We're bringing High Country Mineral Water to market and we want the co-packing relationship to be the easiest part of your quarter. So we published the whole thing: our process, our responsibilities, yours, the terms we'll negotiate, and how we communicate. No surprises — that's the brand.
A verified single-source mountain aquifer at 4,000 ft elevation, a documented water quality program, a brand with a real place behind it, retail and events channels in the NC High Country and Lake Norman markets, and a founder team that also builds marketplace technology (YSKAIPE). We show up prepared and we pay on time.
A certified beverage facility (SQF or equivalent food-safety certification), still and sparkling capability, glass and/or can lines, flexibility for botanical infusions, reasonable pilot-run minimums, and a location within practical hauling distance of Blowing Rock — the Charlotte–Mooresville–Hickory corridor is ideal.
Eight steps, in order, each with a named owner. We move as fast as the quality allows.
Thirty minutes. We share the brand plan and volumes; you share capabilities and minimums. If it feels right, we exchange a simple mutual NDA so both sides can talk specifics.
Owner: both · Timeline: week 1We visit your facility in person — lines, changeover process, QA lab, warehouse, and dock. You receive our capability questionnaire in advance so the visit is about seeing, not asking.
Owner: Peaking Waters travels to you · Timeline: weeks 1–3You receive the full package: recent well test results (bacteria, minerals, pH), source description, flow and haul logistics, and our compliance posture under North Carolina well-water guidelines. Your QA team should be able to say yes or no from this document alone.
Owner: Peaking Waters · Timeline: within 5 business days of the tourWe deliver source water; your team produces bench samples of still, sparkling, and one infusion SKU. Together we lock specs: carbonation level, mineral targets, infusion formulas, and packaging format.
Owner: co-packer leads, Peaking Waters approves · Timeline: 2–4 weeksA small paid pilot run against the locked specs, with samples pulled for shelf-life and stability testing. Labels and lot coding are proofed on real product before anyone commits to volume.
Owner: co-packer produces, both review · Timeline: 4–8 weeksNow the paper: MOQs and pricing tiers, quality specs and rejection standards, lead times, insurance and liability, IP and confidentiality, and termination terms. Our standard outline is published below so your counsel can start from something real.
Owner: both, with counsel · Timeline: 2–4 weeks, in parallel with step 5First production slot booked, source-water hauling scheduled, packaging materials ordered, and finished-goods storage and freight lanes confirmed. We agree on a standing reorder trigger so nobody runs dry.
Owner: co-packer schedules, Peaking Waters supplies · Timeline: per agreementShared batch records, quarterly quality reviews, a single point of contact on each side, and a standing production sync during peak season. Problems get raised early and in writing — both directions.
Owner: both, forever · Timeline: the long gameThe default split we propose. Everything here is negotiable in step 6 — but this is where we start.
| Workstream | Owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Source water supply & hauling to facility | Peaking Waters | Tested at the well before every haul; chain-of-custody documented. |
| Well testing & source compliance (NC guidelines) | Peaking Waters | Results shared with partner QA on a standing schedule. |
| Brand, labels, and marketing | Peaking Waters | All trademarks and trade dress remain ours. |
| Regulatory registration of finished beverage | Shared | We hold the brand registrations; you advise on facility-level requirements. |
| Formulation & process engineering | Co-packer | To our locked specs; changes require written sign-off. |
| Carbonation, filling, capping, packaging | Co-packer | Per line capability agreed in step 2. |
| In-plant QA, batch records, lot coding | Co-packer | Records shared within 48 hours of each run. |
| Shelf-life & stability testing | Shared | Partner lab or third-party lab; costs split per agreement. |
| Packaging materials procurement | Shared | Either party may source; specs are ours, buying power is often yours. |
| Finished goods storage | Co-packer | Short-term at facility; long-term per agreement. |
| Freight & distribution | Peaking Waters | We arrange pickup; you provide dock scheduling. |
| Recall plan & execution | Shared | Joint written plan required before first commercial run. |
Our standard co-packing agreement covers these sections. Ask and we'll send the current draft outline so your counsel isn't starting from a blank page.
MOQs per SKU, pricing tiers by run size, pilot-run pricing, and annual volume commitments (if any) with review dates.
Locked product specs, incoming water acceptance criteria, finished-goods sampling plan, and the standard for rejecting a batch.
Order-to-ship lead times, peak-season scheduling priority, and the standing reorder trigger.
Required coverage on both sides, product liability allocation, and indemnification tied to who controlled the failure point.
Brand and formula ownership (ours), process know-how (yours), and mutual confidentiality surviving termination.
Initial term, renewal, cure periods, termination for convenience with notice, and orderly wind-down of materials and inventory.
One named owner on each side for all production decisions. Everyone else is CC. Decisions in writing, always.
A 20-minute production sync during active runs; monthly check-in otherwise. Quarterly quality review with batch data on the table.
Spec drift, supply issues, schedule risk — flagged the day it's known, both directions. That courtesy is a term of the deal, not a nicety.
Email us with your facility location, certifications, line capabilities, and typical minimums — and we'll come back within two business days to schedule the intro call. We're actively touring facilities in the Carolinas now.