Minnesota Co-Packers to Make and Package Your Food Product: Jams, Salsa, Sauces, Pickles, Cookies, Pies, cakes, whatever!

Looking for Minnesota Co-Packers to Make and Package Your Food Product: Jams, Salsa, Sauces, Pickles, Cookies, Pies, cakes, whatever! in 2024?  Scroll down this page and  follow the links. And if you bring home some fruit or vegetables and want to can, freeze, make jam, salsa or pickles, see this page for simple, reliable, illustrated canning, freezing or preserving directions. There are plenty of other related resources, click on the resources dropdown above.  If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

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Minnesota Co-Packers to Make and Package Your Food Product: Jams, Salsa, Sauces, Pickles, Cookies, Pies, cakes, whatever!

Minnesota Co-Packers: Want to Sell Your Salsa, Preserves, Jams, Etc.? Learn About Using A CoPacker to Prepare It!

If you want to make and sell your home-made preserves, salsa, spaghetti sauce, applesauce, apple butter, jams, jellies, or whatever, you will need a licensed kitchen to prepare and can the food. That's fine for relatively small quantities, and if there is a licensed kitchen to rent nearby at a good cost. See this page for shared use kitchens in Minnesota. But it may be less expensive (and less risky) for your new business to use a CoPacker to prepare their food, according to you recipe and process.

What is a Co-Packer?

Co-packers manufacture and package foods for other companies to sell. These products range from nationally-known brands to private labels. Entrepreneurs choose to use the services of copackers for many reasons. Copackers can provide entrepreneurs with a variety of services in addition to manufacturing and packaging products. They can often help in the formulation of the product. The copacker may function only as a packer of other people's products or may be in business with his own product line. They may be, in fact, manufacturing several competing products. The range of services available from a copacker will vary depending on the size and experience of the copacker and the type of facilities and the capacity of their plant.

Choosing a Co-Packer

You will want to choose a co-packer who has experience making the type of product and packaging that you need. You may also want to choose a co-packer that is located close to you or your source materials and/or market or distribution centers to reduce costs.

See this page for much, much more about co-packers, like advantages, disadvantages and how to choose a copacker.

The following list consists of companies in Minnesota that have co-packing capabilities. This list is neither all-inclusive, nor is it meant to serve as an endorsement.

If you are a co-packer wishing to be added to this list, add your information here.

Minnesota Co-Packers

• Abdallah Candies -  - Copacker, Toffee, caramels, creams, clusters, barks, and nougats.
  Phone: 952-890-4770. Email: service@abdallahcandies.com. Steve Hegedus. The minimum order varies.
• All American Foods, Inc. -  - Copacker,
  Phone: 800-833-2661. Email: amys@aafoods.com. Amy Kuch, National Sales Representative. A leader in customized processing and packaging of dry and co-dried food ingredients. Our Pro Mix® product line consists of: cheese powders and flavorings, cultured dairy powders (yogurt powders, sour cream powders, cultured buttermilk powders, and cultured nonfat powders), high fat powders, egg replacer powders, dried flavoring ingredients, dry sweetened condensed whole and skim milk powders, nonfat dry milk, buttermilk powder, and whole milk powder replacers.
• At Last! Gourmet Foods - Copacker, Product development services, Recipe development, Packaging, Hot packing, Cold packing, Plastic, Paper, Scale-up recipes, We can file forms and paperwork, We can source (find) ingredients, We can source (find) packaging, Private labeling
  2101 E 24th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404. Phone: (612) 724-1634. Email: rschreck@atlastgourmetfoods.com. Open: See their website for for hours and availability. Directions: See their website for directions. Click here for a map and directions. Our state-of-the-art facilities have been adapting to your needs for 30 years, designed with food and employee safety top of mind. Our industry leading equipment and knowledgeable production staff use standardized cooking and equipment handling for safe, efficient production. We specialize in flowable foods (soups/sauces/marinades/dips/spreads) but have many other capabilities. We offer consumer packaged goods as well as bulk packs. Quality and flavor profiles are our specialties! Located in Hennepin County. (ADDED: December 22, 2020, Suggested by a visitor)
• Barrel O' Fun Snack Food Co. -  - Copacker,
  Phone: 800-346-4910. Email: janderson@klnfamilybrands.com. Contact: Jay Anderson. Traditional chips, kettle chips, popcorn, tortilla chips, corn chips, pretzels, baked crisps, extruded items, pellet popped items, and friend pellet items. Depending on the product line and your requests, we produce items with the following callouts: organic, non-GMO, gluten free, kosher, no artificial color, flavors, preservatives, 0g trans fat, etc.
The minimum order is dependent on product line. Open to discuss on a case per case basis..
• Bix Produce Co. -  - Copacker,
  Phone: 651-487-8000. Email: spagel@bixproduce.com. Contact: Steve Pagel, Sales Manager. Fresh boxed and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables as well as specialty grocery.
• Bongards Premium Cheese -  - Copacker,
  Phone: 952-277-5555. Email: scott.tomes@bongards.com. Contact: Scott Tomes. Processed cheese, natural cheese, cream cheese, and whey. The minimum order is 10,000 lbs.
• Buddy's Kitchen, Inc. -  - Copacker,
  Phone: 952-894-2540. Email: dave@buddyskitchen.com. Frozen sandwiches, burritos, breakfast entrees, and grilled bread. Product development is available and negotiable. We very selectively work with "early stage" companies based on an interview process. Contact: Dave Smith.
• Captain Ken's Foods -  - Copacker,
  USDA and FDA approved. The minimum order is Annual 100,000 lbs. Contact: John Traxler. Phone: 651-298-0071. Email: jtraxler@captainkens.com.
• Chippewa Packaging, Inc. -  - Copacker,
  Contact: Joe Kellen. Phone: 507-931-5510. jkellen@chippewapackaging.com. Packaging of dry food products specializing in pre-made pouches, form fill and seal including (pillow, sachet, side gusseted pouches). Ribbon and tumbler blending. SQF Level 3, organic and kosher certified.
  
• Croix Valley Foods - Copacker,
  Contact: Damon Holter. Phone: 612-756-4985. Email: damonholter@croixvalleyfoods.com. Specializing in acidic and acidified canned foods such as barbecue sauces, marinades, salsas, hot sauces, Bloody Mary mixes, beverages, Worcestershire sauces, pasta sauces, dry rubs, seasonings, and more. The minimum order is 50 gallons on liquid products, 100 lbs on dry blends.
  
• Dover Processing Inc. - Copacker,
  Contact: Eric Klein. Phone: 507-273-0859. Email: eric@hiddenstreamfarm.com. Sausage making, smoked meats, horizontal slicing, thermoforming, and vacuum packaging. Specializing in uncured and natural clean label products. Organic inspected (MOSA), Animal Welfare Approved inspected.
  
• European Roasterie, Inc. - Copacker,
  Contact: Tom Dotray. Phone: 507-357-3008. Email: thomas@euroroast.com. Our coffee, your packaging/brand. The minimum order is 50 lbs per sku.
  
• Fiberich Technologies, Inc. - Copacker,
  Contact: Jean Holland. Phone: 952-920-8054. Email: fiberichtech@gmail.com. High fiber baking concentrate for breads, rolls, and other baking items. The minimum order is one pallet (2000 lbs).
  
• Food Service Specialties - Copacker,
  Contact: Mike Jacobson. Phone: 800-657-0811. Email: mikej@foodservicespecialties.com. Specialize in preparing and packaging shelf-stable pasta and other sauces, chip and vegetable dips, marinades, and a variety of salsas. Packaging options include glass jars (12-48 ounces) in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, large (5-10 pound) plastic pouches with or without fitments, 55 gallon drums, and large reusable totes. The minimum order is 9,000 lbs.
  
• FunkyChunky Inc, - Kosher and other chocolate and candy, other snacks, Popcorn and Pretzels
  7452 West 87^th Street, Edina, MN 55439. Phone: 888-473-8659Phone: 952-938-6663. Fax: 952-938-2294. Email: tore@funkychunky.com. Contact: Tore Villberg.
• French Lake Butcher Shop, LLC. - Copacker,
  Contact: Kimberly Werner. Phone: 320-286-5345. Email: frenchlakebutchershop@live.com. Raw meat, cooked products, uncured products slaughter (beef, hog, goat, lamb, deer, elk), hog scalding, and wild game processing. We specialize in co-packing for farmers in our area. We also specialize in uncured products and organic seasoned sausages. The minimum order for sausages is 20 lbs.
  
• G. E. F. Gourmet Foods - Copacker, Organic flour, cereal and mixes.
  35584 Country Road 8, Mountain Lake, MN 56159. Phone: 800-692-6762. Phone: 507-427-2631. Fax: 507-427-2631. Email: email:greatsnack@frontiernet.net;
• Great River Organic Milling - Copacker,
  Contact: Rick Halverson. Phone: 608-687-9580. Email: rhalverson@greatrivermilling.com. Organic whole grains, organic bread flours, organic flour blends, organic specialty flours, organic hot cereals, and organic pancake and waffle mixes. The minimum order depends on product.
  
• Greater American Ribs, Inc. - Copacker,
  Phone: 651-329-8133. Phone: 651-739-0161. Email: pete@garibs.com or rick@garibs.com. Specializing in fully cooked pork loin back ribs, with or without BBQ Sauce. Fully cooked meats retail and/or wholesale.
• Gourmet Parlor Foods - Copacker, frozen pizzas and other frozen foods.
  Phone: 320-584-5930. Email: steve.sauer@gourmetparlorpizza.com. Contact: Steve Sauer. The minimum order is 1,500 units.
• Hamel Maple Syrup Co., Inc. - Copacker,
  Phone: 763-478-2353. Email: sjjordan@frontiernet.net. Email: lure3312@aol.com. Contact: Steve Jordan or Steve Leuer. Pure maple syrup, a 75% cane syrup/25% maple syrup blend, granulated maple sugar; wholesale. The minimum order is 1 pallet.
• Hastings Creamery, Hastings Cooperative Creamery Company - Copacker,
  Contact: David Zwart. Phone: 651-437-9414. Email: david@hastingscreamery.com, Heat treated/pasteurized/blended/dairy based. Finished pack in: bulk (tankers - 2 gallon bags, pails, drums), HDPE gallons, half gallons, quarts, pints, 12 oz., cross section paperboard 8 oz. to 32 oz. The minimum order is 150 gallons.
• Healthy For Life Meals - Copacker, Product development services, QA/QC Product testing services, Recipe development, Business development consulting services, Packaging, Plastic, Scale-up recipes, We can file forms and paperwork, We can source (find) ingredients, We can source (find) packaging, Private labeling, Business services, Larger volumes only, Paid Consulting services
  4301 Quebec Ave N, Ste 6, New Hope, MN 55428. Phone: (763) 746-8800. Email: corp@healthyforlifemeals.com. Open: See their website for for hours and availability. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. Payment: . Click here for our Facebook page. Located in Hennepin County. (ADDED: February 08, 2023)
• Hemp Acres - Copacker, Certified Organic, Nut-free facility, We can source (find) ingredients, We can source (find) packaging, Private labeling
  1400 Mill Lane, Suite 200, Waconia, MN 55387-1044. Phone: (612) 230-9150. Email: vikki@hempacresusa.com. Open: See their website for for hours and availability. Directions: See their website for directions. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: . Grain receiving & cleaning, seed cleaning, mechanical expeller press, mechanical milling & sifting, dehulling & sorting, custom blending, refining & bleaching, filling dry powders, oils & other liquids. Capacity: varies by process Click here for our Facebook page. (ADDED: December 21, 2023)
• InHarvest Inc. - Copacker,
  Contact: John Wagar. Phone: 800-346-7032. Email: johnw@inharvest.com. Parboiling, blending, and scarifying ancient/heirloom rice and grains; heirloom beans and lentils; blending ancient/heirloom rice and grains that complement one another and have even cook times The minimum order is 24 lbs stock items; 2,000 lbs custom items.
  
• J and J Distributing - Copacker,
  Contact: Silvano Barba. Phone: 651-292-3851. Email: silvano.barba@jjdst.com. We have a full line of fresh produce offerings. Our specialty is organic and processed, fresh cut and vegetable products The minimum order varies.
  
• Karlsburger Foods, Inc. - Copacker,
  Matthew Maher. Phone: 763-295-2273. Email: matthewm@karlsburger.com. Soup bases, sauces, spices and seasoning blends, gravy mixes. Custom duplications and private label items. 3 state-of-the-art mixing rooms (dry blending, dry/wet blending, dry/packaging). Certifications: SQF level 2, USDA inspected, FDA inspected, CERTIFIED ORGANIC, certified halal, HAACP program, GMP program, QA program, Test and Hold policy. There is no minimum on stock items. 150 lbs custom seasoning/dry blends. 300 lbs custom bases.
• Lakeside Foods - private-label frozen and canned vegetable
  Contact: 1-800-466-3834. We focus 100% of our energies on Private Brand. We support no national or regional brands.
  
• Lorentz Meats - Beef and bison slaughter, specialty packaging of all meat, and sausage making.
  Phone: 507-263-3618 x 247. Email: jpeterson@lorentzmeats.com. Contact: Jeff Peterson. Niche meat products for retail and food service. The minimum order varies by product.
• Maple Island, Inc. - Copacker,
  Phone: 651-773-2673 or 651-271-1119 (cell). Email: ddoebler@maple-island.com. Contact: David Doebler. We can dry blend and canister fill a wide array of powdered products including milk and protein powders as well as sensitive products like infant formula. Our packaging capabilities include both metal and composite canisters.
• Maud Borup - Copacker,
  Phone: 866-678-6283. Email: randy@maudborup.com. Contact: Randy Lantinen. We have extensive experience in private label manufacturing and can co-pack your components or develop and source a product for you. Bags, rigid containers, specialized shaped bags and containers. Candy, snacks, powdered mixes, hot sauces, everyday products, food gifts. Non-food projects such as toy packaging, shrink wrapping, mail items, labeling, pick and pack, warehousing services, displays, pallet programs. The minimum order is 4,000 units.
• Midwest Rubs - Spice blending and whole spice
  Phone: 763-497-1766. Phone: 763-515-3945. Email: rbrown@midwestrubs.com. Contact: Richard Brown. Private label and packaging; product blending and development; and bulk packagin The minimum order is 25 lbs/negotiable.
• Milk Specialties Global - Copacker,
  Phone: 952-942-7310. Email: cbaughman@milkspecialties.com. Contact: Chris Baughman. Sports nutrition, weight loss, meal replacers The minimum order is 10,000 lbs.
• Nikola's Foods/ Nikola's Bakery - Copacker,
  Phone: 952-253-5991. Email: dir@nikolasbakery.com. Email: bill@nikolasbakery.com. Contact: Michael Itskovich or Bill Itskovich. Full service bakery solutions, custom baking and production, proprietary formulation, private label and co-packing, signature concept development. AIB inspected - score 910; FDA inspected; kosher certified; HACCP program; GMP program; QA program. A traditional full-service bakery - 35,000 sq ft; gluten-free manufacturing - 15,000 sq ft The minimum order is determined on a case-by-case basis.
• North Star Processing, LLC - Copacker,
  Contact: Mark Holmgren. Phone: 320-693-7211. Email: mholmgren@nsp-llc.com. Spray dried powders include: flavors, sweeteners, natural coloring, specialty food additives, dairy ingredients, proteins, and proprietary blends. Orthodox Union kosher, Quality Assurance International organic The minimum order varies with products.
  
• Northwestern Foods, Inc. - Copacker,
  Phone: 651-789-5464. Email: kurt@northwesternfoods.com. Contact: Kurt Kaiser. Dry blending, vertical form and fill equipment; dry mixes (flavored beverages, cocoas, teas, lattes, bakery items), kosher and halal certified, BRC audited. Available year round; need 4-6 weeks lead time. The minimum order is 2000 lbs/item.
• Pan O Gold Baking Co. (Country Hearth Breads) -
  Phone: 320-251-9361. Email: mubl@panogold.com. Contact: Mark Ubl. 3 strategically positioned facilities fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology to ensure quality, freshness, prompt order response and on-time delivery. The minimum order varies.
• Particle Control Inc. - Copacker,
  Phone: 763-497-3075. Email: jerry@particlecontrolinc.com. Contact: Jerry Arns.Specialized in toll milling, blending, packaging, air classifying, and other food processing services. The minimum order is 100 pounds.
• Plainview Milk Products Cooperative - Copacker,
  Phone: 507-534-3872 ext 101. Email: troy@plainviewmilk.com. Contact: Troy Gascoigne. Nonfat dry milk, sweet cream, condensed skim milk, specialty dry blended products. Minimum order: Nonfat dry milk - 50 lbs, sweet cream - 2,000 lbs (approx. 200 gallons), condensed skim - 2,000 lbs (approx. 200 gallons).
• Quality Ingredients Corporation - Copacker, Contract spray drying and spray chilling.
  Phone: 952-898-4002. Email: sales@qic.us. The minimum order is typically 500 lbs or more.
• Reichel Foods, Inc. - Processing and packaging.
  Phone: 507-289-7264. Email: craig@reichelfoods.com. Contact: Craig Reichel.
• Schwan's Global Supply Chain, Inc. - Ice cream, bakery desserts (pie), convenience foods, sauces, and aluminum packaging.
  Phone: 507-537-8189. Email: maryjo.martinson@schwans.com. Contact: Mary Jo Martinson. The minimum order varies by product category.
• The Secret Garden - Copacker, Dehydrated soups; entree mixes; quick bread and pancake mixes; dip, cheese ball, salsa, and seasoning mixes; powdered dessert mixes.
  Phone: 218-732-4866. Email: sgmorg@wcta.net. Contact: Anne Morgan.
• Smude Enterprises - Copacker, Co-packing dry goods up to 2 lbs.
  Phone: 320-468-6925. Email: tom@smudeoil.com. Contact: Tom Smude. .
• SnappyDog Foods - Copacker,
  Phone: 651-775-5865. dave@snappydogsalsa.com. Contact: Dave Merten. BBQ sauce, marinades, Bloody Mary mixes, salsa, hot sauces, etc. Gluten-free facility specializing in small batch production for the start-up and small entrepreneur, but have the capacity to produce volume as well. Minimum order: 30 gallons - liquid products, 50 lbs - dry blends.
• Sno Pac Foods - Copacker, Organic
  Phone: 507-725-5281. Email: snopac@snopac.com. Contact: Peter Gengler. The minimum order is for processing 40,000 lbs raw product/ packaging 20,000 lbs. Ingredient sales have no minimum.
• Spectrum Fruits, Inc. - Copacker,
  Phone: 763-370-2555. Email: vinod@spectrumfruits.com. Contact: Dr. Vinod Padhye. We are a technical marketer and get needed products tailor-made using our global network of processors. Opportunity needs to be big enough to make economic sense (projects with an ongoing potential).. The minimum order varies.
• Sprout - Copacker, small batch co-packing for a variety of products, including acidified and low-acid canned foods.
  Phone: 712-899-2268. Email: natalie@sproutmn.com. Contact: Natalie Keane. We help food entrepreneurs move from a focus on production to a focus on building their business through sales, marketing, and production efficiency development..
• Stone Gate Foods - Copacker, Frozen appetizers, pizzas, side dishes, desserts, meat products (beef, chicken, pork), and bottling sauces.
  Phone: 952-445-1350 ext 114. Email: reversman@stonegate-foods.com. Contact: Rob Eversman. Our expertise is with products that involve a high level of hand labor.. The minimum order is 1 full production shift.
• Sturdiwheat, Inc. - Copacker,
  Phone: 651-385-9300 or 800-201-9650. Email: pancakes@sturdiwheat.com. Contact: Suzanne Blue. . All natural and organic certified. We do not run nuts through our system.. The minimum order is 1000 units.
• Treehouse Brands dba Enlightened Beverage - Copacker,
  Phone: 888-522-2892. Email: info@treehousebrand.com. Contact: Jim McKenzie / Mike Lammi. Best quality, best price - we get it.. The minimum order is one case 5 pouches/bags x 3 lbs.
• Zumbro River Brand - Copacker,
  Phone: 507-446-9097 x 123. Email: zborchers@zumbroriverbrand.com. Zane Borchers. 2 locations, offering twin screw extrusion and batch agglomeration services. SQF level 2, kosher, halal, gluten free, non GMO, and organic (by product). Specializing in high protein snacks, cereals, and crisps.. The minimum order depends on product; pilot plant has trial units for R&D work.

Where can I find more information about canning?

For more than 250 specific, simple recipes with step-by-step directions and photos; and general information on canning and food preservation, see this page.