Contract Packing and 3PL Integration: End-to-End Solutions

Modern supply chains face a growing number of challenges and complexities, from scaling and storage to accurate distribution and more. With these challenges increasing, it’s understandable that brands are looking for a unified solution that reduces the number of suppliers they work with. These brands may look to work with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider that offers a fully integrated solution, including contract packing, eCommerce, fulfilment and distribution. Lower costs, higher efficiency, faster speed to market and a better customer experience are just a few of the benefits of working with one trusted provider. In this blog, we’re looking into contract packing and 3PL integration.

Why brands may outsource contract packing

Contract packing, also known as co-packing, involves outsourcing the assembly, packaging and preparation of products to a specialist third-party provider. Services can include kitting, gift packs, promotional packaging, retail-ready displays, subscription boxes, relabelling and product assembly. Once complete, finished goods can then move directly into warehousing and fulfilment.

There are many reasons a brand may outsource its contract packing services, including the following.

Seasonal demands

Many brands ramp up their activities during specific seasons, or if a product suddenly goes viral. Partnering with a reliable contract packing company means you can adapt easily to seasonal demands, even when you may not be able to maintain service quality in-house.

Promotional campaigns

Promotional campaigns often require extensive planning and increased pressure on accuracy. Having a co-packing partner handle these can relieve pressure on your team and ensure your customers benefit from a tried-and-tested method and experience.

Labour flexibility

Some contract packing partners have large in-house teams and, like Granby, also work with trusted bank staff who can support increased demand during peak periods such as Christmas or Black Friday.

Specialist equipment

Brands often struggle with space constraints, which cause issues when additional equipment is needed to fulfil packing processes. Additionally, brands can save money in the long run by working with specialists who already have access to equipment and are responsible for maintaining it. This leads to faster production without having to invest in facilities.

Beyond contract packing: Why integrations matter

Integration can have some significant benefits for brands like yours. Without it, you may face a range of challenges, including the disjointed nature of utilising multiple service providers at once. Without integration, a brand may experience the following. 

• Contract packed by one supplier
• Transported to a separate warehouse
• Stored by another logistics provider
• Finally transferred to a different fulfilment centre for despatch

Not only does this process increase storage costs, but it also poses additional challenges, including the following: 

• Multiple handling stages: This can increase the risk of damage throughout the supply chain
• Increased shipping costs: Due to items being transported to multiple locations before they reach the customer 
• Delays: Adding more steps to the process can lead to increased delays
• Poor stock visibility: It’s harder to track products in multiple locations; this can also cause issues with traceability 
• More suppliers to manage: This means it may be harder to build trusted relationships with suppliers, making the whole process feel disjointed 

All of these challenges can be appropriately managed with an integrated solution to 3PL and eCommerce fulfilment.

End-to-end solutions

A typical end-to-end logistics solution follows a process similar to the one below.

Step 1: Products received

Products or components arrive directly from the manufacturer. These products are checked against delivery documentation, inspected for damage and verified for important dates, such as best-before or expiry dates, before being booked into stock. 

At Granby, we use a comprehensive, in-house-built system which enables you to see exactly where your stock is in our secure warehouse and how the packing process is progressing. We recognise the importance of being transparent in the industry.

Step 2: Packing & assembly

During this stage, your products will be properly assembled and packaged to meet your needs. We can help you with kitting, product collation, promotional packs, gift sets and more. We recently supported a well-known chocolate brand with their Easter promotions, which involved printing names on ribbons and sending these out. 

Quality control is embedded into our processes, and we always maintain high standards, ensuring every finished product meets the required specification before despatch. We accurately label all products so they can be shipped to the correct destination.

Step 3: Secure storage

Products can be safely stored in our warehouse, which is covered by a range of security measures, including CCTV, on-site security and a strict entry process. 

The warehouse also has BRCGS status and features a secure caged area for high-value goods. We also conduct live, physical stock counts, so you can be sure of how your stock is progressing and we can ensure your project runs smoothly.

Our Warehouse Management System provides full data transparency across all departments, making it much simpler to manage the resources required to complete the job from start to finish. It also enables us to provide detailed KPI reporting, giving you complete visibility into stock levels, order progress and operational performance.

We complete thorough batch control checks and ensure that your items are ready for despatch when required. 

How contract packing flows into 3PL fulfilment

When contract packing, warehousing and fulfilment are managed within the same operation, finished goods are immediately available for customer orders. This removes the delays associated with moving stock between separate providers and gives brands a single, connected supply chain with greater visibility and control.

Pick and pack services

As orders are received, warehouse teams can pick and pack products ready for despatch. This efficient process ensures orders are fulfilled quickly and accurately, reducing errors and boosting customer satisfaction.

eCommerce order fulfilment

An integrated approach means that your orders can be processed as soon as they are placed, regardless of the platform used.

Marketplace fulfilment

Many brands sell across multiple online marketplaces, such as Amazon, eBay, TikTok or Etsy. An integrated 3PL provider can manage fulfilment across these channels, helping maintain accurate stock levels.

Retail order fulfilment

Integrated fulfilment services can handle larger retail orders, ensuring retailer compliance and helping brands meet delivery windows.

Courier management

A great 3PL provider manages carrier selection, shipping labels, tracking information and delivery coordination, simplifying the dispatch process for brands. As part of our sustainability efforts, we also work with sustainable couriers who prioritise routes based on environmental factors.

Returns processing

Reverse logistics means that returned products can be received, inspected and processed within the same facility. Depending on the outcome of checks, items may be restocked, repacked, refurbished or disposed of appropriately, helping brands maintain efficient inventory management and deliver a positive customer experience. Read more about reverse logistics and returns management.

Benefits of combining contract packing and 3PL

Faster time to market

Partnering with a trusted contract packing and 3PL partner means your products can move directly from packing into fulfilment and out for delivery. At Granby, we ensure that your products are easy to track and ready on time.

Reduced handling

Fewer handling stages reduce the risk of damage, mis-picks and inventory discrepancies while improving overall operational efficiency. Granby can also support you with reverse logistics and customer services.

Working with us means your products travel within our in-house teams rather than being shipped to different destinations.

Cost savings

Brands using an integrated approach can also benefit from lower logistics costs, as it reduces unnecessary transport while lowering administrative overheads involved. At Granby, we take care of every aspect of packing, 3PL and fulfilment, helping to streamline operations while avoiding unnecessary transport costs.

Better stock visibility

Managing inventory across multiple locations can make stock visibility more difficult. By consolidating contract packing, warehousing and fulfilment with one provider, brands benefit from real-time inventory visibility and simpler forecasting.

Scale your brand easily

As businesses grow, they often face increased pressure on warehouse space, labour and fulfilment capacity. An integrated logistics partner provides the flexibility to scale without investing in additional facilities or internal resources. At Granby, we are fully equipped to handle seasonal demand peaks, promotions and product launches with confidence. 

Read our blog on high-volume contract packing.

One trusted partner for logistics services

Speaking with one dedicated partner is much easier than trying to communicate and organise different teams. By working with us, you can benefit from simple communication, greater accountability and fewer management tasks, as we take care of everything in-house. At Granby, we work closely with brands to provide customised solutions when managing logistics services. Read the top 10 advantages of using a 3PL provider.

Who can benefit the most from seamless integration?

While almost any business can benefit from integrated logistics, these services are particularly valuable for:

• FMCG brands
• Food and drink 
• Cosmetics
• Health and beauty
• Household products
• Promotional campaigns
• Subscription box companies
• eCommerce brands
• Retail suppliers

What to consider when choosing an integrated contract packing and 3PL partner

• Experience: Granby has over 65 years of experience supporting brands just like yours. Everything we do is built on our proven track record of logistics operations
• Flexibility: We become a true extension of your team, and we are ready to adjust to your requirements
• Quality control: We carefully assess item quality and track locations through our fulfilment software
• Warehousing and inventory management capability: Our 77,000 square foot warehouse includes 7,000 pallet locations, with the ability to accommodate short and long-term storage 
• eCommerce fulfilment expertise: We have the skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver excellent fulfilment solutions
• Technological capabilities: We invest a lot of time and money into developing our technologies and have a unified warehouse management system that provides complete visibility across contract packing, warehousing and distribution.
• Scalability: We are here to support your brand’s growth, and are confident that we can scale with you on bespoke solutions

At Granby, we’ve developed our integrated approach because we recognise that brands need more than just contract packing alone. By combining contract packing, warehousing, fulfilment and distribution under one roof, we help simplify supply chains while delivering greater efficiency, visibility and control.

An integrated partner can take care of product assembly, packing, inventory and eCommerce fulfilment, leading to a smoother, more cost-effective supply chain for you. 

Are you searching for an end-to-end logistics partner? Get in touch with our dedicated team to discover how our integrated end-to-end solution can simplify your supply chain, reduce operational complexity and deliver products to customers more efficiently.