Frequently Asked Questions
What does ManuPack by Yumba do?
We specialize in steam-cooked, human-grade food manufacturing for both pet and people food. Our 15,000 sq ft facility in Toronto is built for brands that want premium quality and serious scale — without the capital burden of running their own plant. Whether you need a turnkey production & fulfilment partner, or just someone to handle batching, cooking, or packaging, we make it seamless.
Who do you work with?
We partner with established or fast-growing brands producing 10,000 lbs/month or more of finished food.
Typical partners include:
Pet-food companies adding a cooked or gently-steamed line
Human-meal brands expanding beyond commissary production
National brands looking for contract manufacturing in Ontario
If your volumes are still below that threshold, we recommend finalizing your product and demand plan before reaching out — we’re built for brands that are already scaling.
What makes your process better
We cook using steam ovens, not kettles or skillets.
That means:
Up to 110 % yields on protein with virtually no shrinkage
Consistent moisture and nutrient retention
Faster, more energy-efficient production at scale
The result is a cleaner, juicier, more consistent product — and lower true cost per finished pound.
Can you handle our recipe or formulation?
Yes. We can replicate your current recipe or optimize it for steam cooking to improve yield and consistency.
Our team will help fine-tune water ratios, batch sizing, and thermal profiles to make sure your product scales perfectly from test kitchen to full production.
Do you make both pet and human food?
Yes — safely and separately.
Our facility is designed for human-grade manufacturing, with dedicated cleaning protocols and segregation between product types.
Can you handle our recipe or formulation?
Yes. We can replicate your current recipe or optimize it for steam cooking to improve yield and consistency.
Our team will help fine-tune water ratios, batch sizing, and thermal profiles to make sure your product scales perfectly from test kitchen to full production.
What’s your minimum production volume?
We focus on partners producing at least 10,000 lbs/month or with a clear plan to reach that within 90 days.
Initial trial runs typically range from 2,000–5,000 lbs per SKU, which allows us to validate cooking, packaging, and yields before scaling up to recurring runs.
Do you handle ingredient sourcing and packaging procurement?
Yes — or you can supply your own.
Many of our partners prefer a pure tolling model, where they ship all materials in. Others rely on us to source, receive, and manage inventory.
When we manage inputs, we apply a small sourcing and handling fee to cover procurement and QA while offering you FULL transparency on pricing.
What packaging formats do you support?
We run a full range of commercial-grade portioning and vacuum systems, including:
Thermoforming
Semi Automatic Dispensing
Commercial mixers and fillers for bulk or retail packaging
We can package in:
Vacuum-sealed film packs of any size (semi-rigid or clear film)
Bulk pouches or chubs
Retail-ready packs or master cases
If your format is unique, we’ll review it and adapt tooling or process flow as needed.
Do you offer R&D support?
Yes — focused on scale-up, not small-batch formulation.
If you already have a product that performs well at a small scale, we’ll help you make it commercially efficient: adjusting cook profiles, batch yields, and packaging workflows for high-volume production.
What food-safety standards do you follow?
We follow HACCP-based food-safety principles.
Our cleanroom packaging area, sanitation programs, and traceability systems are designed to meet national compliance standards.
Do you offer cold storage and logistics?
Yes. We provide on-site frozen and refrigerated storage and can coordinate pallet staging, LTL shipping, and cross-docking with your carriers.
Our walk-in freezers and coolers (each ~1,000 sq ft) are optimized for high-throughput partners who need flexible inventory turnover.
What’s your lead time?
Typical timelines:
4-8 weeks from recipe approval to first run
10-15 business days for recurring orders
We plan production around partner forecasts to guarantee predictable scheduling and delivery.
How is pricing structured?
We charge a tolling fee per pound or per unit, based on recipe complexity and packaging format.
Add-ons like ingredient sourcing, storage, or logistics can be included as needed.
Because our steam process eliminates shrink and rework, our partners consistently see lower cost per finished pound versus traditional methods.
Do you offer private-label production?
Yes. For qualified partners, we can produce white-label SKUs or adapt our proven recipes to your brand. Many brands start white-label to move quickly, then shift to custom once volumes stabilize.
Where are you located?
We’re in North Etobicoke, Ontario, close to major logistics routes and cold-chain carriers — ideal for distribution.
How do we get started
Email info@manupack.ca or fill out our contact form with your monthly volume, product type, and packaging format.
We’ll schedule a discovery call, review your recipe and targets, and build a clear production plan and quote.
What Does Onboarding Look Like?
Intro Call — Confirm goals, volume, and technical details.
NDA + Recipe Review — Confidentially assess formulation and process.
Trial Run — Validate yield, texture, and packaging.
Ongoing Production — Transition to recurring monthly runs.
We make onboarding structured, efficient, and transparent — so you can move from handshake to production in weeks, not months.