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.
What are typical minimum order quantities and lead times for non-carbonated soft drinks manufacturers producing in glass bottles?
Most contract manufacturers for non-carbonated beverages in glass bottles have production MOQs of around **20,000 litres**, though smaller operators exist at lower volumes—be prepared for higher costs of goods at smaller batch sizes. **Recommended manufacturers:** - **Drinks Chef** — contact Joe at joe@drinkschef.com; appears to handle smaller trial volumes **Key considerations:** - Trial volumes (a couple of thousand litres) are possible with smaller manufacturers, but expect significantly steeper per-unit costs compared to hitting the 20k L MOQ - Lead times and exact MOQs vary by producer; confirm directly with manufacturers before committing - For ancillary items like corks and closures, **G&C Packaging** is mentioned as a supplier worth approaching for non-massive MOQs and shorter lead times (members specifically cited wanting to avoid 16-week waits)
What are the quality and logistics risks of sourcing glass bottles from China?
Multiple members have sourced bottles from China and consistently report significant hidden costs that outweigh initial savings. While quality can be acceptable, logistics and preparation issues create substantial friction. **Key risks identified:** - **Cleanliness issues** — Bottles arrive dirty and oily, requiring machine washing before bottling; described as very common - **Quality control inconsistency** — Fill-level and neck-diameter tolerances are unreliable and occasionally problematic - **Lead times** — Shipments are slow to reach the UK, often creating bottlenecks - **Freight cost creep** — Any cost savings from lower unit prices are typically wiped out by air freight charges needed to meet production deadlines - **Damaged/delayed shipments** — Occasional delays and damage reported across multiple runs **Member consensus:** Several members have moved away from Chinese sourcing entirely, shifting back to UK production. The consensus is that apparent cost savings rarely materialise once preparation time, rework, and expedited shipping are factored in. Members describe lessons learned "the hard way" and now view onshoring as the more predictable route.