Contract packaging plays a vital role in industries like food and beverage, pharma, cosmetics, and consumer goods. Accordingly, each sector poses requirements for quality, safety, and presentation. As a result, contract packagers (also known as co-packers) must meet these requirements through unique machinery, expert labor, and operational know-how.

Thus, the range of contract packaging services available today is vast. Below, we explore the most common services offered by co-packers and how they support brands in bringing products to market.

(As well, special thanks to the BCMPA for outlining these services.)

Gift Packing

Gift packing comprises a major part of the consumer goods industry, especially for seasonal campaigns like Christmas, Easter, and Valentine’s Day. Subsequently, co-packers often rely on skilled manual labor to meet the bespoke needs of these products.

Further, contract packagers can provide additional value by advising on packaging design, warehousing, and distribution.

Hand Packing and Reworking

Hand packing and reworking are staple co-pack services. As a result, co-packers often take on rework projects to correct labelling errors, damaged goods, or missing components. In addition, reworking includes jobs where products must be relabelled or repackaged to meet changing needs or market demands.

Rectification and Quality Control

Rectification is the process of vetting products for defects and ensuring they meet quality standards. When possible, co-packers repair or repack items to restore their value and returned to the inventory, reducing waste and ensuring quality compliance.

Kitting, Collation, and Assembly

These services involve combining items or components—for example, toy kits, promotional bundles, or engineering parts—into a single retail or distribution unit.
Moreover, further tasks include counting, bagging, labeling, or assembling products into customized boxes. Lastly, kitting and assembly work is often performed manually to handle the variety of parts involved.

Netting and Clip Stripping

Netting offers a low-cost way to collate and display products like beach toys or bird feed, while clip stripping is a retail-friendly method for hanging small, bagged products such as nuts or snacks. As well, contract packagers pre-load these displays for ready-to-stock retail presentation.

Packaging Design

A successful product begins with thoughtful packaging design. Consequently, contract packagers can help design packaging that not only looks appealing but also protects the product and is also easy to assemble on the production line.
Overall, good packaging design reduces unit costs, improves efficiency, and ensures that the product makes a strong shelf impact.

Artwork Design and Printing

Effective artwork and graphic design are essential for building brand identity amongst consumers. As a result, many contract packagers offer in-house design and printing for labels, sleeves, leaflets, and cartons—helping brands maintain consistency and go-to-market speed.

Labelling and Overlabelling

Co-packers offer labelling services to correct packaging errors or add marketing messages to generic stock. Depending on the job, labels may be applied by machine or by hand.

Overlabelling is a flexible solution for last-minute packaging changes, regulatory updates, or market-specific requirements—extending the product’s reach into new markets.

Decorative Shrink Sleeving

Shrink sleeving uses heat or steam to tightly seal film around products, ideal for multipacks, promotions, or tamper-proofing.
This solution combines durability and shelf appeal—making it a preferred method for both retail and promotional packaging.

Shelf-Ready and Retail-Ready Packaging

Shelf-ready packaging (SRP) and retail-ready packaging (RRP) makes it easy to handle product from warehouse to store shelf. Built mainly from corrugated cardboard, these packaging types offer easy opening and setup, saving time for retail staff.

Shrink Wrapping

Shrink wrapping encloses a product in plastic film that shrinks tightly when heated, and is commonly used for transit packaging or multi-pack retail goods such as canned beverages or games.
Depending on the film quality, shrink wrapping can also improve a product’s appearance and protection during shipment.

Flow Wrapping

Flow wrapping wraps a continuous roll of film around the product, sealing it lengthwise and at both ends. Co-packers use this method for snack foods, confectionery, and even scratch cards—offering high-speed, versatile, and hygienic packaging.

Cello and Over Wrapping

Over wrapping uses heat-sealable film for a premium, tamper-evident finish on square or rectangular products like perfumes, reams of paper, and cigarettes. Tear strips provide easy unboxing and premium presentation.

Poly Wrapping

Common in direct mail and magazine distribution, polywrapping (or polybagging) encloses materials within a transparent film. It’s an efficient way to mail printed matter while allowing for inserts and promotional materials—ideal for subscription-based businesses.

Blister Packing

Pharma and retail packaging widely uses blister packs for products that require both visibility and security. During this process, co-packers seal items under a clear thermoformed blister attached to a printed backing card, making them tamper-evident and retail-ready.

Clam Packing

Also called clamshell packaging, this process uses thermoformed plastic to encase products such as electronics, automotive parts, and cosmetics. Further, clam packs offer excellent product visibility and can be secured by clips or high-frequency welding for added protection.

Thermoforming

Thermoforming involves heating a plastic sheet until pliable, then molding it into a specific shape. Examples of thermoforming include food trays, box inserts, and confectionery packaging.
It’s a cost-effective and flexible method for creating custom packaging solutions that look professional.

Reduce Costs and Improve Throughput with Nulogy

If your co-pack operation faces problems like manual errors, production delays, or data gaps, it’s time to modernize with Nulogy’s purpose-built software for contract packaging.

Nulogy enables co-packers to:

• Improve throughput and labor effectiveness

• Reduce costs and errors

• Enhance visibility and collaboration with brand customers

Take your contract packaging services to the next level by boosting efficiency, output, and customer service.

Contact us or request a demo today to learn how Nulogy can help optimize your co-pack operations.