Our Mission
Innovate·Create·Launch
Every food product follows the same path. Coming up with the idea. Creating the idea. Launching the idea. The Contract Manufacturing Alliance supports brands at every phase — and Food Innovation Centers are where the journey begins.
Phase One
Innovate
Coming up with the idea
Every great consumer food product starts with an idea. The Innovate phase is about turning that idea into something real — developing recipes, testing formulations, validating with real customers, and getting the science right before you invest in production. Food Innovation Centers are the science and R&D layer of this phase.
FICs Are the Core of INNOVATE
While cottage foods and commercial kitchens help entrepreneurs start producing, Food Innovation Centers provide the scientific infrastructure — food scientists, analytical equipment, shelf-life testing, and regulatory expertise — that transforms a kitchen recipe into a production-ready, commercially viable formulation. This is why FICs are the defining institution of the INNOVATE phase.
Alliance Arms at This Phase
Cottage Foods
Visit →cottagefoods.us
Home-based food production for farmers markets and direct-to-consumer sales. The lowest-risk way to validate your concept with real buyers before investing in R&D.
Commercial Kitchens
Visit →commercialkitchens.org
Licensed shared-use commercial kitchen spaces for early production runs. Health department approved, commercial equipment, flexible rental terms.
Food Innovation Centers
This sitefoodinnovationcenters.org
R&D facilities with food scientists, nutritional analysis, shelf-life studies, and regulatory support. Where recipes become formulations. This is where you are.
Inventions & Prototyping
Visit →inventionguidance.org
From concept to working prototype — patent guidance, product development, and prototyping for food and non-food consumer products.
What Happens at This Phase
Most brands spend 6–18 months in the Innovate phase. The work you do here — the formulation, the testing, the regulatory groundwork — determines everything that follows. A weak INNOVATE phase creates expensive problems at the co-packer.
Phase Two
Create
Creating the idea
You've validated the idea at a FIC. Now it's time to build it for real. The Create phase is about taking your proven formula and manufacturing it at scale — finding the right production partner, finalizing packaging, and building a supply chain that can support retail distribution.
FIC → Pilot Plant connection: When your formula is locked at the FIC, the next step is a Pilot Plant — sub-commercial scale production to validate that your formula works on real equipment before committing to a co-packer. The CMA network provides direct pathways between FIC-graduated brands and Pilot Plants.PilotPlants.org →
Alliance Arms at This Phase
Pilot Plants
Visit →pilotplants.org
Pre-commercial production testing to validate your manufacturing process before committing to a co-packer. The bridge between FIC and commercial scale.
Contract Manufacturing / Co-Packing
Visit →co-packing.org
Outsourced manufacturing at commercial scale. You own the brand and formula — the co-packer owns the facility and equipment.
Private Labeling
Visit →privatelabeling.org
White-label manufacturing for retailer brands, store brands, and private label programs.
CPG Own Facilities
Visit →cpgmfg.org
For brands ready to build or optimize their own manufacturing plant. Facility planning, equipment sourcing, regulatory compliance.
What Happens at This Phase
The Create phase typically takes 3–12 months. Getting the right manufacturing partner is the single most important decision you'll make at this stage. The Co-Packing Network's vetting process and relationship depth are what differentiate CMA-connected brands from those who go it alone.
Phase Three
Launch
Launching the idea
Your product exists. It's manufactured, packaged, and ready. Now you need to get it into the hands of consumers. The Launch phase connects you to retail channels, distribution networks, broker relationships, and go-to-market strategy — leveraging the Alliance's 30+ years of retail relationships through the Conzumables network.
Retail Channels We Cover
What Happens at This Phase
Launch is ongoing. The Alliance's Conzumables network covers every major retail channel in the U.S. and Canada. Full details at ContractMFG.org.
Where Are You in the Journey?
Tell us where you are in the process and we'll point you to the right resources.
I'm innovating
I have an idea or early-stage product and need help with development, testing, or formulation. A FIC is my next step.
Find a FIC →I'm creating
I have a validated formula and need help with pilot plant trials, co-packer matching, or scaling production.
Pilot Plants →I'm ready to launch
My product is manufactured and I need help with retail placement, distribution, and go-to-market strategy.
Launch resources →