Comparison · Updated 11 October 2026
Three ways to get a drink made and sold in the UAE: what each covers, what cash it needs, and when the simplest is enough.
Honest answer included: sometimes a plain co-packer is all you need.
The short answer
A co-packer fills your product; a launch partner also helps you sell it; your own factory gives full control at the highest fixed cost. 360 F&B HUB is a Dubai-based launch partner: it develops, registers, makes and launches food and beverage products at its own and partner production facilities, and you choose which steps to hand over.
| Criterion | Plain co-packer | Launch partner (360 F&B HUB) | Own factory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Fills and packs your finished recipe | Plan, recipe, registration, labels, pilot, production and sales support — you pick the steps | Everything, in-house |
| Cash needed upfront | Materials, printed labels and the co-packer's minimum run, before you know if it sells | Only the steps you hand over; a pilot sized to the test (from AED 35,000, credited against the first run) | The largest by far: premises, line, licences, team and working capital |
| Who develops the recipe | You, or a formulator you hire | We do, or adjust yours (from AED 15,000) | Your own R&D team |
| Who registers the product | You or your agent | We prepare and manage it (UAE AED 12,000 / product; SFDA from 18,000) | Your own regulatory team |
| Who designs the pack | You or your agency | We do, checked against the registration file (from AED 8,000 / SKU) — or check your agency's artwork | You or your agency |
| Who sells | You | You, with our channel plan and ongoing support (from AED 4,000 / month) | Your own sales team |
| Control | Full control of the brand; little influence on the line schedule | Full control of the brand and recipe; you decide what to hand over | Full control of everything |
| Risk if sales are slow | Stock from a large first run | Lower: production in waves, against real sell-through | Highest: fixed costs run whether you sell or not |
| Best for | Brands with a proven recipe, registration done and buyers waiting | New brands, and brands entering the UAE, GCC or India | Brands with large, steady, proven volumes |
Typical positions, not rules: every co-packer and project differs. Prices: 360 F&B HUB starting prices in AED, excluding VAT.
Which one you need
Honestly, often. If you can tick all five boxes below, you mostly need a good filling price — and you can hire us for co-packing only, from AED 0.23 per can (materials separate).
When one of those boxes is empty. A co-packer's job ends when the cans leave the line — that is exactly where a new brand's real work starts. A launch partner plans the sale before the product: where it sells, at what shelf price, and what the recipe and pack may cost to make. Then it runs the steps you hand over, in an order that avoids reprints and write-offs. "A co-packer fills. A partner sells."
When volumes are large, steady and proven, and production itself becomes your advantage. Until then, a factory turns a sales risk into a fixed-cost risk. Many strong brands never build one. If you are a production facility looking for prepared projects, see production partners.
Prices, published
AED, excluding VAT. "From" is the starting price; your quote depends on product and scope.
Filling only; depends on run volume; materials separate.
A full pilot is credited against the first production run.
Formulation, registration, pilot run and packaging in one project.
Answers
A co-packer manufactures and packs your finished product to your specification; its job ends when the goods leave the line. A launch partner also plans where the product will sell and at what price, develops or adjusts the recipe, manages registration and labels, sizes the pilot and supports sales. 360 F&B HUB does both, and you choose which steps to hand over.
Not for production itself: our can filling starts from AED 0.23 per can, materials separate. You pay extra only for the steps you hand over, each with a published starting price. Avoided reprints, oversized first runs and resubmissions often cost more than those steps. See all prices.
When your recipe is final, the product is registered, labels are approved, you know your channel and shelf price, and buyers are waiting. Then you mainly need a reliable line and a good filling price — and you can hire us for co-packing only.
Yes. We build the plan, and you choose what to hand over — today and later. Many brands start with a pilot or registration and add channel support once the product sells.
With us, the recipe stays yours. We discuss confidentiality on the call, and you never need to share a formula to get a cost range — a description of the product is enough.
Only when volumes are large, steady and proven. A factory adds premises, a line, licences, a team and working capital before the first can is sold. Until then, contract manufacturing at own and partner facilities keeps your cash in the brand and the sales.
Tell us what you have already — we'll tell you honestly which model fits.
Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00 Dubai time · hello@360hub.ae
