Quebec beverage co-packers and co-manufacturers for canned beverages in Canada: how to think about freight (so out-of-province production actually makes sense)
TL;DR (too long; did read)
If you’re a Quebec beverage brand searching for Quebec beverage co-packers / co-manufacturers / canned beverage manufacturers, you’ll find plenty of options in-province.
Sometimes, though, you need smaller runs to preserve cash flow, experiment on flavours, or minimize risk. That’s where boutique solutions are happy.
While freight costs can be challenging, the cost of being forced into big MOQs is usually worse than a well-planned shipping lane.
If you want smaller runs, a pilot-first approach, technical manufacturing depth (tunnel pasteurisation + onsite lab), and humans who respond, it’s worth considering producing outside Quebec (for example, at The Beverage Factory in Nova Scotia).
(Salut Québec 👋 On travaille avec des marques partout au Canada.)
Don’t “avoid freight.” Price it.
Beverage brands often lose money because freight shows up late in the process as:
a surprise line item,
a rushed decision,
or the excuse for a bigger MOQ than they can actually carry.
If you’re evaluating Quebec vs out-of-province co-manufacturing, the question is, “Can we plan freight well enough that the total business outcome is better?”
The 4 freight questions that actually matter
When Quebec brands consider producing outside the province, here’s what Kris - our Logistics Manager - wants to know early in the process to save you headaches later.
(And if you’re completely lost, we can help you navigate these questions. Contact us today to discuss logistics for your beverage brand.)
1) Where does finished product need to land?
Quebec DC?
DTC across Canada?
Mixed (some Quebec, some elsewhere)?
2) Are you shipping pallets?
Palletized freight is predictable.
“Small, frequent, urgent shipments” is where costs spike.
3) Are you LTL or FTL?
LTL (less-than-truckload): flexible, often higher cost per pallet
FTL (full truckload): cheaper per unit, less flexible, more volume commitment
4) How often do you want to ship?
One monthly shipment beats four frantic weekly ones.
Why producing outside Quebec can be a competitive move (even with freight)
Quebec is a strong manufacturing province. So yes: staying local can be a great call.
Looking beyond Quebec starts making sense when you are:
Overproducing to hit a big MOQ (cash tied up in inventory)
Rushing decisions because your production slot is “take it or lose it”
Paying for mistakes that could’ve been prevented with better planning + communication
Getting ghosted. Nobody is returning your emails or phone calls.
Experimenting with your canned beverage (flavour, sweetness perception, carbonation, stability) before you go full-scale.
What we do differently (and why it helps Quebec brands)
1) We plan production with logistics, not despite it
We’re comfortable talking about:
storage timing
shipment cadence
palletizing formats
saving dollars
Because we offer storage and freight as part of our services, we’re used to thinking end-to-end.
2) Smaller MOQs that protect your cash flow
We’re built for SMEs (and big brands who want small runs for innovation):
Typical production MOQs: often 6,000-8,000 litres depending on beverage type and complexity
Pilot program (first batches):
2,000 litres (fermented)
4,000 litres (most other beverages)
This lets you produce a commercial-ready beverage without betting the company on your first run.
(For reference, our baseline MOQs vary by category and format.)
3) Customer service
We pick up the phone. We don’t vanish for two weeks. We don’t treat you like an interruption.
We’re founder-run, founder-led, and founded by three recovering engineers.
We are addicted to solving problems.
4) Technical manufacturing competence
We scored 99% on our Costco manufacturing audit, which is considered an “excellent” rating that reflects our quality systems and team.
5) Tip-to-tail support: formula to freight
Most brands don’t just need production.
We can support:
formulation + iteration
process selection (filtered? pasteurised? carbonated? nitrogenated?)
packaging decisions that won’t destroy your budget
storage + shipping coordination
introduction to distributors
sales projection support
We have helped dozens of beverage brands scale across Canada and internationally. Here’s the typical questions we walk through with brands before quoting and scheduling production (business questions, production specs, logistics, and packaging).
6) Award-winning
The Beverage Factory (by Good Robot) won Innovative Business of the Year (East Hants Business Awards 2025).
We’re proud of this because it reflects the team, the systems, and the results:
Finalist - Innovative Business of the Year (Halifax Chamber of Commerce, 2026)
Innovative Business of the Year (East Hants Chamber Awards, 2025)
Business of the Year (Halifax Chamber of Commerce, 2024)
Innovator of the Year (Food & Beverage Atlantic, 2023) (The Beverage Factory by Good Robot)
“But we’re in Quebec… won’t this be a pain?”
Fair question.
If you’re producing massive volumes and need ultra-frequent, ultra-fast trucking within Quebec every week, a Quebec co-packer is probably a great option.
If you’re scaling, protecting cash, and trying to get the product right, producing outside Quebec can be smarter.
Quebec brands typically reach out to us when:
they want to start smaller and scale responsibly
they want a pilot run before going all-in
they’re tired of feeling like they’re chasing their own manufacturer
they want real humans who will help solve problems
What working with us actually looks like (simple version)
Our process is designed to reduce chaos:
Alignment Call (are we a fit? ballpark ranges, basic feasibility) (see our FAQs)
Technical Call (specs, complexity, constraints, estimate)
Book production (secure a date)
Onboarding with production team (you meet the people who make your beverage)
Production + packaging (you can attend because yes, it’s your baby)
A real client quote (because this is what matters)
“I was astonished by the quality of the product. You guys care about me as a customer. You made my dreams come true.”
— Bertrand Diassakoula, Nashe
Who this is for (and who it isn’t)
This is for you if:
You’re an Quebec beverage brand searching for a co-manufacturer / co-packer / RTD manufacturer
You want smaller MOQs
You want a pilot-first approach
You want responsive communication
You want technical support, not just packaging
You want options (turnkey or flexible)
This might not be for you if:
You only want the absolute cheapest tolling price and don’t care about service, support, or iteration
You need ultra-high-volume, ultra-frequent Quebec-only logistics with zero tolerance for added planning
If you’re curious, here’s the fastest way to find out if we’re a fit
Send us:
your beverage type (fermented / non-fermented, carbonated / still)
target pack size(s)
your first run volume goal (and your ideal volume)
where product needs to ship (Quebec DC, DTC, mixed, etc.)
whether you want turnkey or hybrid
We’ll tell you quickly (and honestly) whether we can help (and what the smartest next step is).
If you’re done searching for Quebec beverage co-manufacturers or co-packers for your RTD, energy drink, mocktail, and more, and you want a partner who actually partners…
The Beverage Factory was featured on Maritime Made, an Eastlink TV program (like an Atlantic Canadian version of “How It’s Made”).
