One supplier is a cost decision. It's also a risk decision. Most brands don't treat it as both.
Single-source packaging works fine when the supplier is performing, lead times are stable, and nothing changes. It becomes a problem the moment any of those conditions breaks — and over a launch calendar, something usually does.
A backup supplier isn't a contingency plan you pull out after things go wrong. It's a negotiation tool, a risk buffer, and a lead-time stabiliser. It should exist before you need it. And it doesn't need to be fully qualified on day one — identified, initially contacted, and capable is enough to start. That's a few conversations, not a full sourcing cycle.
The brands that manage risk well build the shortlist into the sourcing process, not the post-launch review. Your sourcing shortlist should exist before you need it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is it risky to use only one packaging supplier?
It can be. Single-source packaging works when the supplier is performing, lead times are stable and nothing changes. It becomes a problem the moment any of those conditions breaks, and over a launch calendar something usually does. Choosing one supplier is a cost decision and a risk decision, and most brands only treat it as the first.
Why should a brand have a backup packaging supplier?
A backup supplier works as a negotiation tool, a risk buffer and a lead-time stabiliser. It is not a contingency plan to pull out after something goes wrong, so it should exist before you need it. Brands that manage risk well build the shortlist into the sourcing process rather than the post-launch review.
Does a backup packaging supplier need to be fully qualified?
Not on day one. A backup supplier that is identified, initially contacted and capable is enough to start. Getting there takes a few conversations rather than a full sourcing cycle, so it is a small investment compared with the exposure of having no alternative when conditions change.
