Small Pet Food Packaging Co-Packing Guide

# Small Pet Food Packaging Co-Packing Guide

Brands like Sheng Sheng Bu Xi recently launched 100g mini freeze-dried bags for smaller households, flavor variety, and on-the-go feeding. Small packaging is becoming a product line in its own right. But it is not just cutting a big bag down.

Why small packaging is growing

1. Single-pet households cannot finish 1 kg before it goes stale

2. Multi-pet households want to rotate flavors

3. Travel and camping need portable portions

4. Trial-size lowers the barrier for first-time buyers

Small vs large packaging

| Factor | Large (1kg+) | Small (100-500g) |

|--------|-------------|-------------------|

| Filling speed | Fast | Slower, higher precision needed |

| Material cost | Low per unit | Higher ratio |

| MOQ | Lower | Higher due to changeovers |

| Labor | Automated | More manual handling |

What to ask

1. Small bag equipment

Can they do stand-up pouches, foil bags, multi-packs? What is fill accuracy (within 2% for small bags)? Can they mix flavors in one pack?

2. MOQ

• Single flavor small bags: typically 10,000 bags minimum
• Multi-flavor mixed packs: total bag count applies across flavors
• Trial sizes may have higher MOQ

3. Packaging material MOQ

• Custom printed bags: 30,000-50,000 minimum print run
• Blank bags: lower MOQ but no branding
• Can they use generic bags with labels?

4. Moisture protection

Do they add oxygen absorbers? Is the barrier film sufficient? Should freeze-dried small bags be nitrogen-flushed?

Recommended product mix

• Main size: 300-500g daily bag
• Trial size: 50-100g lead generation
• Travel size: single-serve sachets
• Variety pack: 3-5 flavors in one box

Common pitfalls

1. Forgetting packaging material MOQ

2. Inconsistent fill weight

3. Poor moisture barrier on small freeze-dried bags

4. Factories resist small-batch multi-flavor runs

If you want to launch small-format freeze-dried or fresh food and are unsure which size to start with, Mixiaoqi pet food OEM/ODM supports small-bag filling and multi-flavor packs, starting with 100g trial sizes.

FAQ

What is the MOQ for small packaging?

Typically 10,000 bags per single flavor; multi-flavor packs share the total.

What is the MOQ for custom printed bags?

Usually 30,000-50,000 pieces.

Should small freeze-dried bags be nitrogen-flushed?

Yes, recommended to prevent moisture damage.