Specialty food labeling is a shifting, growing and evolving field that changes frequently—as does its appeal to the target consumer audience. In order to stand out and guarantee successful specialty food labeling and marketing, you brand owners must be aware of the latest trends in specialty food and incorporate them into the product labeling.
While the taste of the food is vital, presentation comes in a close second. If something isn't visually appealing or, worse, looks unappetizing, the road to the success will be unnecessarily challenging. This begins with labels, and here are some of the latest trends in specialty food labeling that can help set an item apart from the crowd.
1. Using Custom Lettering
While stock fonts are available to use on labels, brand owners will get more mileage out of creating something that is uniquely theirs. Custom lettering helps companies create memorable brands.
As a specialty food company, the type of lettering that is chosen will depend on the product and its target audience. Designers can create lettering that has certain imperfections, which gives it a non-digital appearance and separates it from the pack.
RELATED ARTICLE: What Custom Labels Say About Your Specialty Food
2. Evoking an Authentic, Nostalgic Feeling
What's old has become cool again. Retro and vintage images, colors and fonts have made a comeback over the past several years, and this extends to specialty food labeling.
Even the younger generation seems to derive a sense of ease and comfort through vintage designs. For those who aren't history buffs, some of these designs evoke an urge to explore the past.
3. More Truthful Ingredient Descriptions
No consumer has ever relished being lied to, but today's buyers are particularly sensitive when it comes to truth in advertising and labeling. In short, being more straightforward about a product's ingredients and its origins is going to help sales.
This can be accomplished through marketing campaigns, but it also extends to labeling. A growing trend is to use more "plain English" on food labels and to give buyers the information they want, particularly when consumers expect certain benefits from a product.
4. Feature Vibrant and Bright Colors
Anyone involved in marketing knows that colors can evoke strong emotions and influence consumer buying choices. Because of this, it makes sense to use them wisely in product labels.
Designers have begun to experiment more with using bold colors in product labels, and it is producing positive results. Brand owners with new specialty food products or those who are redesigning labels should consider adding some bold colors.
5. Eco-Friendly Packaging
Consumers are more environmentally conscious than ever, and most give props to companies that take these factors into consideration with their packaging.
Packages and labels that “go green” have the opportunity to not only help save the planet but also appeal to a larger segment of the market. Eco-friendly choices are now a win-win for specialty food companies.
Consumers encounter hundreds of labels each day and make quick decisions about what they're going to purchase. While a product's ingredients are essential, so too is the way that it is presented, as well as the company's branding.
Ultimately, long-term success could depend on the design and make-up of packaging and food labels.
At Century Label, Your Brand is Our Business. We have nearly 40 years of experience helping companies like yours achieve their goals through our unique custom labeling and packing solutions. Contact us now to learn more about our products and services.
