Understanding the Differences Between Custom and Stock (Trade) Orders
At Nutribl, we offer two main pathways to bring your supplement product to life: stock products and custom orders. This article explains how each route works, what makes them different, and how to decide which is right for your brand — whether you're just starting or scaling up.
Option 1: Stock (Trade) Products – Fast, Low MOQ, Private Label Ready
Our stock products are ready-to-go formulas that you can label with your own brand. They’re perfect for:
- Testing a new market
- Launching quickly
- Ordering small volumes without formulation costs
Key Features:
- Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ): Just 10 units per SKU
- Lead Time: ~4–5 working days from label sign-off
- Formulation: Pre-developed and fixed
- Packaging: Available in standard bottles only as illustrated in the overview of each product page
- Label: Your own branded label - have us design it or supply your own design
You can view available stock lines on our A-Z Page on the website - https://www.nutribl.com/t-allproducts.aspx
Option 2: Custom Orders – Bespoke Formulas with Full Control
A custom order is the right choice when you need a tailored solution — formulating a unique blend, using specific branded ingredients, or seeking a different finish.
Customisation Options:
- Formula: Developed from scratch or modified from a base blend
- Format: Capsule, tablet or powder.
- Ingredients: Fully vetted for UK compliance (including botanicals and nutrients)
- Packaging: Choose flat bottles, round bottles or pouches
- Flavour Development (powders): Full taste masking and solubility optimisation available
Development Process and Cost Implications
The development of capsules and powders are very different beasts and require different investment levels. Depending on your area of interest, we have provided some guides on each below:
Stock vs Custom Orders: Quick Comparison
Feature | Stock (Trade) | Custom Order |
MOQ | 10 units | Typically 1,000 units / 60,000 capsules. 200kg - 500kg and 1000 units for powders |
Lead Time | ~5 working days | 6–10 weeks |
Formula Changes | Not allowed | Fully customisable |
Packaging Options | Bottle as specified on product page | Bottles, pouches, custom options |
Labelling | Fully branded & compliant | Fully branded & compliant |
Price per Unit | 3 price tiers based on volume | Quote - lower at scale |
Packaging Considerations: Why Pouches Can Cost More Than Bottles
While pouches look sleek and save shelf space, they come with significant MOQ and cost implications compared to bottles:
Packaging Type | MOQ | Cost Drivers |
Bottles | ~1,000 units | Off-the-shelf sizes, label wraps, low setup cost |
Pouches | 5,000–10,000+ units | High print setup (£300–£600), film sourcing, longer lead times |
For start-ups or short runs, bottles are almost always more viable.
Process for Custom Orders
- Detailed Brief - please provide a detailed product brief. This should include
- Full formula with ingredient names, forms (e.g. magnesium citrate), and amounts per daily dose
- Intended format (capsule, powder, etc.)
- Target capsule count or powder fill weight per unit
- Preferred packaging type (bottle, pouch, sachet)
- Target unit count (e.g. 1,000 bottles of 60 caps)
- Desired pack claims (e.g. vegan, allergen-free, etc.)
- Any known ingredient sourcing requirements (e.g. branded actives, vegans, allergens, excipients)
- Don't have a formula? Order our NPD service - https://www.nutribl.com/p-1075-new-product-development-service-capsules-and-tablets.aspx
- Final Specification - agree final formula and specifications
- Quotation - we will quote based on the agreed specification. If the quotation is accepted we will move on to the rest of the points below
- Deposit - a 50% deposit has to be paid up front
- Schedule - after payment of deposit production is scheduled - expect a lead time of 6-10 weeks
- Ready for shipping - When the order is ready to ship you will be required to pay the final balance
- Receive your product - Sell, sell sell!
Related Articles to Explore Next
Custom Formulation comes with a lot of considerations in terms of capital requirements and formula / packaging development. As such, we recommend reading through related articles:
- Developing a Custom Powder Supplement: What Nutribl Clients Need to Know
- Developing a Custom Capsule Supplement: Compliance, Formulation & Packaging Considerations
- Understanding Supplement Packaging: Balancing Sustainability & Product Integrity
- The Pros and Cons of Using Pouches for Food Supplements
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you want to build a brand from scratch or level up your existing range, our team is here to help.