Nutritious, colorful, lightweight, with a shelf life of up to 30 years? Freeze-dried berries are already any importer’s dream product, and as the snack market has boomed over the last five years, consumer demand for these tasty superfoods has ensured they remain one of the most popular products in our bulk catalog.
But what’s not discussed often enough is how freeze-dried berries present a wonderful opportunity for private labeling. With the right sourcing partner, you can outsource the production and packaging of freeze-dried berries in a way that helps you target niche market segments without taking on any significant business risk and CAPEX load.
Here’s why private labeling freeze-dried berries should be on your radar in 2024.
Freeze-dried is on the rise!
The global freeze-dried fruit market is set to explode over the next decade, reaching an estimated $55.9 Billion by 2034, with North America leading the charge with regards to value share. These encouraging figures should be considered in the broader context of an ever-increasing global snack food market, which is projected to hit $658.49 Billion by 2032.
What’s driving demand?
An increasing awareness among consumers of the health benefits of freeze-dried berries is one of the major drivers of the freeze-dried berry boom. Not only are freeze-dried berries an affordable, flavorsome, and convenient snack, they’re also an incredible source of nutrients, retaining around 90% of the nutritional value of their fresh counterparts, without the risk of spoilage.
Freeze-dried berries tick sustainability boxes, too – a metric increasingly important to modern consumers. The freeze-drying process is far more energy efficient than traditional canning and freezing methods, and farmers’ ability to freeze dry excess berry harvests means they can maximize yields, even when berries are out of season, reducing food waste. Additionally, because the freeze-drying process removes up to 90% of the moisture content of the berries, they weigh far less, meaning they can be more sustainably transported.
The path to private label success
The path to private label success starts with finding a great sourcing partner to point you in the right direction and help ensure a smooth journey, from the initial idea, throughout the R&D process, all the way to the first consumer’s breakfast bowl.
At Source86, we’ve spent years cultivating close relationships with a range of exceptional private-label manufacturers around the world, helping our clients source and refine bulk freeze-dried berry products that are packaged at the source. We’ve learned a few important things along the way.
QA is everything
Private label means putting your brand in the hands of someone outside your organization, and there’s a certain element of trust and accountability involved in the process. To make sure that your manufacturing and quality standards are met without exception, your sourcing partner needs to have a robust QA and compliance team that can vet and approve private label manufacturers and their output, to ensure they meet your standards (and your volume requirements) consistently throughout the relationship.
At Source86, for example, our experienced QA team is charged with ensuring that private label manufacturers are always up to spec on both quality and manufacturing standards. For private label products under our care, we organize and coordinate a production launch audit, including visiting the production site and securing the relevant certifications. Samples are then tested and approved before full production roll-out begins to make sure the product meets the relevant quality standards and ingredient specifications.
Production should happen at the source
For freeze-dried berries specifically, making the product at the source is key. There are a number of reasons this is preferable. Firstly, it helps keep costs as low as possible for our customers. Secondly, it enables us to maintain complete end-to-end control of the process. There are no freeze-dried berry production facilities in the US, so we’ve spent years sourcing and building bulk private-label manufacturing relationships with production facilities around the globe. All of these facilities are extensively certified.
A little bit of R&D goes a long way
Not all freeze-dried berries are equal! And while you may be tempted to believe that a blueberry is a blueberry, freeze-dried or otherwise, there is a load of room to refine your freeze-dried berry product through an innovative R&D process to set you apart from your competitors. At Source86, our sourcing team works closely with you to coordinate the R&D process, managing communications, sample transport, and quality control until your freeze-dried berries are simply perfect.
Get a jump on the packaging palaver
If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s how much trouble the wrong packaging decisions can cause in the long run.
Packaging inevitably becomes a major bottleneck on the road to market, so it’s a good idea to get onto packaging design and sourcing ASAP. Our team will work closely with you to determine the best possible packaging for your product once R&D is complete. Packaging should not only meet cost and brand criteria but should be chosen to ensure that the product arrives at its destination in the best possible condition. Luckily, if there’s one thing we’re good at, it’s getting product to the other side, wherever that side may be, in perfect condition
For private-label bulk freeze-dried berries, choose Source86!
If you’re looking to ride the freeze-dried berry wave, now is the time to make a move toward private labeling your own range. Finding the right importer of freeze-dried food in bulk isn’t always easy, but Source86 has you covered.
Leveraging years of experience and a trusted network of wholesale suppliers and manufacturers, Source86 is the expert importer you need to help guide you through the entire private label process, from idea to first delivery. Get in touch with our team today and let’s chat about your private label ideas!
