Your Recipe, Our Technology – Create RTD Beverages That Stand Out

Developing your own ready-to-drink beverage doesn’t have to be complicated. Our custom formula process allows you to launch unique drinks that no other business offers.

Our expert R&D team will work alongside you to develop recipes from scratch. Then, we’ll undertake extensive lab testing to ensure their quality, freshness, and shelf life. Our process takes just 2-3 months and includes everything from recipe design and lab testing to can packaging and labelling.

With low MOQs (6,000 cans), you can test the market without unnecessary risk while relying on our state-of-the-art vegan production facility. This makes your drink not only unique but also safe, stable, and ready to scale.

Private label cans by Hardtank
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Hardtank ready-to-drink cans are BRCGS certified.

Innovate, Create, and Launch Your Custom Drink

What Does the Creation Process Look Like?

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Kick-Off & Payment

The formulation process starts with a one-time fee of €2500. This covers the full development and sampling process. When production starts, €500 is credited back on the first five pallets (approx. €0.17 per can).

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Consultation & Recipe Design

You’ll work with our food technologist to create six to eight recipe variants. Each variant is delivered in sample packs containing six cans.

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Sampling Rounds & Feedback

You get up to three sample rounds, each followed by online feedback meetings. Every round takes two to three weeks.

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Stability & Safety

We’ll undertake pasteurisation and stabilisation, and then calculate your drink’s shelf life. It is usually up to 12 months, depending on the recipe.

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Final Pricing & Approval

Based on the ingredients used and logistics (e.g. packing and delivery), we’ll calculate your final per-can cost.

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Production & Launch

After approval, we produce your first MOQ of two pallets (≈6,000 cans) and support your market entry.

What’s Included in the Formulation Fee?

As part of the formulation fee, you receive:

Custom formula cans with Hardtank

How to Get Started With Custom Formulation

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Pay the Formulation Fee

The process begins with a €2500 payment per recipe (SKU). This covers consultations, samples, and full R&D support.

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Agree on Ingredients & Responsibilities

Together, we decide on who supplies which ingredients. For example, if you want to use your own coffee, you send it to us while we source the remaining components.

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Review & Approve the Final Recipe

After two or three rounds of samples and adjustments, you choose and confirm the final formula for production.

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Submit Your Label Design

Provide your own label design (using our template) or use our design service. The approved label is mandatory before production can start.

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Confirm Your First Production Order

Place a minimum order of two pallets (~6,000 cans) and pay the 50% deposit of the total order value.

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Finalise Payment & Delivery

Once production is complete, the remaining 50% balance is due. We then notify you to arrange collection (EXW) or shipping (DAP).

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Which Bases and Ingredients Can You Use for Custom Formulas?

Coffee, Teas, dried fruit, cascara, oat/almond milk, MCT oil, Vitamins, Electrolytes, L-Theanine, Lion’s Mane, Adaptogens (Ashwaganda, Reishi, rhodiola), Herbs/botanicals (hibiscus, chamomile, ginseng, spices), natural fruit juices.

Want More Extras?

Add functional or premium ingredients:

For advanced recipes, we recommend a consultation with our R&D team to ensure product stability and safety.

Frequently Asked Questions

Custom Formula is a bespoke development service where we co-create a unique recipe with you. From sourcing your preferred coffee beans or ingredients to multiple sampling rounds and final production, your beverage is entirely tailored to your brand.

The MOQ is two pallets per SKU (approximately 6,000 cans).

The typical process takes two to three months and includes:

  • Ingredient sourcing and initial recipe design
  • Sample production rounds (up to three iterations)
  • Tasting and feedback sessions with the client
  • Final recipe confirmation and shelf-life validation.
  • Production and canning

The standard production lead time is four to six weeks after final recipe confirmation.

You do! Once the recipe is finalised, you retain all formulation rights.

Yes, you can run multiple developments in parallel. Each recipe is subject to a separate formulation fee.

€2,500 per recipe. However, we refund €500 per pallet from your first five orders until the fee is fully reimbursed.

We have experience with adaptogens, vitamins, electrolytes, botanicals, fruit extracts, cascara, natural flavours, and alternative bases (e.g. oat milk).

Typically 12 months for black coffee/tea and eight months for oat-based drinks. The final shelf life will be confirmed through microbiological and stability testing during development.

What Do the Cans Look Like?

We work exclusively with slim cans (200 mL and 250 mL). We’ve chosen this format because it is easily recyclable, suitable for a range of customisation methods, and incredibly protective of pasteurised drinks. For customisation, we use wrap-around labels for full-scale design to help your product stand out.

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What are the Benefits of Custom Formula Products?

Uniqueness

Develop a one-of-a-kind recipe that reflects your brand identity and sets you apart from competitors.

Full R&D Support

From idea to shelf-ready drink with ease.

Low Barrier to Entry

MOQ from 6,000 cans instead of the industry standard 30,000+.

Cost-Effective

Transparent pricing and cost savings on your formulation fee.

Sustainability

100% vegan facility, natural products, and recyclable cans.

Scalability

From pilot batch to large-scale production, you don’t need to invest in additional facilities to increase your scale.

Uniqueness
Develop a one-of-a-kind recipe that reflects your brand identity and sets you apart from competitors.
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Full R&D Support
From idea to shelf-ready drink with ease.
Frame 427321444 Hardtank Custom Formula
Low Barrier to Entry
MOQ from 6,000 cans instead of the industry standard 30,000+.
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Cost-Effective
Transparent pricing and cost savings on your formulation fee.
Frame 427321444 Hardtank Custom Formula
Sustainability
100% vegan facility, natural products, and recyclable cans.
Frame 427321444 Hardtank Custom Formula
Scalability
From pilot batch to large-scale production, you don’t need to invest in additional facilities to increase your scale.
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Contact Us Directly

Have a question, or are you ready to launch your own custom formula RTD? Select a contact below to connect directly with the right sales representative for your needs.

Kinga Markiewicz

Business Development Manager

Kinga is our RTD business development expert. She’s here to guide you through every step of creating your own RTD brand — from initial concept and product selection through to launch.

Languages: English, Polski

We welcome all inquiries - just reach out!

Simply select the topic you want to discuss, and we’ll make sure your inquiry reaches the right expert.

You’ll get a response from our team within 48 hours (excluding weekends), always from a @hardbeans.com email address. Your inquiry will be handled by a specialist who understands your needs and can guide you every step of the way.

Who will respond to you?

Kinga Markiewicz

Private Label & RTD Development

Vidin Andonov

Hardtank Equipment & Distributor Opportunities

Maciej Duszak

Distributor Opportunities

HARD BEANS Sp. z o.o.

ul. Armii Krajowej 35, 45-071 Opole, Poland 🇵🇱