# Co-Man Contract Pitfalls

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2022-01-17
- Length: 48m
- Episode: 8
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-17-co-man-contract-pitfalls
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/8e0303c9

## Summary

Lauren Handel, Principal Attorney at Handel Food Law, outlines critical pitfalls in co-manufacturing contracts for CPG brands. She emphasizes the necessity of mutual NDAs with indefinite terms to protect trade secrets, clear IP ownership for R&D, and robust specifications to prevent liability. Handel also details mechanisms for pricing adjustments, recall cooperation, and termination clauses to manage risks like manufacturer breach or capacity issues.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-17-co-man-contract-pitfalls#t=3) Introduction: Red Flags and NDAs
- [3:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-17-co-man-contract-pitfalls#t=220) R&D Agreements and IP Ownership
- [10:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-17-co-man-contract-pitfalls#t=625) Contract Negotiation Process and Boilerplate
- [13:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-17-co-man-contract-pitfalls#t=827) Pricing Mechanisms and Ingredient Sourcing
- [19:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-17-co-man-contract-pitfalls#t=1144) Specifications and QA Requirements
- [22:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-17-co-man-contract-pitfalls#t=1378) Order Flexibility and Priority Conflicts
- [28:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-17-co-man-contract-pitfalls#t=1734) Recall Procedures and Indemnification
- [33:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-17-co-man-contract-pitfalls#t=1992) Due Diligence and Relationship Vetting
- [36:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-17-co-man-contract-pitfalls#t=2190) Termination Clauses and Exit Strategies
- [44:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-17-co-man-contract-pitfalls#t=2657) Hiring Legal Counsel and Final Tips

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Handel Food Law (company)
- UNFI (company)
- FDA (other)
- listeria (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S3 E8: Navigating and Managing Contract Manufacturers with Peter Russo](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2026-01-27-s3-e8-navigating-and-managing-contract-manufacturers-with-peter-russo) (The Builder Circle)
- [S2 E7: Intellectual Property Strategy for Hardware Startups with Troy Grabow](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2024-02-20-s2-e7-intellectual-property-strategy-for-hardware-startups-with-troy-grabow) (The Builder Circle)
- [S1 E4: Cracking the Code of Hardware Manufacturing with Scott Miller](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2023-05-15-s1-e4-cracking-the-code-of-hardware-manufacturing-with-scott-miller) (The Builder Circle)
- [009: NDAs, Contracts, Insurance & Other Legal Tips with Gordon Firemark of Entertainment Law Update](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-05-31-009-ndas-contracts-insurance-other-legal-tips-with-gordon-firemark-of-entertainm) (Product Startup)
- [DeepDive 1-on-1 Series: FUEL & PROTECTION - Securing the Supply Chain Before the Climb (31m22s)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/npi-sherpa/2026-03-03-deepdive-1-on-1-series-fuel-protection-securing-the-supply-chain-before-the-clim) (NPI Sherpa)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-17-co-man-contract-pitfalls. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Startup CPG Podcast.