How to choose a supplement manufacturer.

Most supplement brands pick a contract manufacturer the wrong way: cheapest quote, fastest reply, prettiest website. Then they spend 18 months untangling missed deadlines, off-spec batches, and surprise regulatory issues. This 10-point checklist is what experienced brand operators actually run before signing.

The 10-point checklist

1. 1. GMP and ISO certification. EU GMP (Eudralex Vol. 4) or equivalent national food-supplement GMP, plus ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000. Ask for current certificates and the issuing body, verify on the registrar's site.
2. 2. Batch-size flexibility. Can they run 1,000 units for a launch SKU and 50,000 units once it scales? A CMO that only runs ≥25k will quietly deprioritise your small first order.
3. 3. Format match. Capsules, tablets, softgels, gummies, powders, liquids each need different equipment. A capsule-only line forcing your gummy idea will go badly. Confirm the format is core to them, not a side service.
4. 4. Stock vs custom formulation. Stock cuts time-to-market from 6 months to 6 weeks. Custom R&D is 4–8k EUR plus 3–6 months of stability. Pick the path that matches your runway, not the CMO's preference.
5. 5. Ingredient sourcing transparency. Ask: who supplies your ashwagandha / collagen / vitamin D3? A serious CMO names branded ingredients (KSM-66, Peptan, Quali-D) on the spec sheet. Vague answers mean lowest-bid spot buying.
6. 6. Third-party testing per batch. Every finished batch should have a CoA covering identity, potency, heavy metals, microbiology, and residual solvents, by an ISO 17025 lab, not internal-only.
7. 7. Lead times in writing. Standard EU lead time is 6–10 weeks for stock formulations, 12–20 weeks for custom. Anything under 4 weeks is suspect; anything over 24 is a cash-flow killer for new brands.
8. 8. MOQ and pricing in writing. Get a written quote that breaks out ingredient cost, manufacturing, packaging, and QC. Beware quotes that bundle everything into one number, you can't negotiate what you can't see.
9. 9. Regulatory support. Will they help with EU national notification (Italy, France, Belgium, Spain notifications), label compliance, and health-claim wording? A CMO that ships you product and leaves you to figure out paperwork is a CMO that has burnt brands before.
10. 10. Reference clients you can call. Ask for two brand references in your category. A CMO with nothing to hide will introduce you. Silence is the answer.

Red flags to walk away from

• "GMP" claimed without a certificate or registrar name.
• Refuses to share a redacted CoA from a recent batch.
• One flat per-unit price with no cost breakdown.
• Cannot name the ingredient brand for hero actives.
• Pushes a custom formulation when you only need stock.
• No written stability data for shelf-life claims.

The shortcut

Running this checklist across 10 quote-stage CMOs takes 3–6 weeks. Jake has already vetted EU manufacturers on these criteria, message him with your format, MOQ and category and you'll get 2–4 pre-screened intros within a business day.