Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
Where can short-run supplies of cans be sourced at short notice?
Members have successfully sourced short-run cans through specialist suppliers and contract packers, though lead times are often tight. Recommended contacts include: Home Canning (Allan, homecanningltd@gmail.com) — described as "older than old school" with an awful website but worth trying for emergency stock; Canit (Craig, Production@canit.co.uk), though they can be in and out of stock; and Premier Labellers (Matthew.gonzalez@premierlabellers.co.uk), who handle non-bonded stock at short runs. Bespoke Canners (robin@bespokecanners.com, contact Robin Hale) was recommended for can-sleeving work at short notice. Blue Frog was also suggested but members found them similarly constrained by long lead times (October+). For contract packing/sleeving, Blisters (blisters.ltd.uk) was praised though availability varies. Members noted that even specialist suppliers are often booked out months in advance in the current market; one member offering a pallet of 9k cans shows the community sometimes helps each other directly. Quantities as low as 6k have been requested successfully. Non-bonded stock appears acceptable if you're insured and comply with your insurance terms.
How should I calculate storage charges for contract packing pallets?
There's no single industry standard for pallet storage pricing. Instead, members recommend a practical benchmarking approach: - **Cost-plus benchmarking** — Quote other storage providers in your area and use those rates as a reference point for what the market will bear, rather than trying to build pricing from first principles - **Rent-per-sqm method** — The theoretical approach of dividing your facility rent by square meterage and allocating to pallets is mentioned, but members found it less practical than simply reviewing competitor quotes For contract packing with storage, getting competitive quotes from established providers helps you understand the range. **MoveFresh** was mentioned as a good option (though note they were still working on bonded status as of the discussion). Members also reference **Alfil** for bonded shipments if that's relevant to your model. The key takeaway: don't overthink the calculation—survey what others charge and price accordingly.