Field notes
Reading exit clauses before the renewal meeting
A short checklist for procurement leads reviewing sole-supply language in packaging and ingredient contracts.
Renewal meetings move quickly when the incumbent arrives with a “same terms” smile. Slow the room with three questions: how long is notice to exit, what volume commitments survive early termination, and whether tooling or artwork stays with you.
If notice stretches beyond your safety stock cover, you are negotiating under pressure even when shelves look full today. Map notice periods against realistic qualification time for a second source. That gap is where resilience work earns its keep.
Bring finance into the clause review when deposits or take-or-pay language appear. Buyers alone should not carry that exposure.