Co-Packer Vetting Checklist

What this does

Founders source co-packers by Googling, getting on the phone with five plants, and discovering on call #4 that the same three disqualifiers — minimum order quantity, geography, specialization mismatch — keep appearing. They lose 2–3 months redoing the same vetting conversation with different vendors.

This file reframes sourcing as a filter, not a search. Paste your candidate list, run each one through a 6-gate pre-screen, then put the survivors through a 26-item validation checklist. Most candidates die at the pre-screen, so you only spend real calls on the few worth calling.

Built originally during a co-packer search for a gluten-free, allergen-controlled product line running parallel conversations with ~25 candidates. The architecture works for any specialized or restrictive line — organic, kosher, small-batch — where most co-packers disqualify on first contact.

Who this is for

CPG founders sourcing co-packers, particularly those running specialized or restrictive product lines (gluten-free, organic, allergen-controlled, kosher, small-batch) where most co-packers will disqualify on first contact. Currently vetting by phone, one plant at a time, with no structured screen up front.

Inside the file

• Read Me tab — how-to in 5 steps, the 6-reason disqualification taxonomy, and the sourcing-as-filter reframe
• Pre-Screen (6 Gates) tab — 6 gate questions with kill criteria — run before the full checklist; most candidates die here. Decision: Proceed / Caution / Do Not Proceed
• Validation Checklist tab — 26-item due diligence across Facility & Certs, Production, Ingredients, QC & Compliance, and Logistics — run on pre-screen survivors only
• Vendor Tracker tab — 10 worked-example vendors screened down to 3 worth a real call, demonstrating all 6 disqualification patterns
• Scoring Guide tab — status taxonomy (Pass / Concern / Fail / Pending / N-A), priority levels, and the GO / CONDITIONAL GO / NO GO decision framework

Preview

How to use it

1. List your candidates in the Vendor Tracker tab. One row per co-packer. Paste them all in, even the long shots.
2. Run each one through the 6 Pre-Screen gate questions. Any kill-criteria answer disqualifies the vendor before you spend a full call. Most of your list dies here, and that is the point.
3. For the survivors only, work the 26-item Validation Checklist. Use the Scoring Guide to mark each item Pass / Concern / Fail.
4. Apply the decision framework: any Must-Have at Fail is a No Go. Document mitigation plans for Concerns in the Notes column.
5. Back in the Vendor Tracker, set each vendor's Status and Reason. You should finish with 3 to 5 co-packers worth a real conversation instead of 20 that fail the same screen.