Products and Services

Sauce & Dressings

Parish Foods manufactures a broad range of liquid products, from pourable dressings and creamy sauces to barbecue sauces and other specialty liquids, each requiring different processing methods based on formulation. Some products are hot-filled to support shelf stability, while others are cold-filled and rely on refrigeration or specific formulation controls. We produce sauces in both plastic and glass packaging, with options ranging from retail-ready bottles to bulk formats such as gallon jugs and 5-gallon pails.

Seasonings & Rubs

Parish Foods manufactures a wide range of dry products, including seasonings, spice blends, and dry rubs, each with production requirements based on ingredient composition and intended use. Products may range from fine, uniform blends to coarser rubs with visible particulates, and formulations are evaluated to ensure even distribution, consistency, and scalability. We produce seasonings in packaging formats that support both retail and bulk needs, including jars, shakers, and larger foodservice or wholesale formats.

Dry Batters & Mixes

Parish Foods manufactures dry batters and mixes including fish fry, chicken and seafood breading, pancake and waffle mixes, baking mixes, and other blended dry products. These products are produced as uniform dry blends with packaging options that support both retail and foodservice applications.

R&D and Product Development

Research and development (R&D) and product development at Parish Foods support brands as they refine, scale, or prepare products for commercial production. This work may include adjusting formulations for manufacturing, testing ingredient substitutions, developing samples, and confirming that a product can be produced safely and consistently in a commercial facility. R&D is often used when a recipe was developed in a home kitchen, needs improvement, or requires changes to meet shelf-life, packaging, or regulatory requirements.

Product development is a structured, pre-production phase that helps reduce risk before full manufacturing begins. It allows brands to validate flavor, texture, and performance, while identifying any changes needed for scale, sourcing, or processing. Not every product requires R&D, but when it does, this step helps ensure the product is ready for manufacturing before time and resources are committed to production runs.

Label Design & Compliance

Parish Foods handles food product labeling from design through approval so labels are production-ready before manufacturing begins. We provide label design support, Nutrition Facts creation, UPC code setup, and manage label review and registration with the State of Louisiana.

Packaging Selection & Sourcing

Parish Foods supports product packaging selection and sourcing for both retail and bulk manufacturing. We work with plastic and glass packaging across a range of standard formats, including:

  • Bottles (1-32 oz)
  • Jars (1 - 16 oz)
  • Sealed portion cups (1.5–3 oz)
  • Gallon jugs (narrow and wide mouth)
  • Bulk bags (assorted sizes)

Square containers and flask-style bottles are not supported.

Private Label Products

Parish Foods offers private label products that are professionally developed, proven, and ready to be sold under your brand name. Private label takes the guesswork out of launching or expanding a product line by using formulations that have been tested, refined, and produced by experienced manufacturers, rather than starting from scratch. You control the brand, positioning, and sales, while Parish Foods provides consistent, compliant, and scalable products across our range of sauces, seasonings, and dry batters and mixes. Inquire about private label using the Onboarding Form.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Co-packer?

Co-packing, short for contract packaging or contract manufacturing, is when a brand hires a specialized food manufacturer to produce and package its products instead of doing it in-house. The co-packer owns and operates the facility, equipment, and food safety systems, and handles production according to agreed specifications. The brand owns the product, recipe, and label, and is responsible for sales, marketing, and distribution.

For food brands, co-packing makes it possible to bring products to market without building a facility, hiring production staff, or managing regulatory compliance internally. It allows brands to scale production, meet food safety requirements, and access commercial packaging formats while focusing on growing the business rather than running manufacturing operations.

Am I a good fit for Parish Foods?

You’re a good fit for Parish Foods if:

  • You’re building a food product intended for sale, not a personal or hobby project
  • You’re prepared to invest in required onboarding fees, including R&D, documentation, labeling, and compliance
  • You can meet our minimum batch sizes and production requirements
  • You’re open to guidance on formulation, shelf stability, labeling, and food safety
  • You’re looking for a long-term manufacturing partner, not a one-time test run
  • You understand that compliant, scalable food manufacturing requires time, planning, and capital

How is Co-Packing Pricing Calculated?

Co-packing pricing is calculated per unit, based on the total cost of producing a full batch of your product. We determine the cost to make one complete production run, then divide that total by the number of units produced to arrive at your per-unit price.

That total batch cost includes ingredients, packaging components, labor, equipment time, and production setup. Products that require more steps, longer cook times, specialty ingredients, or slower filling speeds cost more to produce, which increases the per-unit price.

Batch size has the biggest impact on cost. Larger runs reduce your per-unit price because fixed production time is spread across more units. Smaller runs result in a higher per-unit cost, even when the recipe stays the same.

Pricing is quoted after recipes and product details are reviewed and before onboarding begins. Accurate submissions are critical—missing or incomplete information will delay pricing or require resubmission before a quote can be issued.

What are Parish Foods MOQs?

Minimum Order Requirements

To maintain quality and production efficiency, the following minimum order quantities apply to each production run.

  • Bulk spices, batters, and dry mixes: 50 lb
  • Retail spice containers: 20 cases (12 pack)
  • Sauces (packaged in cups or gallons): 25 gallons
  • Retail bottled sauces: 50 gallons

What is the typical production lead time?

Production lead times are approximately two weeks from order approval and scheduling.

Onboarding Information

What To Expect

Once you have submitted your onboarding form and received and approved your manufacturing quote, onboarding begins. Onboarding is the required setup process that prepares a product for manufacturing. Production will not be scheduled until onboarding is complete.

Onboarding work is scoped and billed separately. It may include, but is not limited to, the steps below, depending on your product, documentation, and regulatory requirements.

Step 1: Onboarding Scope Confirmed + Fees Paid

  • We confirm the onboarding scope for each product or SKU
  • Required onboarding fees are invoiced and must be paid before work begins
  • Co-Packing contract is signed
  • Your product is formally opened and assigned for onboarding

Step 2: Product Development & Sample Work (If Required)

  • Product development or validation to ensure manufacturability
  • Sample production and review to confirm formulation and process compatibility
  • Revisions may be required before a product can move forward

Additional sample rounds or changes outside the agreed scope may result in added fees and timeline extensions.

Step 3: Product Specifications & Technical Documentation

  • Creation or finalization of product specifications
  • Development or verification of required nutrition, ingredient, and allergen statements
  • Documentation needed for manufacturing consistency and compliance

Step 4: Regulatory & Process Requirements (If Applicable)

  • Review of any additional regulatory requirements based on product type
  • Scientific or third-party process validation when required
  • Confirmation that the product can be safely and legally produced

Products cannot advance without required regulatory approvals in place.

Step 5: Label Setup or Compliance Review

  • Label design, layout, or compliance review if needed
  • Verification that labels align with finalized product specifications
  • Limited revisions may be included based on scope; additional changes may be billed

Step 6: Registration, Coding & Product Setup (If Needed)

  • State or regulatory registrations where required
  • Barcode or product coding setup for retail or distribution systems
  • Internal system setup for manufacturing and tracking

Step 7: Final Onboarding Approval

  • Confirmation that all onboarding work is complete
  • Product is approved as production-ready
  • Batch minimums, lead times, and scheduling are confirmed

Important Notes

  • Onboarding is a paid, required process, not a consultation
  • Timelines depend on the accuracy and completeness of information provided
  • Changes to recipes, labels, packaging, or claims during onboarding will reset timelines
  • Manufacturing dates are not held or reserved until onboarding is complete

Can I talk to the Parish Foods team before filling out the Onboarding Form?

No. The onboarding form is required before speaking with our team. We use it to review your product details and determine whether we’re a good fit before scheduling a conversation. This helps ensure any next steps are productive and aligned.

Our onboarding form is intentionally thorough. It collects everything needed to evaluate your product accurately and move it through manufacturing without avoidable delays. This includes recipes, technical details, brand assets, label graphics, and business information.

Each piece of information plays a role at different stages of the process—from pricing and compliance review to production planning and packaging setup. Missing or incomplete materials create gaps that slow things down and often require the process to restart.

To keep your project on track, the form must be completed in full and all required files uploaded at the time of submission. Incomplete submissions may result in delays or a request to resubmit the form. Taking the time to prepare your materials upfront helps ensure a smoother, faster path to production.

Is Onboarding Free?

No. Onboarding fees cover the foundational work required to bring a product into production. This includes recipe review and development, product samples, documentation, labeling and compliance support, and the administrative setup needed to manufacture your product legally and at scale.

Because this work requires dedicated time, materials, and expertise, onboarding fees must be paid before any onboarding work begins. These fees are separate from production costs and reflect the real labor and resources involved in preparing a product for manufacturing.

Parish Foods works with founders who are prepared to invest in building a real food business. If you are not ready to pay onboarding fees, you are likely not ready to launch a compliant, production-ready brand.

Onboarding Fees

Product Onboarding Fees (Per SKU)

Dry Products (Spices, Seasonings, Rubs, Dry Mixes)

If Recipe Is Provided

  • R&D (2 sample rounds, spec sheet, nutrition facts): $150
  • Label design (2 revisions): $200
  • State label registration (Louisiana): $150
  • UPC barcode: $25

Onboarding total: $525

If Product Is Developed From Scratch

  • R&D (2 sample rounds, spec sheet, nutrition facts): $300
  • Label design (2 revisions): $200
  • State label registration (Louisiana): $150
  • UPC barcode: $25

Onboarding total: $675

Additional fees (if needed):

  • Additional sample revision: $75 each
  • Additional label revision: $75 each

Liquid Products (Sauces, Dressings, Marinades, etc.)

  • R&D (2 sample rounds): $525
  • Nutrition facts & ingredient statement (spec sheet): $150
  • Label design (2 revisions): $200
  • Process Authority Letter (if required): $300
  • State label registration (Louisiana): $150
  • UPC barcode: $25

Onboarding total: $1,350

Additional fees (if needed):

  • Additional sample revision: $75 each
  • Additional label revision: $75 each

Important Notes

  • All fees are per product / per SKU
  • Onboarding fees are separate from manufacturing costs
  • Fees must be paid before onboarding work begins
  • These fees are subject to change and will not be applied to customers who do not need them (i.e. if you have your own labels)

How Long Does Onboarding Take?

Onboarding at Parish Foods typically takes up to two months. The timeline depends on the complexity of the products, how prepared the brand is, and the number of SKUs being onboarded. Brands with finalized recipes, compliant labels, and complete documentation move faster; brands still developing products, revising labels, or onboarding multiple items should expect a longer timeline.