you want to know how to start your own soft drink company, here are some other important things that you should know.
1. Identifying your Target Market
Before you actually start your own soft drink company, it’s important that you first identify and analyze your target market.
How will you sell your products? Will you sell directly to retailers or are you planning to have your own direct-to-consumer business?
Make sure to analyze each sales channel so you will know how to manage and market your business properly. Planning your potential sales channels will also enable your company to become more profitable in the long run.
2. Financing Options
In order to build your own soft drink business, you will need to consider where your capital will come from. Will it come from your savings? Or are you going to try to apply for a bank loan?
Needless to say, you will most likely need to know how to raise additional outside capital for your company because CPG businesses are, without a doubt, capital intensive. And although it’s not necessary that you take on investors to make your brand successful, having multiple sources of funding will allow you to easily grow and get your business going.
3. Registering and Protecting your Company
After you’ve planned all the necessary details of your business, you will need to find out how to register it. You will need to make sure that your soft drink company gets the proper licenses and permits to operate legally. You will need to obtain business insurance as well.
Also, don’t forget to apply for trademarks or other intellectual property rights to protect the name, logo, marketing ideas, and other intangible assets of your company. Once you’ve registered your assets, you will be able to prevent other companies from further imitating the ideas you have in your business.
FAQs on soft drink manufacturing
What is soft drink manufacturing equipment?
To be frank, manufacturing soft drinks isn’t cheap. To make the production more efficient and ensure the delivery of high-quality beverages, manufacturing plants use different types of equipment to operate.
A beverage manufacturing plant typically has the following types of equipment:
- Equipment for processing water (pasteurizer, clarification machines, etc.)
- Mixing and blending equipment
- Bottle washers and other kinds of bottle preparation equipment
- Filling and capping machines
- Dosing equipment
- Packing and labeling machines
What are the costs of soft drink manufacturing plants?
If you’re planning to build your own manufacturing plant, you will need to plan and list down all the costs that your business will incur. Apart from the set of equipment that you will use for production, you will also need to consider other costs such as labor, ingredients, and production costs.
Alternatively, you can partner with a co-manufacturer or co-packer to save time and lower your overhead costs. If you want to learn more about the costs of co-manufacturing or co-packing, be sure to check out this blog post.
Is the soft drink industry profitable?
Although the soft drink industry is incredibly competitive, it’s one of the most profitable markets out there. Consumers are always on the lookout for new niche products as well as potential alternatives.
With the right product idea, marketing strategies, and planning, you can break into the soft drink industry and build your own profitable business.
Conclusion: The best manufacturing company for your soft drink?
Finding the best manufacturing company for your beverage brand can certainly be a tough task. All the beverage contract manufacturers and co-packers we’ve mentioned so far are great but there are plenty of other beverage manufacturing companies out there to consider.
To make the search process a lot easier, let PartnerSlate do most of the work for you!
By creating a detailed profile and project brief on PartnerSlate, you can find the best manufacturing partner for your business without having to go through countless websites, contact forms, and site visits for months.
With PartnerSlate, you will be able to take your products to store shelves faster! Get started with PartnerSlate today.
