Our Story
Built by the Most Credentialed Organizations in the Space
PilotPlants.org is the pilot plant and food innovation center arm of the Contract Manufacturing Alliance — built by the Contract Packaging Association (est. 1992) and the Co-Packing Network (100-year heritage).
The Two Organizations Behind the Alliance
- Founded
- 1992 — National Non-Profit Trade Organization
- Mission
- Dedicated to promoting the growth and welfare of contract packaging and manufacturing firms across North America. The CPA represents the industry's top facilities, suppliers, and brand partners.
- Publications
- CP Magazine — official CPA publication via PMMI Media Group. 20,000+ qualified readers across the CPG manufacturing industry.
- Pilot Plants
- CPA expanded membership to include pilot plants and food innovation centers — closing the gap between innovation and commercial production.
- Heritage
- 100+ Years of Manufacturing History
- Mission
- Connecting brands with co-packers, contract manufacturers, and production facilities across North America. Built on a century of trust, relationships, and performance in the CPG industry.
- Network
- Thousands of facilities across North America — from start-up co-packers to Fortune 500 contract manufacturers. Contact: dennis@conzumables.com
- Alliance Role
- The Co-Packing Network provides the manufacturing backbone for the Launch phase — the destination for brands that complete their pilot plant journey.
History
Our Timeline
Contract Packaging Association (CPA) Founded
The national non-profit trade organization for contract packaging and manufacturing is established. Dedicated to promoting the growth and welfare of contract packaging firms across North America.
Co-Packing Network Expands
Building on nearly a century of manufacturing heritage, the Co-Packing Network grows its connections across North America, developing the relationships and expertise that would define the Alliance.
Digital Matching Tools Emerge
The Alliance begins developing digital infrastructure for matching brands with the right manufacturing partners — RFQ systems, facility directories, and process management tools.
Innovate · Create · Launch Framework
The CPA formalizes its three-phase framework recognizing that brands need support at every stage — not just co-packing. The 8-arm structure begins to take shape.
Pilot Plants Added to CPA Membership
CPA expands its membership to include pilot plants and food innovation centers — acknowledging that the gap between R&D and full-scale manufacturing needs dedicated infrastructure.
PilotPlants.org Launched
A dedicated arm of the Alliance launches to serve the pilot plant and food innovation center ecosystem — connecting brands with facilities and recruiting new members into the network.
Recruiting & Expanding
Actively recruiting commercial kitchens, contract manufacturers, colleges, and universities to build pilot plant capacity within their existing operations.
Locations
Our Offices
Las Vegas, NV
Alliance Headquarters
Honolulu, HI
Pacific Regional Office
Dallas, TX
South-Central Regional Office
Raleigh, NC
East Coast Regional Office
Ready to connect with the Alliance?
Contact Us