I've generally observed that the Bottled Water Plant Owners in India show great hesitation ( rather they restrict/say no ) to collaborative opportunities😐. Typically when I suggest them to work with people who want to get water bottled from them and brand it as their own.
I truly do not know the reason behind it. And I am sure no plant owner will come and tell me the reason.
One plant owner, whom I know moderately, who does this for some brand owners. He said he would love to fill just the dead production hours.Meaning, entertaining these people (who don't have their own brands) just when he faces a challenge of not having enough volume to meet his break-even point. However, this plant owner was venting out his frustration over brand owners who refuse to guarantee long-term volumes, often failing to honor the very commitments that justified the production setup. This lack of stability makes it difficult for manufacturers to invest confidently in the partnership.
Another funny incident when a plant owner, outright rejected a proposal of this type of work (co-packing) for reasons known to him only. An important point to learn that this plant owner, had recently begun his operations, and all set to order 120 BPM production line from 60 BPM. It is difficult to justify a 'shortage' when a plant has barely finished its first quarter of operation, a period usually reserved for learning the business's baseline. One has to wonder if such a hasty denial of co-packing proposals stems from a genuine lack of space or simply an internal resistance to collaborative growth.
What is the main reason behind this reluctance ?
Behind the shield of 'production shortages' often lies a deeper anxiety: the fear of nurturing a competitor under one’s own roof. For many plant owners, co-packing isn't just a business deal; it’s a perceived threat to their intellectual property and operational autonomy.
I have spoken to a lady who owns a business ( she makes cookies ), well-known to me. She was once proudly telling me as to how she taught a lesson to a "trader" who bought cookies from her & sold to his customers with her his own brand. She denied of supplying her any new order/s.
