Case Study
Securing a Qualified Vietnamese Supplier to Bypass US Tariffs — High-Volume Food Packaging
Context
A US consumer goods distributor, supplying major US retail chains, was bidding on tenders for very large volumes (several million units per reference) at imposed target prices benchmarked on Chinese production costs. To cut its exposure to US import duties on China-made goods, the client needed to relocate this production to Vietnam, a market that is structurally more expensive than China for this kind of low-margin product. The challenge was twofold: hitting very aggressive price targets while meeting US food-market certification requirements and the end client's exact specifications. Two product families were in scope: recyclable R-PET food trays and SAP-core absorbent food pads.
Approach
Manuloop ran a targeted, on-the-ground sourcing campaign in Vietnam, engaging a dozen manufacturers and consolidating six formal quotes into a structured comparison (FOB price per reference and per grammage, certifications, capacity). The selection enforced strict US-market requirements: food-contact compliance (FDA, HACCP), ISO 9001, material testing (SGS, MSDS), and compatibility with the end client's expectations (appearance, color, grammage). Beyond pricing, the project required developing a custom mold built to the buyer's exact specifications, a hard point negotiated in detail with the shortlisted manufacturer. Manuloop coordinated this phase and prepared the on-site factory qualification.
Deliverables
Across roughly four weeks, Manuloop delivered: - Structured supplier comparison: six formal quotes consolidated, FOB price line by line per reference and grammage, certifications and capacity compared, with a reasoned recommendation - Mapping of a dozen identified and pre-screened Vietnamese manufacturers across the two product families - Documentary verification of certifications: US food compliance (FDA, HACCP), ISO 9001, material testing (SGS, MSDS) - Management of custom mold development and negotiation of terms with the selected manufacturer - Organization and on-site support of the factory qualification, through to validation by the client's director
Outcome
The client secured a qualified Vietnamese source for both product families, allowing it to bypass the tariff barriers weighing on Chinese production. The selected manufacturer met every required criterion: the most competitive offer, a complete set of US food-market certifications, the capacity to develop the required mold, and, additionally, held ISO 14001 certification. The factory was qualified on site by the client's director, who travelled from the United States specifically to validate it. This qualification sealed the project's success and established a Vietnamese supply base aligned with the technical, regulatory, and commercial requirements of the US market.
Relocating production out of China to cut tariff exposure?
Tell us about your project — product families, technical requirements, target markets — and we'll assess how we can support you.
Let’s discuss how Manuloop can support your operations.
Whether you’re exploring suppliers, evaluating risks, or managing ongoing production, we’ll help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Informed decisions, secure projects.