Artisan Labels
When we talk about artisan food we think of delicious home made jam and spreads, cheeses and chutneys or mouth watering sauces or oils to compliment our food. Hours are spent creating perfect flavours which customers will love, but what can often get forgotten about is the importance of the label to sell the product in the first place.
For smaller businesses this can quite often come down to the expense of investing in a graphic designer or for larger companies it might come down to lack of time. Also, without being a label expert, business may have a lack of knowledge when it comes to creating a label or knowing where to start. That’s where this article can help give you ideas for ways to improve the look of your brand and to create a premium food label for your products.
Artisan Food Label Design
Having the right design is step number one as this is the first thing which your consumers will look at when purchasing your bottled sauces or jam jars when sat on a shelf next to umpteen other brands.
Colours, fonts, images and illustrations all form your brand and can add appeal to your product. Thinking about your target audience and what would attract them to your product will give it more chance of being picked up off the shelf. Your target market needs to understand your product and recognise that it’s for them.
This can take some time and research, but the results will be worth it.
Get Yourself a Graphic Designer
Searching for a graphic designer doesn’t always have to cost a bomb. They can be used to revamp your artwork or advise you using colours to compliment and bring your label to life. Making this small investment is worth it in the long run.
You’ve put in the hard work of creating your delicious artisan food range so going the extra mile to dress your product in style should not be underestimated.
Add those Important Ingredients
When selling any food to the general public it is more important than ever to list the key ingredients, especially any ingredients which relate to allergy sufferers or dietary requirements. A new law come into play on 1st October 2021 called Natasha’s Law whereby it now a legal requirement to provide full ingredients and allergy labelling on foods packaged for sale on the premises.
Rules and regulations are constantly changing so it is so important to check the latest laws for your artisan food labelling to ensure you are listing everything within your products for the safety of your customers. The information you display on your label must be:
- clear and easy to read
- permanent
- easy to understand
- easily visible
- not misleading
Choose Your Materials for Artisan Jars and Bottles
A lot of artisan brands like a craft feel to their jam jar labels or sauce labels, and look for ways to make their label look different and stand out on a shelf. There are many ways to do that starting with what material is chosen for your label design. It is amazing how different printing can look on a standard white material compared to a silver material, for example, for added shine.
Paper – creates a raw look ideal for organic artisan foods, with a range of textures and thickness to choose from
PP (Polypropylene) – a popular choice for sauces and oils as it’s resistant to tearing or spillages so can offer longevity
Silver PP – a metallic material to add a shine and silver finish to all or part of a label design
With such a wide range of materials for artisan foods we recommend testing your desired material on your product or speaking with an expert to provide you with some ideas and choices.
Selecting Your Craft Food Finishes
Artisan foods often have a rugged, weathered or craft look to them so adding the right finish will create just that.
Matt varnish – takes away the shine to your label and creates a dull matt finish for a paper look (popular for oils, cheeses and sauces)
Textured Varnish - adds a sandpaper feel to your labels for a tactile finish (popular for jams and chutneys)
Soft Touch Varnish – a newer finish on the market this creates a velvety smooth surface which artisan food companies love right now
Adding the Final Touch
And as if that isn’t enough to complete the look to any artisan labels, adding embellishments to a label design takes any food label to the next level of luxury. So, what is there on offer in the embellishing world?
Hot Foiling – an easy way to add decorative metallic detailing which oozes class. Ideal for adding shine to certain words on an artisan label in golds, silvers or a wide range of metallic colours
Embossing – creates a raised 3D effect to an artisan label, ideal for thicker premium materials to make part of the label design pop out
Screen Printing – for a super gloss look adding screen print creates just that with a highly durable ink. Think of a thick, glossy wax stamp on an envelope
Starting Your Artisan Food Label Journey
If you are still unsure on where to begin or what design would best suit your range of artisan foods researching your local grocers and farm shops is a good place to start to see what your competitors are doing and what might best suit your target audience and brand style. You can also request a sample pack from our team for a range of materials and print finishes which may give you some fresh ideas. With so many finishes and options to choose from speaking with a label expert who has experience and knowledge will help you to create the ideal artisan label for your sauces, jams, chutneys or cheeses.