Why traditional label procurement is broken for dietary & supplement PLMs (and how to fix it)
                     Why traditional label procurement 
is broken for dietary & supplement 
PLMs (and how to fix it)?
 Why supplement brands must leave slow, outdated label procurement behind and switch to 
no MOQ, digital-first solutions.
 Examining legacy business models: High MOQs, tiered pricing, slow lead times
 The supplement industry is booming, but outdated label procurement models are a 
persistent stumbling block. For years, supplement and nutraceutical brands have been 
hamstrung by traditional label printer companies that impose high MOQs, rigid tier-based 
pricing, and unpredictable—often weeks-long—lead times. These antiquated practices 
create unnecessary friction in what should be a rapid and responsive supply chain, 
particularly as health trends and regulations evolve at an increasingly fast pace. 
Manufacturers often end up paying for and storing far more labels than they’ll use, thereby 
inflating production costs and increasing the risk of regulatory non-compliance if formulas or 
claims must be changed quickly. Even established brands suffer from these inflexible 
contracts, struggling to keep up with e-commerce cycles and consumer demand. Ultimately, 
the inefficiencies of legacy procurement models reduce profitability and slow time-to-
market for promising new nutraceuticals. For reference, see digital packaging trends.
 The communication bottleneck: Why back-and-forth emails slow supplement launches
 A less obvious, but equally debilitating bottleneck is the legacy communication process 
underpinning supplement label procurement. The traditional approach relies on a cascade of 
email attachments, approvals, and manual proofs, often prolonging what should be a 
straightforward order process for GMP supplement label printers. These drawn-out cycles 
mean even minor label corrections or compliance updates can delay a supplement launch by 
weeks, a nightmare scenario for both marketing teams and compliance officers. Such slow, 
manual correspondence directly contradicts the speed needed to capitalize on health trends, 
respond to FDA guidance, or meet the marketing needs of private label supplement 
packaging. Without transparency and automation, supplement manufacturers face higher 
error rates, missing a critical opportunity to build trust and maintain a competitive 
advantage.
 The future: Flat pricing, digital dashboards, and no MOQ labels for supplements
 Forward-thinking supplement brands are seeking out modern, tech-enabled solutions like 
LabelDrive to bypass these pitfalls. LabelDrive’s on-demand labels, flat pricing, no MOQs, 
and digital dashboards present a model that eliminates wasted inventory, shrinks lead times 
from weeks to 48 hours, and enables brands to react instantly to market or regulatory 
change. This digital-first approach supports small batch innovation—critical for startups and 
private label producers—while making label compliance and supply chain management both 
predictable and scalable. Supplement bottle label printing is simplified, enabling businesses 
to focus on growth rather than procurement headaches. Explore how this platform drives 
transformation at Flexo Connections.