Scaling a meal prep business isn’t just about cooking more meals—it’s about rethinking operations, building trust, and managing new complexities. In our recent Podcast with Eric Stein of Mama Meals, we explored the highs and lows of transitioning to co-packing and the invaluable lessons Eric learned along the way.

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow your business with co-packing while maintaining quality and staying sane, this article is for you.

Lessons From Mama Meals’ Co-Packing Journey

Mama Meals began as a local postpartum meal delivery service, born out of Eric and Holly’s personal experiences and deep care for their customers. But scaling to meet nationwide demand has meant reimagining their production process.

"In this seat, with our business, there has to be a thousand percent trust. Otherwise, I’m not going to sleep at night."
— Eric Stein, Mama Meals

After a ten-month process of research, R&D, and on-site visits, Eric encountered a co-packing partner that ultimately fell short. Honest mistakes were compounded by a lack of transparency—an issue that Eric described as a dealbreaker.

"If it’s in the hands of somebody that I don’t think is going to act like me, then I have to pull the plug," he explained.

Building Trust and Finding the Right Partner

For Eric, the key to navigating this process was twofold:

1. Do Your Homework: Visit facilities, ask questions, and engage in lengthy discussions to ensure alignment on quality standards and processes.
2. Trust Your Gut: “If you’re getting gut feelings that are off, really acknowledge that,” Eric advised.

The silver lining? Out of the ashes of the failed partnership emerged a new opportunity. A second co-packer, offering a dedicated facility and a freezer capable of handling significant inventory, stepped in. “Your biggest disasters can also be your biggest opportunities,” Eric reflected.

Transitioning to Larger Facilities

Scaling with co-packing doesn’t just mean producing more food—it’s about managing logistics, forecasting demand, and ensuring operational efficiency. Eric emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships and leaning on experts to navigate these complexities.

“Have faith it’s going to work out. The challenges mean you’re being called to fill a space. Once you do, the next door will open for you,” Eric shared, encouraging fellow meal prep operators to embrace the learning curve.

Looking Ahead

As we wrapped up our conversation, Eric’s advice to meal prep operators was simple yet powerful: prioritize quality, trust your vision, and be open to the unexpected opportunities that challenges can bring.

Co-packing is just one of many steps on the nationwide scaling journey, and the insights Eric shared provide a roadmap for others ready to make the leap.

If you missed our last article in this series on shipping strategies, be sure to check it out to learn how Eric leveraged nationwide shipping to grow Mama Meals.

Don’t Miss What’s Next

Join us in our free Facebook Group for our next LIVE session on Thursday, Dec 5th at 2 PM EST, where we’ll dive into data-driven insights around menu rotations and how they impact sales on Bottle. We’ll explore how to use data to inform menu strategy, maximize customer retention, and drive growth.

Join the group if you haven’t and respond here to RSVP and get notified when we go live!

Thanks for reading! Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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