Food Labels

What kinds of food labels do you print?

Anything that goes on a food pack. Wraps for round tubs and deli pots, circles for lids, front labels for stand-up pouches, seals for cake and pastry boxes, back labels with ingredients for jars and bottles, and small stickers for prices or flavours.

Labels go on the outside of the packaging, not on the food. If you are labelling a pack that touches food directly, such as a bag of bread, put the label on an area that does not touch the food or on the outer wrap.

Most food makers start with two labels, a front and a back, and add a lid circle or a seal once the range grows. Keeping the brand panel the same on every pack makes a shelf of mixed products look like one range.

Which stock for chilled food?

Fridges are damp. Paper labels soften and wrinkle when condensation forms on a cold tub, and the edges can lift. White or clear BOPP is a water-resistant film, so it holds its shape in a chiller cabinet and wipes clean if something spills.

For frozen products, tell us when you order. We will suggest the best option for your pack and how to apply the labels so they grip before the cold sets in.

How do I size a tub wrap?

1. Measure the height of the straight wall of the tub, below the lip and above the base.
2. Take 4 to 6 mm off that height so the label clears both.
3. Wrap a strip of paper round the tub to get the circumference.
4. If the tub tapers, tell us the top and bottom circumference, because a tapered tub needs a curved wrap.
5. Send the figures, or a tub, and we check them on the proof.

Tapered tubs are the most common source of wrinkled wraps. A straight label on a tapered tub ends up crooked; a curved one sits flat.

Allergens and ingredients on the label

Food labelling rules in the UK are detailed and depend on what you sell and how you sell it. Checking that your wording, allergen emphasis and dates are right is the maker's responsibility; your local trading standards office or environmental health team can advise.

We set your wording out clearly, keep the type at a size that reads, and make sure allergens are emphasised the way you send them. We will flag anything that looks too small or crowded on the proof.

Labels for coffee, tea and dry goods

Pouches of coffee, tea, granola, flour and snacks stay dry, so paper and kraft labels both work well. Kraft on a kraft pouch looks natural; a white label on a black or kraft pouch makes the type stand out.

Many roasters leave a matt panel for the roast date and write it by hand. For coffee bags with a one-way valve, keep the label clear of the valve so it can still release air.

Tea and herb blends often sell in several sizes. One front design with the weight in its own panel lets you print each size in a short run while the main artwork stays the same.

Food label ideas we print often

• Tub wraps and matching lid circles for a dessert range
• Pouch fronts for coffee and tea in several blends
• Seals for cake and pastry boxes
• Back labels with ingredients for sauces and dips
• Price and flavour stickers for deli counters
• Gift labels for hampers and corporate orders

Applying labels in a busy kitchen

Apply labels to dry, clean, room-temperature packs before they go into the fridge. Labelling a cold tub straight from a chiller invites condensation under the label, which stops it bonding.

For high volumes, a desktop dispenser and rolls wound to suit it save a great deal of time. For mixed flavours in small numbers, sheets let you pick exactly what you need.

Label rolls kept near ovens or dishwashers can pick up warmth and steam. Store them in a cool, dry cupboard and bring out only what you need for the session.

Can I change labels as recipes change?

Yes. Keep the brand and layout on a front label and put recipe details on a back label. When a recipe changes, only the back label needs reprinting.

We keep your approved artwork on file, so a change usually means editing the file, a new proof and a short print run. Our guide to designing labels that print well covers setting files up for easy updates.

How much do food labels cost?

Prices start from £0.05 a label. Size, stock, finish and quantity set the final price, and several flavours on one quote usually cost less per label than separate orders. The quote and a free proof arrive by email within one working day.

Printing and delivery

Printing takes 3 to 5 working days after you approve the proof. Rolls are wound to your dispenser if you tell us the core, and sheets travel flat. Free tracked UK mainland delivery takes 2 to 3 working days.

Something not right on arrival? Report misprints or damage within 10 days, with a photo if you can, and the labels are reprinted or the cost refunded.

Is a sample run a good idea for food labels?

Often. A small first run lets you see the label in the chiller, check it holds up through a week of handling and photograph the pack for your website before ordering in volume. Minimums are low and quoted per job, so a short run is a normal request.

Keep a few labelled packs aside from that first run. When you reorder, comparing them with the new proof is the easiest way to keep colours and positions consistent.