Ask the Collective

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)