
Ever wondered how supplements are made? We got exclusive access to Veritacor Manufacturing -- 210,000 capsules per hour, complex ingredient sourcing, and way more science than you'd expect.
After spending multiple days at Veritacor Manufacturing in Luling, Texas for Episode #178 of the PricePlow Podcast, we captured exclusive footage showing exactly how modern supplement manufacturing works. While the full facility tour revealed the impressive scale of their 32,500 square foot NSF-certified operation, today we're diving deeper into the specific processes that transform ideas into market-ready products.
From the complexities of ingredient sourcing to the precision of capsule production and the art of flavor development, these behind-the-scenes videos showcase why brands ranging from startup influencers to established companies trust Veritacor with their manufacturing needs.
Most consumers (and even many brand owners) don't fully grasp the intricate dance required to bring a supplement formula to life. It's not simply mixing ingredients and bottling them up. Modern supplement manufacturing demands sophisticated planning, substantial capital investment, and deep industry expertise to navigate the challenges that arise at every step.
This article shows some of the complexities, and where Veritacor brings supplement contract manufacturing solutions to the market:
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The Hidden Complexities of Supplement Manufacturing
This complexity becomes immediately apparent when discussing ingredient sourcing with the Veritacor team. When a brand brings them a formula containing multiple trademarked ingredients, patented compounds, and proprietary blends, each component carries its own minimum order quantities from suppliers. These MOQs often require purchasing ingredients in bulk quantities that far exceed what's needed for initial production runs.
The financial risk manufacturers shoulder is substantial. Ingredients expire, storage costs money, and climate-controlled warehouses in Texas require significant infrastructure investment. As the team explains, manufacturers often lose money on first-time orders for complex formulas, betting on long-term relationships that will allow them to move through inventory as brands grow.
This reality check helps explain why many contract manufacturers prefer working with brands positioned for growth rather than one-off projects. The economics only work when there's potential for recurring orders that justify the upfront investment in raw materials and the overhead of maintaining NSF-certified facilities.
Capsule Production: Where Precision Meets Scale
Walking through Veritacor's capsule production area reveals the impressive machinery and meticulous processes required for this seemingly simple dosage form. Their automatic encapsulator, running at full capacity, can produce an astounding 210,000 capsules per hour, though achieving and maintaining that output requires constant attention and adjustment.
The facility maintains both automatic and semi-automatic encapsulators, each serving different purposes. While the automatic machines handle high-volume production, the semi-automatic units, producing around 5,000 capsules per hour under optimal conditions, excel at smaller runs and materials that prove challenging to encapsulate.
What strikes visitors most is the level of human oversight required despite the automation. Technicians monitor these machines continuously, making micro-adjustments to ensure consistent fill weights and proper capsule closure. The two-person verification system for weighing ingredients adds another layer of quality control, with one person pulling and weighing materials while another independently verifies weights and signs off on accuracy.
This redundancy might seem excessive, but when dealing with active ingredients where milligrams matter, these protocols prevent costly errors that could ruin entire batches or, worse, reach consumers. The documentation accompanying every step -- those clipboards visible throughout the production floor -- creates an audit trail that satisfies both NSF requirements and provides traceability if questions arise months later.
The Science and Art of Flavor Development
Creating a supplement that works is one challenge; making it taste good enough that consumers will take it daily is another entirely. Veritacor's research and development capabilities extend well beyond basic formulation into the nuanced world of flavor systems, where science meets sensory experience.
Their R&D team can typically deliver initial samples within a week of receiving a formula, an impressive turnaround that accelerates time to market for brands. The iterative process of flavor refinement rarely requires more than two or three rounds of adjustments, usually fine-tuning sweetness levels or adjusting tartness rather than complete reformulations.
The choice between natural and artificial sweetening systems depends on brand positioning and target market. While sucralose remains popular for its clean sweetness and stability, the team also works well with stevia and other natural sweeteners for brands targeting the clean-label market. This flexibility allows them to serve diverse market segments, from hardcore pre-workout formulas to natural wellness products.
Temperature stability, mixability, and mouthfeel all factor into the development process. A pre-workout that clumps or leaves a gritty texture won't succeed regardless of its efficacy. Similarly, a protein powder that develops off-flavors during storage damages brand reputation even if it maintains its nutritional content. Veritacor's systematic approach to stability testing ensures products maintain their sensory qualities throughout their stated shelf life.
Complete Supply Chain Solutions for Modern Brands
The evolution of supplement brands in the social media age has created new operational challenges. Influencers with massive followings can move thousands of units through a single TikTok mention, but they rarely want to deal with inventory management, shipping logistics, or customer service headaches.
Veritacor's third-party logistics services address this need perfectly. A TikTok creator can literally build an entire supplement brand without ever touching a physical product. From initial formulation through manufacturing, packaging, and direct fulfillment to Amazon FBA, TikTok Shop, or Shopify customers, Veritacor handles the complete supply chain.
This turnkey solution has become increasingly critical as social commerce explodes. The infrastructure requirements for proper supplement storage, the complexity of shipping regulations across states, and the customer service demands of direct-to-consumer sales would overwhelm most content creators. By consolidating these operations under one roof, Veritacor enables influencers to focus on what they do best -- creating content and building communities -- while professionals handle the operational complexities.
The NetSuite implementation adds another layer of sophistication, providing real-time inventory visibility, automated reorder alerts, and predictive analytics based on sales patterns. Brands can monitor stock levels, track production status, and receive proactive notifications before stockouts occur. This transparency builds trust and enables better business planning, whether you're a solo entrepreneur or managing multiple product lines.
Quality Systems That Exceed Requirements
Throughout every process, from ingredient receiving through finished product testing, Veritacor's commitment to quality becomes evident. Their NSF certification, pursued immediately upon opening rather than years later like many competitors, demonstrates their dedication to excellence from day one.
The quality control measures extend far beyond basic regulatory compliance. Multiple sampling points within each blend ensure homogeneous distribution. Stability testing in controlled chambers validates shelf life claims with scientific data rather than assumptions. Even seemingly minor details like razor blade accountability systems prevent theoretical contamination risks that could damage consumer trust.
This systematic approach to quality creates a culture where continuous improvement becomes natural rather than forced. The goal isn't just meeting specifications but ensuring every product delivered exceeds expectations.
Building for the Future
Currently operating from 32,500 square feet across multiple buildings, Veritacor has ambitious plans to reach 200,000 square feet of manufacturing space. This isn't growth for growth's sake but rather strategic expansion to add capabilities and serve larger clients while maintaining the quality standards that define their reputation.
Each phase of expansion incorporates lessons learned from previous growth. The creative solutions employed during rapid scaling, from converted shipping containers with custom HVAC systems to phased building additions, demonstrate the resourcefulness that helps them solve complex manufacturing challenges. This same innovative thinking applies to product development, where they've created proprietary solutions for achieving uniform distribution of microgram-level ingredients within gram-level formulations.
The investment in multiple blending technologies, like bin blenders for gentle mixing, ribbon blenders for aggressive homogenization, and paddle blenders for heat-sensitive materials, provides flexibility to optimize for quality rather than forcing all products through the same equipment. Many contract manufacturers lack this equipment diversity, potentially compromising product quality for operational simplicity.
Why Manufacturing Excellence Matters
For brands evaluating manufacturing partners, these details matter more than marketing claims about capabilities. The ability to handle complex formulas with numerous trademarked ingredients requires sophisticated vendor qualification processes and working capital to maintain inventory. The precision needed for consistent capsule production demands both advanced equipment and skilled operators who understand the nuances of different materials.
Creating market-winning flavors involves both technical expertise and creative problem-solving. Managing complete supply chains requires robust systems and processes that scale reliably. None of these capabilities develop overnight... they emerge from years of experience, continuous investment, and commitment to excellence.
Veritacor's transparent approach to showcasing their operations, without hiding areas or declaring anything off-limits during tours, reflects confidence in their processes and genuine desire to educate the industry. This openness helps brands understand what truly goes into manufacturing quality supplements, setting realistic expectations while demonstrating the value of partnering with experienced manufacturers.
The Complete Manufacturing Partner
Inside Veritacor Manufacturing: Frank Santos and Derek Curtiss showcase their NSF-certified, GMP-compliant facility and discuss the meticulous processes behind modern supplement manufacturing on Episode #178 of the PricePlow Podcast.
Modern supplement brands need more than just someone to blend and bottle their products. They need partners who understand formulation science, navigate regulatory requirements, manage complex supply chains, and scale operations seamlessly as brands grow. Veritacor's capabilities, from custom formulation through global fulfillment, provide exactly that foundation.
Whether you're an influencer launching your first product, an established brand seeking better manufacturing partners, or an entrepreneur with an innovative formula concept, understanding these manufacturing realities helps set appropriate expectations and timelines. Quality manufacturing takes time, expertise, and investment, but the results -- consistent, effective products that build consumer trust -- justify the effort.
For more details about Veritacor's complete manufacturing process, equipment, and quality systems, check out ourinterview from Episode #178 of the PricePlow Podcast, where founders Frank Santos and Derek Curtiss provide unprecedented access to every aspect of their operation.
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Ready to explore how Veritacor can bring your supplement vision to life? Visit Veritacor Manufacturing to learn more about their services and request a consultation.
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