As a dietary supplement manufacturer in a growing industry, it is more important than ever to have a supply chain that can deliver quality ingredients. Having a robust sourcing program is critical not only for the success of the product but ultimately for building confidence with the consumer or private label brand. Consumers are more knowledgeable now than ever before about what they want and importantly, what they do not want in a supplement. Finding quality special ingredients whether that request is organic, or non-GMO, or verified gluten free is critical to satisfying today’s consumers.
The sourcing and qualification process at Columbia Nutritional is one way we set ourselves apart from other contract manufacturers and ensure we are providing the high quality, consistent products our customers deserve. As an NSF cGMP (certified Good Manufacturing Practices – FDA Guidelines on the best practices) certified company, we abide by the FDA’s cGMP guidelines and strive to provide dietary supplements that are of the highest quality. Our cGMP process and 3rd party audits including cGMP, Organic, and Kosher, require Columbia Nutritional to have all the documentation on hand to answer any questions an auditor or customer may have about ingredient quality or traceability.
The sourcing process starts with a specification for the material the customer is using or would like to use. There are several factors to consider when sourcing materials. First are the customer requirements. Does this ingredient need to be certified organic, certified low lead for Prop 65(Prop 65 is guideline for acceptable lead levels for any product sold in California), non-GMO (genetically modified organisms – plants or botanicals that were modified to drought resistant or pesticide resistant), naturally occurring vs synthetic materials? Some customers also prefer not to buy from certain areas of the world or specific suppliers. As a contract manufacturer Columbia also buys as directed from our customers if the customer is recommending an ingredient that meets the product label claims and quality requirements. If a customer prefers a certain manufacturer or trademarked ingredient Columbia will buy from that manufacturer. Columbia also works with customer supplied materials, whether that is an individual ingredient or a bulk powder preblend. Columbia Nutritional does offer the option to encapsulate, tablet, or package already blended customer materials so long as they meet our quality requirements.
If the customer does not have a required or preferred supplier, then Columbia’s experienced purchasing team starts collaborating with existing suppliers to qualify options for that ingredient. If existing suppliers do not offer the requested ingredient, then our team starts expanding our search. Team Columbia is always expanding the ingredient manufacturer database and supplier relationships. Columbia Nutritional also participates in trade shows and conventions to help identify new suppliers and opportunities. Columbia is one of the dietary supplement contract manufacturers that is proud to have a booth at the Supply Side West show. As the biggest annual show in the dietary supplement world, an important part of the show is the opportunity to meet new ingredient and packaging suppliers and to develop more options for hard-to-find ingredients or ingredients impacted by supply chain or pricing issues.
Once a manufacturer that can offer the required ingredient is identified, then the manufacturer specification is compared with the customer’s requested ingredient. If the manufacturer’s specification and supporting documentation matches, Columbia Nutritional then asks for a raw material sample. All raw materials samples are sent out to third party laboratories for identity, purity, and potency testing. For example, if the customer would like to use a Magnesium Citrate 40% Magnesium product Columbia will send a sample to an independent 3rd party lab to test and confirm that the material is Magnesium Citrate, contains no less than 40% magnesium, meets contaminant testing specifications, and confirm it is in fact magnesium citrate. The integrity of the product is a top priority.
Although Columbia Nutritional works with valued supplier partners and distributors, we verify all raw material specifications rather than rely on the Certificate of Analysis provided by the suppliers. The third-party lab verification is a crucial step to help ensure that what is on the label of our products is truly what is in the bottle. Not all contract manufacturers have such a rigorous verification step for raw material identification, purity, and potency. How raw materials are qualified is one question that needs to be asked of any contract manufacturer. Columbia’s qualification process is the first step towards a finished product that will not disappoint.
Once a material passes third party testing, it is approved for use. Columbia’s purchasing team continues to gather information on alternative ingredient suppliers making sure that each ingredient is cost competitive and to be sure there are multiple options in the event of a supply chain disruption. Even a reliable supplier can run out of stock so having back up options is critical. Every time an ingredient is requested, whether for a new formulation, or recurring order, the purchasing team verifies pricing and availability. This continuous sourcing process helps ensure that Columbia Nutritional can remain competitive in terms of pricing and lead time for raw materials. The time our team spends qualifying alternative vendors and materials pays off in reduced supply chain delays.
The experience of the Columbia team shines through in our sourcing experience. Our team has sourced botanical ingredients, vitamins, minerals, traditional Chinese medicine powders, amino acids, whey powders and more. Team Columbia has more than 300 years of experience in the dietary supplement industry. That knowledge can provide added value when working on a new formula or product. The Columbia team can save valuable customer time and money by suggesting trusted suppliers or alternate ingredients that may be new to a customer. Helping a brand partner develop and bring a scientifically sound, relatively inexpensive product to market is easier with the level of experience and dedication provided by Columbia Nutritional. Columbia Nutritional is a contract manufacturer with both the equipment and experience to set up any brand partner for success.
Whether you’re just getting started or you have decades of experience in the dietary supplement industry Columbia Nutritional may be just the partner you need to source that hard-to-find product. Best of all, when a product is manufactured by Columbia Nutritional you can be sure the quality is top notch and all the ingredients have been fully vetted and tested.
Neal Cochran has more than 18 years’ experience in procurement. He’s worked within the dietary supplement and food world and knows the cGMP, organic, and kosher requirements necessary to produce a superior product.
Neal is experienced in sourcing hard-to-find ingredients and qualifying new suppliers as well as working to keep costs as low as possible.
