For Facilities
Pilot plants, food innovation centers, commercial kitchens, contract manufacturers, colleges, and universities — the Alliance connects you with brands that need exactly what you offer.
There are thousands of food and CPG brands looking for pilot plants and food innovation centers right now. Many of them don't know where to look — and many great facilities go underutilized as a result.
The Alliance changes that. We market member facilities to brands actively seeking production partners, match based on capability and fit, and provide the infrastructure for a productive, professional engagement.
Whether you're a university food lab looking to serve commercial clients, a commercial kitchen that wants to offer pilot runs, or a dedicated for-profit pilot plant — the Alliance has a place for you.
The Network Effect
Pilot plants don't operate in isolation. Brands need a pathway — from R&D through production. When you join the Alliance, you become part of that pathway.
Network Verticals
From cottage foods to CPG manufacturing — brands enter the network at any stage and flow to yours.
Years of CPA History
Founded in 1992, the CPA brings decades of trust and industry relationships to every member facility.
Referral Pipeline
Brands that come to you for pilot runs are introduced to co-packers when ready — and vice versa.
Membership
We're building a network that covers every type of pilot facility — from academic labs to commercial manufacturing floors.
University food science departments and extension programs that operate pilot plants or food innovation labs. The Alliance connects your academic infrastructure with commercial clients who can benefit from your expertise and equipment.
Mission-driven food innovation centers, incubators, and accelerators that support food entrepreneurs and small manufacturers. The Alliance amplifies your reach and connects you with brands beyond your immediate region.
We are recruiting current commercial kitchens and contract manufacturers to offer pilot runs and/or create pilot plant capabilities within their existing locations. You already have the equipment and food safety infrastructure — adding pilot plant services can be straightforward.
Purpose-built for-profit pilot plant facilities that serve commercial clients with production trials, scale-up testing, and process validation. The Alliance connects you with more brands and provides a credibility layer through CPA membership.
Benefits
The Alliance actively markets member facilities to food and CPG brands seeking pilot runs and product development. We bring clients to you — pre-qualified and ready to engage.
Join the Contract Packaging Association — the national non-profit trade organization for contract packaging and manufacturing. CPA membership signals quality and professionalism to prospective clients.
CPA members receive discounts on services and supplies from Alliance network partners — from ingredient suppliers to packaging materials to equipment and operations vendors.
Connect with brands, buyers, suppliers, and industry peers through CPA events, conferences, and the Alliance network. Relationships drive referrals — and referrals drive growth.
Featured exposure in CP Magazine — the official CPA publication via PMMI Media Group, reaching 20,000+ qualified CPG manufacturing industry readers.
Listed in the PilotPlants.org facility directory with your capabilities, certifications, and capacity information — searchable by brands actively looking for facilities.
Member Value
CPA membership includes access to negotiated discounts from Alliance partner vendors across every area of facility operations.
Process
Complete the facility profile: type, capabilities, certifications, capacity, and location.
We review your application and confirm eligibility. Most facilities are approved within 5 business days.
Complete CPA membership — the national trade organization that anchors your Alliance participation.
Your facility is listed in the PilotPlants.org directory with full capability and certification information.
Alliance team begins matching your facility with brands that fit your capabilities and capacity.
Contact us to start the membership application. We'll have you listed and matched within two weeks.
info@contractmfg.org
Phone
909-336-6473