Replacing a Korean Supplier: How We Helped a Leading Philippine Oral Care Brand Upgrade Its Supply Chain

Customer Background

At the 2024 Hong Kong Exhibition, we met the purchasing team of one of the leading oral care brands in the Philippines, whose products are widely distributed through major retail channels.

For years, the brand had sourced its whitening products from a Korean manufacturer. While the products delivered strong whitening performance, rising costs, limited flexibility, and long lead times made it increasingly difficult for the customer to stay competitive.

They were looking for a manufacturing partner that could deliver the same premium quality with better cost efficiency, greater flexibility, and reliable production support.

The Challenge

The customer's benchmark was clear.

Our teeth whitening strips needed to match the whitening performance of the Korean formula while also providing better stability throughout the product's shelf life.

This was far from straightforward.

High-concentration hydrogen peroxide formulas can deliver excellent whitening results, but they are also more difficult to stabilize over time. Reducing the concentration would improve stability—but compromise performance.

Finding the right balance between whitening efficacy and long-term stability became the biggest technical challenge of the project.

Six Months of Product Development

Rather than offering a standard solution, our R&D team worked closely with the customer for more than six months.

During the development process, we completed ten rounds of complimentary sample optimization, continuously refining the formulation based on testing results and customer feedback.

Our work included:

• Optimizing raw material purity and formulation ratios

• Fine-tuning stabilizer systems

• Simulating tropical climate conditions for stability testing

• Improving strip adhesion, drying performance, and active ingredient retention

Throughout the project, the customer demonstrated remarkable patience and trust, giving our team the time needed to validate every improvement instead of rushing into production.

That mutual commitment became one of the project's greatest strengths.

A Partnership Built on Mutual Commitment

Once the final formula achieved the required performance and stability, discussions moved to the commercial stage.

We optimized our pricing structure to help the customer successfully replace its Korean supplier while maintaining premium product quality.

In return, recognizing the technical investment and development effort behind the project, the customer increased the planned order volume by 50%, creating a win-win partnership for both sides.

From One Project to Long-Term Collaboration

In May 2025, the first production order was successfully completed.

The whitening strips met the customer's expectations for whitening performance, shelf-life stability, production quality, and delivery reliability.

Following the successful launch, the partnership quickly expanded beyond whitening strips to include whitening pens and whitening powder, establishing a stable, multi-category cooperation. 

As our cooperation deepened, communication became more efficient, new product development accelerated, and repeat orders became a regular part of the partnership.

Looking Ahead

This project demonstrates that successful OEM partnerships are built on more than manufacturing capacity.

They require technical expertise, continuous innovation, open communication, and a willingness to solve complex challenges together.

Whether you're looking to optimize an existing product or replace an overseas supplier, we're committed to helping oral care brands bring high-quality, market-ready solutions to life.

Looking for a reliable OEM/ODM partner for teeth whitening products? Let's connect.