# #262 - Beverage Manufacturing Lessons with BevSource's Bob Williams

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2026-08-18
- Length: 40m
- Episode: 357
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-08-18-262-beverage-manufacturing-lessons-with-bevsources-bob-williams
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/00ce5d31

## Summary

Bob Williams, a beverage manufacturing expert from BevSource, joins host Daniel Scharff to discuss common and costly mistakes beverage brands make with co-packers. They detail how to diagnose 'leaker' cans, emphasizing that seam check reports and calibrated equipment are critical for identifying root causes like secondary corrosion. The conversation covers the dangers of co-packers deviating from process authority letters, such as skipping tunnel pasteurization, and provides a checklist for vetting facilities before signing agreements. Finally, they address scaling strategies, including co-investing in production lines and the importance of early shelf-life stability testing.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Bob Williams and BevSource
2. The Leaker Mystery: Seam Checks and Corrosion
3. Case Study: Skipped Tunnel Pasteurization
4. Vetting Co-Packers: Site Visits and Red Flags
5. First Production Runs and Taste Matching
6. Scaling Production and Shelf-Life Testing

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- BevSource (company)
- TTB (other)
- FDA (other)
- HACCP (other)
- SQF (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [311 - Beyond Beers: How THC Drinks Are Disrupting the Beverage Market w/ Josh and Shea from Green Street Beverages](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-05-20-311-beyond-beers-how-thc-drinks-are-disrupting-the-beverage-market-w-josh-and-sh) (People of Packaging)
- [155: Identifying a Sourcing Partner for Overseas Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-12-21-155-identifying-a-sourcing-partner-for-overseas-manufacturing) (Product Startup)
- [351 - The best RTD innovation I've seen in packaging! 2 cans with Tatiana Chamorro from Toucan](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-06-15-351-the-best-rtd-innovation-ive-seen-in-packaging-2-cans-with-tatiana-chamorro-f) (People of Packaging)
- [(Almost) COAST TO COAST Tour Recap and Preview of Manufacturing Happy Hour's 10-Year Anniversary](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-12-13-almost-coast-to-coast-tour-recap-and-preview-of-manufacturing-happy-hours-10-yea) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Advice Line with Bill Creelman of Spindrift](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-11-27-advice-line-with-bill-creelman-of-spindrift) (How I Built This)

## 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/2026-08-18-262-beverage-manufacturing-lessons-with-bevsources-bob-williams. 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.