What should founders expect regarding production delays and communication when working with co-packers, and how common are these issues?

Production delays and poor communication are unfortunately common in the co-packing industry, though the severity varies significantly by manufacturer.

**What members experienced:** - **Brew+Bottle (now Renegade Drinks)** — Multiple delays with less than 24 hours notice during a factory move; described as very poor communication for a pilot run that was originally scheduled for June 18th but delayed three times over three months - **WeCan** — Reported as "a nightmare" for small runs (around 10k cans); cited for quality issues, planning failures, crazy delays, and terrible communication

**Industry context:** - Delays and communication quality vary significantly depending on the format, complexity, and which manufacturer you use - Legitimate manufacturing delays (equipment breakdown, boiler failure) do happen and are unavoidable, but poor production planning is not the same as true manufacturing emergencies - Early-stage brands often have limited choice and may need to work with less reliable manufacturers initially, despite the frustration - Some members questioned how these companies remain in business given their service levels

**Caveat:** The threshold for what constitutes acceptable communication and delay timescales appears to be a friction point across the industry. If you're considering a co-packer, asking for references and checking the Food Hub forum on Facebook may surface additional feedback.