White label RTD cold brew refers to a product arrangement in which a manufacturer produces cold brew coffee on behalf of a coffee roaster or other business and packages the product for immediate consumption – in cans or bottles. Despite the manufacturer’s role in preparing the product, the label appears with the roaster’s branding. 

The fundamental appeal of opting for a white label arrangement is the ability to outsource expensive processes, such as filling and printing. A business looking to sell white label RTD cold brew without the resources or equipment necessary to create these products is able to trade in a new and growing segment. 

We spoke with Fernando Torres, owner of Lots Coffee House in Madrid, Spain, to gain more insight.

Cold brew coffee sourcing and formulation

White label RTD cold brew manufacturers play a crucial role in helping coffee brands scale their operations and efficiently bring new products to market through various stages of production. 

Fernando explains that Lots supports its customers through all stages of production, from brewing to canning and building out its services has been a process of evolution. 

“We started by filtering coffee two, three, or even four times due to the sediment build-up with the cold brew,” says Fernando. “Only by experimenting with a variety of different roasts did we find the right profiles. We had beans from Brazil, Colombia, Africa, and Central America, but we started with Colombian beans as they were the most popular on the market.

“However, we quickly discovered that these varietals added too much acidity to the cold brew, so we started to try with Central American or African beans instead and discovered that these lower-density coffees work best,” he says. “The best-seller we found by far was the Guatemalan roast, as it developed a great chocolate flavour, something Guatemalan coffee is well known for.” 

How does formulation work?

In the RTD space, we often talk about “formulation” as a catch-all term for preparing the recipe for your cans. However, the reality is that there is plenty to consider.

If you’re simply looking for existing private label products packaged with your branding, formulation is simple and straightforward. Your white label partner will have already perfected every aspect of the process for these products, from brew ratio and grind size to roast level, temperature, pressure, water mineral compounds and more.

Ultimately, after tasting several samples and confirming which you prefer, you confirm your order size and production can begin.

However, at Hardtank, we offer roasters and other coffee brands a custom formulation service for RTD. This is where you send us the ingredients and we prepare a unique, proprietary RTD beverage exclusively for your use.

In these cases, development is more protracted — as we know how important it is to get the best out of your beans. This means the process can take up to three months as we find the perfect version of your coffee in RTD form.

With this process, we carefully dial in your coffee after you send us three “reference” roasts for each. Once we have it, we begin brewing samples, before coding them and preparing them for your review.

These are then returned with your feedback, and we continue to refine them until you have a product you are completely happy with. Once the perfect iteration of this product is confirmed, we begin shipping it to you, waiving our formulation fee after five successive pallets.

Microbiological safety with a white label RTD partner

Alongside sourcing high-quality coffee, it’s also crucial for white label RTD cold brew manufacturers to manage microbiological safety throughout the process. This often means there is a need for compliance with food safety regulations, such as BRC or FSC certifications.

This is especially important as food safety becomes increasingly pressing in the cold coffee landscape — we only need to look at the mass Snapchill product recall to understand why.

A core benefit of choosing a white label partner for your RTD cold brew needs is improved food safety risk management. White label partners are ultimately better positioned to understand relevant regulations and ensure your products remain safe and compliant, avoiding safety risks.

Beyond coffee: Diversifying your beverage portfolio

Alongside guaranteeing microbiological safety, some white label RTD partners will also be able to expand your brand’s drinks menu beyond just offering cold brew.

The facilities used to prepare RTD beverages are often versatile, with the capacity to offer several different products alongside black coffee. For example, at Hardtank, we can offer our partners a range of other products, including oat milk lattes, sparkling cascara, cold brew tea, and other functional beverages — all infused with nitrogen as a differentiator.

Canning and packaging with a white label RTD business

So, after sourcing amazing coffee, guaranteeing it’s brewed safely, and preparing a varied portfolio of products for you to choose from, the next thing to consider is branding.

Canning and packaging can be a resource-intensive and expensive process for businesses wanting to manufacture their own RTD cold brew. By outsourcing these steps to a specialised white label partner, companies can reduce costs, mitigate risks, and gain faster market entry.

From a commercial standpoint, minimum order quantities (MOQs) and shelf life are the ultimate challenges to navigate for brands looking to enter the retail space with an RTD product.

High MOQs can prove unrealistic for brands in the early stages of their development. At the same time, smaller manufacturers with lower thresholds may lack the ability to scale with their clients, forcing brands to go through complex supplier changes in the midst of high demand.

The ideal white label partner will offer low MOQs from the outset, helping your brand get to market quickly and cost-effectively. It will also offer the flexibility and capacity for future scaling, growing alongside your demands and keeping the supplier/brand relationship constant.

Cans have become a popular choice for packaging cold brew coffee due to their convenience, durability, and eco-friendliness. An excellent white label RTD partner will offer clients a streamlined solution that ensures their product is high-quality and compliant with all relevant regulations. 

Aluminium is widely recyclable, making it an environmentally responsible packaging choice and compliant with numerous national recycling programs, such as the DRS system in Germany.

Aluminium improves shelf life, and as an RTD brand, your white label partner should correctly provide for ambient performance or cold chain requirements for your products, ensuring you can meet retailer requirements and avoid stock wastage.

Why choose Hardtank as your white label partner?

For over 15 years, Hardtank has been providing best-in-class services to the specialty coffee industry, including sourcing, roasting, brewing, and packaging. 

By choosing Hardtank as your white label RTD manufacturing partner, you stand to benefit from our comprehensive offering – we bring:

• Expertise and experience: By partnering with Hardtank, you will benefit from our extensive knowledge and expertise in the cold brew industry.
• Advanced technology: Our advanced, patented technology means we can produce your cold brew significantly quicker and reduce lead times
• Regulatory compliance: Hardtank adheres to all EU food safety regulations, guaranteeing that your product meets the highest standards.
• Custom branding: We offer bespoke branding services to help your product stand out in a competitive market.
• Full-service solution: From sourcing to labelling, Hardtank offers a comprehensive service that simplifies production and allows you to focus on your brand.

To find out more about partnering with us for white label RTD cold brew, visit Hardtank’s private label services page or contact our team. 

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Hardtank white label RTD cold brew