will pass the strict standards required by the FDA for both kegs and packaged products. Once again, you may want to use an outside source that has credibility and experience in this. They usually have all of these protocols dialed in. One caveat I would make is to know who you are working with and do your own due diligence. It is your responsibility to follow up and ensure that your product is being handled correctly by them and that you engage your own third-party to ensure that your co-packer is following guidelines set forth by the FDA. So, the question is – Should you grow internally like some of the well-known brands that started out small and made it big or engage a co-packer? It really comes down to answering a few questions. Obviously, there are more questions and the answers will help you find the best path forward. But answering the following is a good start: “How soon do you want to scale to provide commercially available cold brew? What would be the size of your daily production needs? Who and where are your customers? How fast do you want to grow and can you manage that growth effectively? How do you want to package your cold brew? Are you considering a shelf stable or a refrigerated product? The choice to either build and scale your own operation or turn that responsibility over to another company needs careful examination and guidance. In my opinion, the risk and the effort is definitely rewarding and very profitable. Do your homework and listen and learn from experts who understand the business. Talk to others who have done it. Try not to bite off more than you can chew but also don’t be afraid to dive in and go big. After reading this article you may decide to grow organically and scale your business by installing a larger system that can brew dozens or hundreds of gallons a day. On the other hand, you may choose to seek out a toll brewer and/or co-packer. Whichever way you decide to go, there are professionals
like myself in the industry who are happy to give you guidance. Opportunities abound and I wish you nothing but the best success. Happy brewing! Randy Anderson is the owner of Caffrios, a cold brew coffee and cascara solution provider. His services include consultation, production planning, scalable brewing solutions, education, large scale cascara supply, and marketing advice. Randy can be reached by email at coldbrewconsulting@gmail.com or by phone at 360-524-2003. For more info go to www. caffrios.com
9