Private Label
How to Vet a Private Label Cookware Supplier (Before You Pay)
A supplier’s website is marketing. These eight checks are due diligence - run them before any money moves.
The 8 checks
- Factory proof: live video walkthrough of the production floor, not a showroom.
- Business registration: verify GST/company registration; check years in operation.
- Product specialisation: triply from a triply factory - ask what % of output is your product type.
- Sample test: paid samples from 2 finalists; cook in them, weigh them, stress them.
- Client references: ask for 2 OEM/private-label clients and actually call them.
- QC documentation: request a sample QC report - its detail reveals their standards.
- Export history: which countries, how often; ask about their forwarder.
- Communication test: slow, vague replies during courtship predict disaster during production.
The trial order
Never go from samples to a full container. Place a trial order (one pallet / a few hundred pieces) through the entire process - production, inspection, packing, shipping, customs. It stress-tests everything at 5% of the risk.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know a supplier is a real factory?
Live video of the production floor, business registration matching the address, and product-specific tooling visible on site.
Should I use a sourcing agent?
For first orders above $20k, a reputable agent or inspector pays for itself. Below that, disciplined direct vetting works.
Have a cookware project in mind?
We manufacture triply cookware and supply tri-ply circles for OEM, private label and distribution. Tell us your specs - we reply with a quote.