Private label cold brew coffee can be a handy shortcut to market for coffee businesses that want to capitalise on the growing global popularity of cold brew. 

Even the most sophisticated commercial coffee businesses or industry-leading specialty operators may need more technical expertise, experience, and equipment to safely produce ready-to-drink (RTD) cold brew at the required quality and scale. 

Food safety certifications, pasteurising, sterilising and canning facilities, and logistics models – all essential to a successful cold brew operation – require significant investment. 

Private label, however, offers both budding and established businesses the opportunity to play in the cold brew space without breaking the bank or risking brand reputation. 

We spoke with Gys Steyn Le Roux, marketing manager at Vida E Caffè, to learn more about coffee market trends and how private label cold brew coffee can mitigate common risks. 

Why develop a line of private label cold brew coffee?

Cold brew is consistently ranked among the most popular current trends in the global coffee industry, alongside movements towards greater sustainability, specialty coffee, and convenient or ready-to-drink beverages.

Cold brew’s versatility allows it to appeal to multiple trends, markets, and demographics. It can be brewed with specialty or sustainably sourced coffee, is ideal for packaging as an RTD beverage, and is perceived as a healthier option compared to classic hot coffee alternatives. 

Today’s coffee consumers – especially younger generations – value convenience, variety and health and wellness credentials when choosing their beverages whilst continuing to expect a unique, quality experience. 

“Convenience is a trend we’re closely monitoring. Busy consumers seek quick yet delicious caffeine fixes without the hassle of brewing coffee. Cold brew and ready-to-drink options like RTD coffee and iced coffee fit this bill perfectly,” says Gys.  

“We’re committed to enhancing our customers’ convenience, and we recently launched our new RTD Oat Milk coffee alongside our popular RTD Vanilla iced caffè, Mocha iced caffè, and regular iced caffè.”

Thanks to its customizability and broad appeal, adding cold brew to a menu or retail suite allows coffee brands to satisfy existing customers with more options and convert new ones. 

“Cold brew coffee is undoubtedly a trend on the rise,” Gys continues. 

“It captivates consumers with its refreshing and flavourful taste. As a business, we’re constantly exploring new product avenues, and cold brew definitely piques our interest.”

Nevertheless, brewing cold brew – especially in the more traditional way – can add complexity and costly overheads to a business operation and bottom line. 

Specific modern cold brew equipment has shortened the usual 18-24 hour brewing process to less than 60 minutes. With machinery like the Baby Hardtank or Hardtank 20, coffee brands will be able to commit extra time and labour resources to cold brewing and accept an imperfect and waste-prone process. 

For RTD cold brew, these complexities compound – producing enough cold brew safely and to a high enough standard for canning and retailing requires a rare combination of facilities and expertise. 

Private label cold brew coffee partners, like Hardtank, help businesses bypass the steps above and challenges and get to market faster.

How does private label cold brew coffee work?

Private label cold brew coffee refers to a business relationship between a buyer and a cold brew manufacturer. In this relationship, the manufacturer produces cold brew coffee exclusively for the client, which is then packaged and sold under the client’s brand name. 

Private label as a service is distinct from white label in that private label products are produced exclusively for one client. In contrast, white label refers to a product available to any client for branding and selling purposes. 

“Cold brew presents a wealth of marketing opportunities,” Gys says.

“Its unique and trendy nature lends itself to various marketing strategies. Social media buzz and collaborations with other brands can create excitement and drive sales. Additionally, cold brew can be creatively incorporated into branding and design elements.”

At Hardtank, for example, we offer our clients a wide range of private label cold brew coffee products that can be branded according to their wishes. 

We have ten different RTD cold brew products for private label use, ranging from nitro cold brew to vegan flat whites and strawberry hibiscus cold-brew tea.

Producing safe, high-quality cold brew at scale is a challenge enough for the most prominent global coffee shop brands, never mind smaller businesses or aspirational start-ups looking to capitalise on a new market. 

Finding the right private label cold brew partner to help can be pivotal to a successful launch and enduring success. 

What are the risks involved in launching a line of RTD cold brew?

Launching a new product carries inherent risks. It might not perform as well as expected, cutting corners might cause health and safety standards to slack, and finances can be incredibly tight. 

By choosing to partner with an experienced private label cold brew manufacturer, many of these risks can be mitigated. 

At Hardtank, for example, we offer minimum order quantities (MOQs) starting at just 3,000 units per SKU, which not only helps our clients service smaller seasonal trends or bespoke events but also drastically reduces their financial outlay at the start-up phase of their businesses. 

Instead of being forced to manufacture upwards of 50,000 units for a first launch, risking a significant amount of capital if the product doesn’t perform, our MOQs help clients scale in a manageable way, starting small and growing with confidence. 

Plus, we know retail opportunities can come out of nowhere, demanding fast turnaround times, long shelf life and low costs, so we’ve built our processes to ensure our clients seize their chances. 

Furthermore, modern food-related health and safety expectations are incredibly high and falling foul of regulations can be terminal. 

The gold standard for food safety is the BRCGS Food Safety certification, which is accepted in over 130 countries globally and includes HAACP compliance. (Hardtank was recently awarded a Grade A BRCGS certificate).

Many retailers will only accept products that have been awarded BRCGS certifications, and the top ones look for Grade A as a minimum requirement before carrying a product. 

The benefits of partnering with a manufacturer that carries a BRCGS certification are two-fold: one, your products will be safe and your customers protected, and two, more retailers are likely to carry your product. 

In the early stages of your cold brew business, product recalls or retailers closing their doors to you are key risks. It’s essential to mitigate these as much as possible by finding a partner with the proper track record and resources to help.

Build your private label cold brew coffee line with Hardtank

We’ve been working in specialty coffee for over twenty years, and the Hardtank team has first-hand experience when it comes to the challenges of coffee retail. 

We’ve invested heavily in our manufacturing facilities to ensure our clients have access to world-class service. With BRCGS-certified Grade A Food Safety and patented cold brewing technology and equipment at the core of our work, our low MOQs and costs and fast lead times ensure our clients get to market as quickly and as confidently as possible.

We’re constantly evolving our product range – already, our clients can pick from over ten different private label cold brew beverages, ensuring a diverse product range that stands out on the shelf. Plus, with a twelve-month shelf life, even the most demanding retailer becomes manageable. 

To source your own line of private label cold brew coffee, visit our website or contact us directly. 

Follow the link to watch our recent Cold Brew Masterclass.

Private label cold brew coffee