What should brands look for in contract manufacturers? Was the gut microbiome even a ‘thing’ 20 years ago? Are the immune needs of children different than those of adults? To answer all these questions and more, Michael Hartman, PhD, Plexus Worldwide Vice President of Research and Development, joined the NutraCast in a wide-ranging interview that underscores what he has learned working in the dietary supplement industry for two decades. When it comes to choosing a contract manufacturer, Hartman said that there are two major factors to consider: expertise and capacity. “I think the two big things are the experience of that contract manufacturer specific to the delivery format that you're trying to produce. Contract manufacturers have expertise in multiple deliveries, but occasionally, you'll find ones that may be specialized in powders, ready to mix powders, others may be specialized in capsules or hard-pressed tablets. So identifying the actual experience and the expertise of that contract manufacturer is going to be important,” explained Hartman.