Episode 75: Contract Manufacturing with Preet Bhullar, COO and Co-Founder of Blue Ocean Group

What does it take to build a contract manufacturing operations capable of serving CPG brands on both sides of the border and scaling with them all the way to Costco? We sit down with Preet Bhullar, COO and Co-Founder of Blue Ocean Group. The conversation was recorded on-site at their brand-new innovation hub in Blaine, Washington. What began in 2012 as a 2,000-square-foot tea operation in Surrey, BC has evolved into a GFSI-certified, multi-facility manufacturing partner for CPG and wellness brands across Canada and the United States. We also visited Blue Ocean's Surrey facility just weeks prior and between both locations, the impressive scope of what this team has built is hard to miss. Preet leverages her background in quality assurance and microbiology to lead the business she co-founded. This technical foundation shapes Blue Ocean Group’s rigorous approach to ingredient sourcing, regulatory compliance, and operational standards. This clearly shows in the certifications they have earned, the high-caliber brands they have chosen to work with, and the operational standards they hold across both facilities. We chat through: The Evolution of Blue Ocean Group: The journey from a small leased facility focused on tea bags and loose-leaf tins to a 14-machine operation in Surrey and an expanding U.S. presence. Cross-Border Certification: Navigating the complexities of manufacturing standards in both Canada and the U.S.. Direct Sourcing: Why sourcing ingredients directly from their origin is critical for protecting brand margins and enabling long-term growth. The Partnership Process: How Blue Ocean collaborates with brands from the initial brief through scale-up, and why they prioritize partners they genuinely believe in. Market Trends: Insights into the Canadian and U.S. wellness markets, including innovation in electrolytes, protein, creatine, and the shift toward clean, minimally processed ingredients. Regulatory Landscapes: Understanding the differences in manufacturing dietary supplements between Canada and the U.S. to avoid compliance hurdles. This episode is part manufacturing deep-dive and part cross-border business education. It serves as a reminder that the most successful contract manufacturing relationships are built on shared values and long-term strategy, rather than mere transactions. Resources Blue Ocean Group: https://blueoceantea.com/