At KorNutra, we know a reliable supply chain drives successful gummy manufacturing. Shipping raw materials, from active ingredients to gelling agents and flavors, requires careful planning to maintain purity and hit production schedules. The stages below run from supplier qualification through warehouse intake.
Key Stages in Raw Material Logistics
1. Sourcing & Supplier Qualification
Before any shipping starts, every supplier goes through a thorough vetting. We require Certificates of Analysis (CoAs) on every batch, confirming identity, purity, and strength. Without that, we can't maintain our standards.
2. Order Placement & Documentation
Order documentation needs to be precise. That means detailed specs, quantities, agreed standards, and all the shipping paperwork: commercial invoices, safety data sheets (SDS), and the documents each destination country requires. Good documentation keeps customs delays to a minimum and ensures compliance.
3. Packaging & Pre-Shipment Inspection
We package raw materials to keep them intact. Ingredients go into food-grade, temperature-controlled containers that protect against moisture, light, and contamination. We may also do a pre-shipment inspection to confirm the order matches the purchase specs.
4. Transportation & Shipping
Picking the right shipping method matters. We use a mix of air freight for time-sensitive ingredients and sea freight for larger, stable volumes. For temperature-sensitive items, climate-controlled or refrigerated shipping is required during transit.
5. Customs Clearance & Regulatory Compliance
Our logistics team handles all customs paperwork, including entry filings and duty payments. Correct classification under the Harmonized System determines the duty rate and can speed clearance. We stay on top of FDA regulations to keep shipments moving and avoid expensive snags.
6. Receiving & Warehouse Intake
When materials arrive, we put them through a strict check-in process:
- Visual Inspection: We check packaging for damage.
- Documentation Review: We match shipments against purchase orders and CoAs.
- Quarantine & Testing: Materials are quarantined until our lab confirms their identity and potency.
That identity check is a cGMP requirement. Under 21 CFR 111.75, a manufacturer must test every dietary ingredient to confirm identity before use, and a supplier's CoA does not satisfy the requirement for dietary ingredients.
7. Inventory Management
After approval, materials move to our climate-controlled raw material warehouse. We use smart inventory systems to track lot numbers, expiration dates, and stock levels, following a first-in, first-out (FIFO) method for maximum freshness.
FSVP and Prior Notice for Imported Ingredients
If a brand sources ingredients from outside the United States, two FDA programs govern every shipment before it reaches the dock. The Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), set out in 21 CFR part 1, subpart L, makes the US importer responsible for confirming that each foreign supplier produces food with at least the same level of public health protection as US standards require. Importers of dietary supplements and their components follow a modified set of requirements under the rule. The second program is prior notice under the Bioterrorism Act of 2002: FDA must receive advance notice of an incoming food shipment before it arrives, or the shipment can be refused and held at the port of entry.
For a brand working with a contract manufacturer, the practical question is who holds the FSVP importer role on each purchase order, because FDA treats that party as accountable. KorNutra manages these import programs for the materials we bring in, and our documentation keeps the paperwork aligned so shipments clear without delay.
Why Expert Logistics Matter
Efficient raw material logistics directly affect manufacturing efficiency and product quality. A solid system cuts delays, protects ingredients, and delivers consistent, high-quality materials for every batch of gummies. At KorNutra, our experienced supply chain and quality teams handle these complex processes so our partners can focus on growing their brands.