03 — Contract Manufacturing
Contract manufacturing of food supplements: your product, tailor-made.
NUTRALAB develops and manufactures food supplements for companies, brands and professionals. Formula, raw materials, format, packaging, notification and logistics are handled by a single point of contact. Manageable minimum batches, lead times from 30 to 60 days depending on the product, and a response to your brief within 24 hours.
In summary
Contract manufacturing of food supplements: how it works with NUTRALAB
Contract manufacturing is the service where we create a client-branded food supplement, starting from a need, an idea, or an existing formula. The process begins with the brief and ends with the packaged, labelled, and notified product, ready for sale in the chosen channel: pharmacy, e-commerce, professional practice, or retail. Every stage is handled in-house at NUTRALAB or by qualified manufacturing partners we directly oversee in San Marino, Italy and Europe, giving the client a single point of contact for the entire project.
We apply the same method to our contract-manufactured products as we do to our own line: raw materials documented batch by batch, standardised extracts with a high concentration of active ingredients, chemical forms chosen for bioavailability, and essential formulas built around the active ingredient. The client decides how much of this method to incorporate into their product; we make it possible and document it.
Benefits
What the contract manufacturing service includes
01
Tailor-made formula
We develop the formula from the brief or adapt an existing one: active ingredients, dosages, chemical forms, ingredient ratios, and compliance with the limits set by Italian and European regulations on supplements.
02
Selected and documented raw materials
Every raw material comes with a technical specification and a certificate of analysis. Where appropriate, we suggest branded ingredients with their own scientific literature, such as Kaneka QH® for ubiquinol and BCM-95® / Curcugreen® for curcumin.
03
All forms and formats
Vegetable capsules, including gastro-resistant ones, tablets, orodispersible tablets, softgels, powders and liquids; dark glass jars, pill pots, blister packs and sachets. The client chooses the format, we make it happen.
04
Label, packaging and graphic design
Compliant label text (name, average contents, NRVs, directions for use, warnings), choice of container and carton, label layout, and graphic support up to the print-ready file.
05
Regulatory affairs and notification to the Ministry of Health
Verification of usable claims, preparation of the dossier, and notification of the product as a food supplement, with all documentation remaining with the client.
06
Logistics and reordering
Packaging, storage, shipping to the client's warehouse or points of sale, and management of reorders over time, with agreed-upon lead times.
How it works
How we work: the stages of contract manufacturing
Step 01
Project brief (response within 24 hours)
We gather information on the target audience, product objective, sales channel, desired format, and any budget and time constraints. We respond to the brief within 24 hours with initial questions and our recommended approach.
Step 02
Formula and quotation
We define or adapt the formula, including dosages, forms of active ingredients, and excipients, check for manufacturing feasibility, and prepare a quote tailored to the project.
Step 03
Sampling, when required
When the product requires it, for example to approve the taste of a powder or an orodispersible tablet, we produce a sample for the client to evaluate with us. We then adjust the formula or format before the main batch. This is also when final packaging choices are made.
Step 04
Label, packaging and regulatory affairs
We draft the label text, verify the claims, and prepare the dossier and notification for the Ministry of Health. In the meantime, the graphic design for the label and secondary packaging is finalised for printing.
Step 05
Production and quality control
The batch goes into production at our in-house site or with the qualified partner selected for that format, with checks on incoming raw materials, process parameters, and the finished product.
Step 06
Delivery and reordering
We deliver the packaged product to the location specified by the client and plan reorders together, with the formula, materials, and suppliers ready for subsequent production runs.
Which supplements we contract manufacture: capsules, tablets, softgels, powders and liquids
Contract manufacturing of food supplements covers all the forms the market demands. We produce HPMC vegetable capsules, including gastro-resistant ones for enzymes and active ingredients sensitive to stomach acid, tablets and orodispersible tablets, softgels, powders in jars or single-dose sachets, and liquid formulations. For packaging, we work with dark glass jars, bottles, pill pots, blister packs and sachets, with an outer carton when needed.
The choice of form starts with the client and their product: the amount of active ingredient per dose, the ingredient's sensitivity, taste, method of use, and sales channel all indicate the most suitable format. During the brief, we present the alternatives with their respective production times and costs.
Minimum batches and production times for contract-manufactured supplements
We work with manageable minimum batches, as many projects start by testing a channel or niche before scaling up. The exact minimum depends on the format, raw materials and type of packaging: we define it in the quote, along with the lead times. As a rule of thumb, it takes from 30 to 60 days from brief to finished product, depending on the product; a pre-validated formula and available raw materials shorten the process, while a special format or an ingredient that needs to be sourced will extend it. We don't publish price lists for costs: every project receives a quote after the brief, with separate items for development, raw materials, production, packaging and regulatory services.
Where we contract manufacture supplements: San Marino, Italy and Europe
Production takes place at our own site and at qualified manufacturing partners in San Marino, Italy and Europe, chosen based on the format and type of processing required. The sites involved operate under HACCP systems and are ISO 22000 certified; Halal and organic certification are available for projects that require them. We provide the client with all legally required documentation: product technical sheet, quality control records, certifications, stability data, and the notification dossier.
Raw materials for contract-manufactured supplements: how we select them
For every ingredient, we request the technical specification and the batch-specific certificate of analysis from the supplier: titre, loss on drying, heavy metals, microbiological profile, and any nanomaterial status. We prefer high-quality standardised extracts, with a concentration of active ingredients that stands up to the scientific literature, and chemical forms chosen for their bioavailability. These are the criteria we use to build our own line, and we apply them to the client's product to the extent that the project requires.
Contract manufacturing, white label or B2B resale: which to choose
The three routes lead to different outcomes. With contract manufacturing, the product is created to measure: the formula, format and packaging belong to the client, who sells it under their own brand. With white label, the client starts from pre-validated NutraLab formulas and brings them to market under their own brand, more quickly and with a smaller investment. With B2B resale, the client buys NutraLab products wholesale and resells them in their own channel under our brand, as is. Many clients start with resale or white label and then move on to contract manufacturing when they want a product built just for them.
Who it's for
Who is contract manufacturing for?
- Those who want a premium supplement from A to Z: raw materials, formula, packaging and label chosen together, without compromise.
- Supplement brands looking for a recognisable product with a formula that makes them stand out on the shelf.
- Pharmacies, parapharmacies and chains ready to launch their own brand line.
- Health and sports professionals who want a supplement built around their working method.
- Cosmetics, food or fitness companies entering the supplement market with a single partner.
- Projects with non-standard dosages, ingredients or formats that are hard to find in a catalogue.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about contract manufacturing
Are there production minimums?+
Yes, but they are manageable. The minimum batch size depends on the format, raw materials and packaging, and we define it in the quote after the brief. Many projects start with a first trial batch and then scale up.
How long does it take from brief to finished product?+
Typically from 30 to 60 days depending on the product. A pre-validated formula and available raw materials shorten the lead time; special formats or ingredients that need to be sourced extend it. The exact timeframe is specified in the quote.
Can I start from a formula I already have?+
Yes. We check the formula against regulatory limits and our production capabilities, adapt it if necessary, and produce a sample for validation.
Do you handle the notification to the Ministry of Health?+
Yes. We prepare the dossier, verify the claims that can be used on the label, and manage the product notification as a food supplement. The documentation remains with the client.
What formats can I choose?+
Vegetable capsules, including gastro-resistant ones, tablets, orodispersible tablets, softgels, powders and liquids, in dark glass jars, pill pots, blister packs or sachets. The client chooses the format, based on the product and its target audience.
How much does it cost to produce a contract-manufactured supplement?+
We don't publish price lists, because the cost depends on the formula, raw materials, format, packaging and quantity. After the brief, we send a quote with itemised costs.
Can I use branded ingredients in my product?+
Yes. We currently offer Kaneka QH® for ubiquinol and BCM-95® / Curcugreen® for curcumin; other branded ingredients are evaluated on a project-by-project basis.
Will my product be exclusive?+
Exclusivity conditions for the formula, channel or territory are defined in the contractual phase and are negotiable depending on the project.
What's needed to get started?+
Even a short brief: who the product is for, what need it addresses, which channel it will be sold in, the desired format and timeframe. Write to business@nutralab.life or use the contact form: we reply within 24 hours.
Tell us about the product you have in mind
A brief of just a few lines is enough to get started. We'll reply within 24 hours with our initial questions, the recommended route between contract manufacturing, white label and B2B resale, and the next steps.
