Custom gummy manufacturer
Pectin-set sugar and sugar-free base systems, formulated in a 3,000 sq ft R&D lab in St. Petersburg, FL.
HBM is a custom gummy manufacturer running formulation, pilot, and commercial production under one roof in St. Petersburg, FL. The R&D lab is 3,000 sq ft, attached to two 30,000 sq ft gummy buildings. Four continuous depositing stations run at 300KG/hour each (two run at a time) for a combined 600KG/hour and 90 million gummies per month. Active loads range from 10-17% by weight, with a 33% theoretical ceiling. Both sugar and sugar-free pectin base systems are available. HBM carries 8 certifications including FDA Registration, NSF, USDA Organic, and Non-GMO Project Verified. Most US manufacturers route gummy formulation to a partner. HBM does not.
Custom gummy formulation specs
| R&D lab | 3,000 sq ft in St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 90,000,000 gummies/month across 4 depositing stations |
| MOQ | 300,000 gummies (600,000 at smaller mold sizes) |
| Active load | 10-17% average by weight, 33% maximum |
| Base systems | Sugar clean label, sugar-free clean label (FOS + allulose) |
| Sizes | 2g, 3g, 4g, 5g, 6g (3.75g average) |
| Molds | Cube, gum drop, custom (starting at ~$20,000) |
| Lead time | Bench 2-4 weeks, pilot 2-4 weeks, commercial 4-8 weeks |
| Certifications | FDA Registration, NSF, USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Ecocert, Health Canada, Florida DBPR, Made in USA |
HBM vs most contract manufacturers
The reason we put R&D inside the gummy plant is simple. The chemist who designs the formula watches it run on the depositor the same week.
William Oliver, Co-founder, HBM
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOQ for a custom gummy formulation?
HBM's standard custom gummy MOQ is 300,000 units. Smaller mold sizes carry a 600,000 unit MOQ. The MOQ covers a single SKU. Reorders run at the same minimum. Custom mold tooling is separate and starts at roughly $20,000 depending on complexity. Tooling lead time runs 4-8 weeks. It typically runs parallel to the pilot batch so it does not extend the commercial timeline.
How long does custom gummy formulation take from NDA to first shipment?
HBM works through a 10-step framework. NDA and discovery happen in week 1. Bench samples land 2-4 weeks after formula review. Pilot batch follows in another 2-4 weeks. Commercial production runs 4-8 weeks after pilot approval. Total from NDA to first shipment is roughly 12-20 weeks. The variance depends on active complexity, custom mold tooling, and packaging lead time.
What active load can a custom gummy support?
HBM's custom gummies run at 10-17% active load by weight on average. The theoretical ceiling is 33%. Above that, texture, flavor, and demolding all suffer. Active load drives gummy size. A 500mg vitamin C gummy at 15% load needs a 3.33g piece. HBM rounds to a standard size, usually 4g. Higher-dose actives require larger pieces or fewer servings per day.
Can HBM formulate heat-sensitive or hard-to-mask actives?
Yes. HBM's pectin deposition runs at 95-105°C. Actives that degrade above 80°C get a heat-stable form, a post-deposition coating, or a recommendation to switch to liquid. Bitter actives like turmeric, valerian, and NAC get layered flavor masking at bench. Coatings further reduce surface bitterness. If the active cannot work in a gummy, HBM says so before quoting.
Does HBM offer sugar-free custom gummies?
Yes. HBM's sugar-free base system uses FOS chicory root fiber, allulose, water, and pectin. Both base systems carry the clean label qualification. Sugar-free texture is slightly softer than the sugar version. Flavor masking is harder without sugar to round out bitter actives. HBM addresses both at bench. The sugar-free system is run on the same depositing stations as the sugar system.
Related gummy capabilities
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