For processed and packed food, the minimum order is usually set per product and pack size (SKU), not per shipment. It depends on the factory's batch size, line changeover time and the minimum quantities for printed packaging.
Many factories will let you combine several SKUs to fill one container, as long as each SKU meets its own minimum. Exact minimums vary widely, so ask each factory for its numbers in writing.
What drives the minimum
- Batch size: a kettle, fryer, blender or canning line has an efficient batch. Smaller runs cost more per unit.
- Changeover: switching recipes or allergens means cleaning down, which takes time and lowers output.
- Printed packaging: printed pouch film, labels and cartons have their own minimums from the printer. Gravure printed film often needs a large run and a cylinder for each design.
- Raw material season: mango pulp, for example, is packed in a short season, so the factory plans volume ahead.
- Private label work: your recipe or brand needs trials, approvals and dedicated packaging.
How to lower the first order
- Start with the factory's standard recipe and a stock pack size.
- Use plain packs with a printed label or sticker instead of fully printed film.
- Choose fewer SKUs, each at a sensible volume, rather than many small ones.
- Accept a run timed into the factory's schedule rather than a rush slot.
- Share a container with other products, as covered in mixing processed food products in one container.
Shipment minimums
Separate from production minimums, there is the question of shipping. Most factories prefer a full container load. Some will ship part loads by consolidation or by air for samples and launches, but the cost per unit is higher. The general picture for agri goods is in the minimum order quantity for agri products from India.
Questions to ask each factory
Compare the answers on the same basis. One factory may quote a low minimum but charge more per unit, while another quotes a high minimum because its packaging printer demands it. Ask how much printed stock will be left over after your run, and agree in writing who pays for it if you change the design.
- The minimum per SKU for your recipe and pack.
- The minimum for each printed packaging item, and who pays for leftover stock.
- Whether SKUs can be mixed in one container.
- How the price changes at lower volumes.
- Lead time from order and artwork approval to dispatch.
- Whether a repeat order of the same SKU has a lower minimum than the first.
How we help
We ask several suitable factories for their minimums on the same basis and compare them for you. We then negotiate a first order that keeps your packaging stock and risk low. Request a free sourcing review.