We had the pleasure of interviewing Amanda Vargochik, co-founder of FirstWave Innovations, a co-packer specialized in aseptic and hot-filled food and beverage products based in North Carolina, USA. The company chose to partner with Gualapack US & Canada to produce a diverse range of products in spouted pouches, including premium baby foods, sauces, smoothie blends, and functional beverages.
Discover how flexible packaging is meeting growing consumer demand for convenience and sustainability while helping brands bring innovative products to market more efficiently.
Can you introduce FirstWave Innovations and give us a brief overview of your role in the company?
FirstWave Innovations, powered by SinnovaTek, is a specialized contract manufacturer focused on aseptic and hot-filled food and beverage products, including baby foods, sauces, purees, and coffee-based beverages. We serve as a commercialization partner for emerging and growth-stage brands, leveraging patented microwave-assisted thermal processing technologies to ensure the highest quality and safety standards across a diverse range of formulations.
I’m Amanda Vargochik, Co-founder of FirstWave Innovations. My background is in food science and product development, particularly within the aseptic and shelf-stable product space. At FirstWave, I guide strategic initiatives and support our clients in bringing innovative, high-quality products to market efficiently and successfully.
What led FirstWave Innovations to explore spouted pouches as a packaging solution?
Spouted pouches are a natural fit for our processing capabilities and align closely with our sustainability values. This format is compatible with both low- and high-viscosity products, making it ideal for the diverse product categories we serve. The pouch structure allows us to showcase the superior color and texture retention that microwave processing enables, especially when paired with windowed designs.
From a sustainability standpoint, spouted pouches offer a lightweight, resource-efficient packaging solution that reduces transportation emissions and extends shelf life, typically 12 to 24 months, without the need for refrigeration. They also offer a high level of consumer convenience, combining easy portability with minimal product waste due to excellent evacuability.
Why did you choose Gualapack as your partner for spouted pouches? What stood out about our offering?
Gualapack is an established leader in spouted pouch solutions, known for both innovation and reliability in the flexible packaging sector. Their hot fill pouch offering stood out for its robust supply chain and proven performance, both critical to maintaining the consistency our clients expect.
We also value Gualapack’s commitment to serving emerging and scaling brands, an ethos that mirrors our own. Their wide range of pouch formats and customization options aligns well with our product diversity and gives us the flexibility to tailor solutions to each customer’s brand identity and operational needs.
What kind of products are you currently packaging in spouted pouches, and what has been the response from your customers or brand partners?
We currently package a diverse range of products in spouted pouches, including premium baby foods, sauces, smoothie blends, and functional beverages. The feedback from our brand partners has been overwhelmingly positive. They value the clean appearance and performance of the pouch, as well as the consumer-centric design. The format allows for innovative branding opportunities while meeting market demands for sustainability and convenience.
In terms of sustainability and convenience, how do spouted pouches align with Sinnovatek’s business philosophy or values?
Sustainability is one of the core pillars of SinnovaTek’s mission. We aim to reduce food waste and energy consumption across the entire product lifecycle. Spouted pouches contribute to this goal by offering a lightweight, space-efficient packaging format that minimizes material usage and shipping emissions.
On the consumer side, the convenience factor cannot be overstated. The resealable feature, single-handed usability, and low residual product waste make spouted pouches especially appealing in today's on-the-go, health-conscious market. They’re the ideal pairing for our shelf-stable, high-quality formulations.
Can you describe the co-packing process with Gualapack’s solutions? What have been the key benefits operationally?
The integration of Gualapack’s packaging solutions into our co-packing operations is a great fit. Their deep technical knowledge and reliable materials have supported our high-throughput, high-quality production processes. Operationally, we benefit from their standardized pouch designs, efficient supply chain logistics, and the flexibility to accommodate a wide variety of formulations and product types.
This collaboration has also allowed us to offer turnkey solutions to our clients, simplifying the commercialization process and shortening time-to-market.
Our offering is unique in the co-packing landscape because it is combined with our novel processing technologies. This enables a high quality processing option, while maintaining the economics of the hot fill pouch.
How do you see the role of flexible packaging evolving in the US market, and where does FirstWave Innovations fit in that trend?
Flexible packaging, particularly spouted pouches, is gaining traction in the U.S. beyond traditional applications like baby food. We’re now seeing significant interest in this format for adult-targeted products—such as sauces, condiments, smoothies, and functional beverages.
This shift is driven by demand for portability, product integrity, and reduced packaging waste. FirstWave Innovations is uniquely positioned to support this evolution. Our advanced processing technologies, coupled with a deep understanding of product development and commercialization, allow us to help brands innovate confidently in this emerging space.
What are your future goals for the partnership with Gualapack? Are there any new innovations or projects on the horizon?
We see tremendous opportunity to grow our collaboration with Gualapack as their packaging technologies evolve. We look forward to tailoring solutions to our customers’ needs so that they can put their best foot forward into the market both from a design perspective and for the sustainability of their businesses.
Learn more about our co-packing solutions here.
