Our top 10 of iconic food labels through the years

The labelling of food whether on paper, card, stickers or plastic has the ability to sell a product within seconds – from choosing the right colours and materials right through to the correct branding – the key to a successful food product is not just in the eating.

A successful food label can be the means of successful marketing for food – particularly when you’re attempting to make it stand out from similar products on the shelves.

Here at Focus Label we manufacture a range of flexographic printing and digital label printing machine equipment for the narrow web label and packaging print industry to ensure that you produce the correct labelling and printed packaging for your product or clients products.

From bespoke labelling through to more mainstream and commercial production equipment – we can cater to your printing press needs to ensure successful marketing for food products through packaging for your product.

Here is our list of the TOP 10 most iconic food labels through the years:

1. Coca-Cola

Expelling the myth that digital printing is only suitable for short run printing - the Coca Cola personalised branding label campaign, which began last year, has catapulted digital printing into the packaging mainstream. Originally designed to help Coca-Cola engage on a personal level with its consumers in 32 countries the label features the distinctive Coke red colour maintain confidence in the brand and was created using a combination of ClFlexo and Gravure digital printing.

2. Marmite

Marmite was originally conceived in 1902 – it’s label pictures a French stock pot which is what the name Marmite actually means – this makes it more personal and gives it the home-made touch, perhaps targeting a particular type of customer such as the house-wife or family parent. The packaging is distinctive with its yellow lid and is something the brand has kept to over the years ensuring familiarity and brand trust.

3. Heinz Tomato Ketchup

Heinz embarked on a complete redesign of its tomato ketchup label in early 2008 after more than 40 years. However it has still kept confidence in its brand with the familiar printing styles. The green and gold bordering lines have been emboldened and help emphasise the brands royal warrant. The image of the tomato on the vine also promotes its use of natural ingredients – completely customer focused.

4. Hartley's Jam

A fairly traditional brand but its label has been one key part to its success in the ‘jam and condiments’ section in supermarkets and small shops. With a simple and modern designed the label targets everyone. The emboldened brand name ensures that the brand has confidence in what they are selling.

5. Sun-Pat Peanut Butter

Not launched until the 1960’s Sun-Pat brought peanut butter production to the UK. The logo is clearly printed and the main focus of the label and has not changed much since the 60’s once again ensuring consumer trust. The yellow lid makes it distinctive however, Sun-Pat have ensured they've not over-complicated the design of their packaging by sticking to a clear colour scheme – blue and yellow for smooth and green and yellow for the crunchy option.

6. Innocent Smoothies

The Innocent Smoothies made the wonderful decision to make their labels part of their marketing campaign – by making each flavour of their smoothies our friends. By depicting simple doodles for each flavour it adds a personal touch appealing to both children and families. Their simple design also pairs well with their ‘Innocent’ brand name. Their personal touch of creating over-familiar human, informal sayings both inform and entertain, creating interaction with the brand; something which has influenced numerous brands to do something very similar.

7. Brewdog Beer

The Scottish beer brand has drawn attention to the craft that’s gone into making the beer in clever, original and inexpensive labelling. Through doing this they’ve not only created a brand identity that is distinguished but has been able to target both fresh and cool and those who like the traditional and heritage based products. It is a beer label that definitely stands out from the crowd.

8. HP Brown Sauce

Over the many years that HP’s Brown Sauce has been sold it has pictured the Houses of Parliament to draw attention to the brand’s humble beginnings. It also creates trust in the brand by carrying something through. The HP logo is clearly printed and emboldened ensuring the customer knows they are buying a trusted sauce. In recent years, the brand has chosen to give away limited editions of personally labelled bottles which is an excellent example of how a label can be used in successful marketing.

9. Colman’s English Mustard

The Bull’s head logo has been used since 1855 and represents tradition and quality which ensures trust is maintained in the brand throughout its use. The distinctive yellow packaging has had a royal warrant since 1866. There is no clear reference to what the product is on the label other than ‘English Mustard’ however that reveals just how confident Colman’s are in their product because it is so well known.

10. Bovril

An iconic label produced by Unilever- UV inks are used on both the front and back labels and is just another example of a label you will see in homes all over the world. Bold, simple and timeless. 

We can provide you with a variety of printing machines for labelling your product, for more information on Focus Label Machinery Limited please visit our contact us page and get in touch by phone, email or via the online enquiry form.