A product may arrive at the warehouse in bulk, in large packs or in batches not yet ready for the shelf. Transforming it into a retail unit, packaged, labelled and compliant with point-of-sale standards, requires dedicated lines and trained staff.
At LDE, we offer third-party co-packing as an integral part of our logistics service, and in this article we explain how it works and why it makes sense to manage it together with warehousing and transport.
What is third-party co-packing
Third-party co-packing, or contract packaging, is the service whereby an external operator takes care of packaging, assembling and preparing a company's products for final sale.
It covers activities such as primary and secondary packaging, wrapping, strapping, multipack grouping and the preparation of products according to the specifications required by the client or distribution channel.
We use the term co-packing when the service includes a degree of product assembly or packaging, and re-packing when it involves repackaging or reorganising goods that are already packed, for example to adapt them to a new retail format. In both cases the objective is the same: to deliver a product ready for the shelf or for dispatch to the consumer.
Reasons behind outsource packaging
Packaging is an activity with strong seasonal fluctuation: it requires a lot of labour at peak times and little during quiet periods. Managing it in-house means sizing staff and space for the moment of maximum demand, bearing fixed costs that remain even when the lines are idle.
Entrusting contract packaging to an external operator reverses this logic: costs become variable and proportional to actual volumes, staff are already trained and available even at short notice, and the company frees up space and resources to focus on its core business.
It is a particularly advantageous choice when packaging is already linked to the subsequent stages, storage and shipping, because it eliminates intermediate steps and unnecessary handling.
Our advantage: packaging and
integrated logistics
This is where we differ from a pure packager. Many operators deal only with third-party wrapping: they package the product and then the goods have to be moved, stored and shipped by someone else.
At LDE, we manage co-packing within our integrated logistics service, in our own depots. This means the product arrives, is packaged, stored and shipped without ever leaving our operational perimeter.
One single point of contact, one chain of responsibility, no additional transport between the packager and the warehouse. For the client this translates into faster turnaround times, lower handling costs and complete traceability throughout the supply chain.
A real case: from bulk import to the retail shelf
The most frequent scenario we handle is that of companies importing products in bulk that need to be prepared for mass retail. One of our partners, for example, moved part of its production to China. As our head of transport, Carlo Bighetti, explains:
«Previously, the goods were produced in Europe, so it was possible to instruct the manufacturer to pack them individually. With Chinese shipments, however, what arrives are large packs with loose products inside. Thanks to the custom packaging lines we designed, we guarantee the client packaging of products one by one, in pairs, in sets of six and so on, according to the standards required by large-scale retail.»
The result for the client is twofold: significant savings on imports, because shipping products in bulk costs less than shipping them already individually packaged, and complete customisation of the finished product, packaged exactly in the formats required by the sales channel.
Retail packaging for mass distribution:
what it means in practice
Preparing a product for large-scale retail (Grande Distribuzione Organizzata or GDO) requires compliance with precise standards: specific multipack formats, compliant labelling, display-ready units, groupings in defined quantities.
Our packaging lines are designed to adapt to these requirements, handling the product individually or in groupings according to the retailer's specifications.
To complete the service, we also handle the preparation of retail kits, the assembly of point-of-sale displays and product-specific labelling: all activities that transform goods received into a product ready to be sold, with no further steps required from the client.
Which sectors we work with
Our contract packaging service adapts to very different needs depending on the sector. We work with companies in consumer goods supplying distribution channels, in the fashion sector with tagging and packaging requirements, and in other industries where the product must reach the shelf in perfect condition.
In every case, packaging is managed to the same standards of traceability and quality control that we apply to all warehouse operations.
Looking for a co-packing partner? Let's talk
Every product has its own packaging specifics: formats, materials, channel standards, seasonal volumes. Before making any proposal, we want to understand what you produce and how your products need to reach their destination.
The most direct way to start is to fill in our contact form: we will get back to you promptly with a tailored assessment, no strings attached.
Interested in a quote or a partnership?
Send us a request: we'll get back to you
in no time!
Interested in a quote or a partnership?
Send us a request: we'll get back to you
in no time!
Interested in a quote or a partnership?
Send us a request: we'll get back to you
in no time!
Interested in a quote or a partnership? Send us a request: we'll get back to you in no time!
