Prism eLogistics has partnered with The First Round to launch a turnkey drinks development service that consolidates the entire beverage-creation process under a single operator. The service covers drink-feasibility assessments, bespoke beverage formulation, compliance support, ingredient sourcing, packaging procurement, pilot production, contract packing, fulfilment and distribution.
Low-Volume Pilot Advantage A central differentiator is support for pilot runs from just 150 litres—significantly below the 1,000-litre minimums typical of large-scale manufacturers. The First Round's high-spec equipment facility, based at Prism's Basingstoke site, operates as a "factory 'flight simulator'," allowing brands to test formulations on industry-standard equipment before committing to larger volumes. "By offering small-scale runs, The First Round allows for cost-effective testing pre-launch," said Sam Hyde-Hart, founder of The First Round. "Working as part of Prism's drinks development service, we provide the opportunity to test and refine elements like blend stabilisation, carbonation, pasteurization and shelf-life before investing in larger volume production, potentially saving thousands in the process."
Unified Supply Chain Most product-development providers specialise in either formulation or manufacturing.
Prism's model eliminates coordination friction by managing the full pipeline, leveraging its established network in contract packing, shrink sleeving, warehouse storage, fulfilment and distribution. Eoghan Macilwraith, Business Development Manager at Prism eLogistics, noted: "Developing and launching a new drink can be an incredibly complex process. Whether it's a start-up business or an established brand bringing a new beverage to market, coordinating multiple suppliers across formulation, compliance, manufacturing, packaging and logistics is both costly and complicated. By bringing the entire process under one roof, Prism is offering straightforward access to the expertise, capabilities and industry connections they need to take a drink from concept to commercial reality."
Market Scope The service supports functional drinks, sports nutrition products and health-and-wellness concepts, addressing both emerging start-ups and established brands seeking faster market entry.
Why It Matters
For beverage operators, the 150-litre pilot threshold lowers the financial barrier to market testing, particularly valuable for emerging brands and line extensions. Consolidating compliance, manufacturing and logistics under one partner reduces project management overhead and accelerates time-to-shelf—critical advantages in an increasingly competitive functional and wellness drinks market.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors
