Powder, capsule or gummy: choosing the right format

The decision in one table

Powder, capsule or gummy is not a branding choice. The active, the dose, the taste and the moisture sensitivity decide the format before the artwork does. The table below is the comparison we use in the first technical call.

The decision usually comes down to the buyer. A brand owner who needs a finished product chooses capsules or gummies; a manufacturer or a formulator chooses bulk powder. The same active can be sold in both formats, but the specification, the COA and the MOQ change.

Bulk powder formats

Bulk powder is the most flexible format: the buyer decides the dose, the carrier and the packaging. The supplier's job is to fix the identity, the assay, the particle size and the moisture, and to pack the powder so it arrives in the same condition it left.

• Particle size — mesh or D50/D90; it controls flow, dispersion and blend uniformity.
• Bulk density — tapped density; it controls the volume in a capsule or a stick pack.
• Packaging — 1 kg foil bag for sampling, 25 kg drum with a liner for production.
• Hygroscopicity — a moisture barrier and a desiccant for NAD+, spermidine and melatonin.

Gummy formats

A gummy is a confectionery matrix. The base (pectin or gelatin), the sugar/glucose syrup ratio, the acid and the water activity decide the texture and the shelf life. The active is only one part of the formula.

• Pectin — vegetarian, softer texture, needs a different setting profile.
• Gelatin — firm and chewy, not vegetarian; the source must be declared.
• Piece weight — 2–4 g is typical; the piece weight and the count set the label serving size.
• Water activity — the control that prevents sticking and mould.

Matching the active to the format

The same active can often be made in more than one format, but the specification changes. The table below is the default logic for this range.

If your label calls for a format that does not match the active, say so early. It is usually possible to make the format work, but the fill weight, the coating and the stability protocol all change, and the quotation has to reflect that.

Tooling and the first run

Tooling is the long lead item. A new capsule fill weight, a new gummy piece weight or a new stick-pack format is ordered before the first commercial batch. Once the tooling exists, the fill weight and the piece weight are fixed; changing them means new tooling.

For a stock powder, the first run can usually be scheduled without new tooling. For a custom gummy shape or a custom capsule fill, the tooling is quoted separately and the first run is planned around its lead time. The quotation states which case applies.

What the specification fixes

• Format — powder, capsule or gummy; package and count.
• Dose — elemental content, marker figure or piece weight.
• Base or carrier — pectin, gelatin, excipients, carrier oil.
• Particle size / texture — mesh, D50, firmness, water activity.
• Packaging — bag, drum, bottle, desiccant, label.

Product-specific notes

Each row maps one product in this range to the parameter this document controls. The product pages link back to their own row; when you compare two products, compare the method column before the number.