How to make food & beverage labels you’ll love
Creating an eye-catching, informative label is essential for small businesses selling food and drink products. Your labels need to convey your brand, meet industry regulations, and help your product stand out on the shelf. Whether you’re selling handmade honey, refreshing juices, or small-batch beer, this guide will help you design labels that resonate with your customers.
1. Define Your Brand’s Look
Start with your brand’s story—your logo, colors, fonts, and overall style should reflect your brand identity. For instance, if you sell artisanal honey, natural and earthy tones can communicate purity and authenticity, while vibrant colors and bold fonts might suit a line of fruit juices.
2. Select Durable Materials
Choosing the right label material ensures your labels hold up in various conditions, from refrigeration to handling. For food and drink products, consider waterproof materials like vinyl or durable paper labels with a protective coating, especially for items like juice and beer that are often stored in cool environments.
3. Comply with Food Labeling Regulations
Proper labeling is essential for compliance and transparency. Your label should include:
Branding
Product Identity
Ingredients
Net weight
Allergen information (if applicable)
Expiration date or “best by” date
For packaged foods, refer to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local regulatory guidelines to ensure your labels meet all requirements.
4. Add Creative Flair
Including artistic elements like unique shapes or custom illustrations can give your product an edge. For bakery items, for example, a vintage or handmade style can convey a feeling of warmth and freshness, while sleek and modern elements might work well for coffee or wine.
5. Design Made Simple with Free Online Tools
Creating food and beverage labels with our design tools is easy, whether you’re using a predesigned template or starting with a blank canvas. Here’s how our features make it simple to customize labels to your needs:
Ready-to-Use Templates
Avery offers a range of templates for food and beverage labels. These templates provide a professional layout with suggested sections for key details—like ingredients, brand name, and product description. You can customize as much as you like, adjusting colors, fonts, and layouts to reflect your brand.
Easy Text Fill
Our Easy Text Fill tool helps you enter your label information in one go. All the text fields are organized for quick editing, so it’s easy to add ingredients, nutrition facts, or other details. Simply click “Apply,” and your text will update across your design.
Add Custom Text Boxes
Need extra information? Adding additional text boxes is straightforward. Just select “Add Text Box” under the Text panel, and you can easily move or rotate your new text to fit your design.
Create Nutrition Labels
Nutrition information is essential for many food products. If you need a full nutrition label, you can upload your own or use our partner, ReciPal, to generate one quickly. Once created, save the label to your computer and upload it into Avery Design & Print to add it seamlessly to your design.
Once you’re satisfied with your label, you can order custom printed labels or print them yourself. And with Avery free design tools, you’re empowered to create labels that look professional and convey all the right information.
Dive into Specialized Label Guides
To help you design labels tailored to specific products, check out these quick “How-To” guides:
Get tips on creating brewery-ready labels that are moisture-resistant and visually appealing.
Explore ways to design vibrant, health-focused juice labels.
How to Make Wine Labels: Create elegant wine labels that communicate quality and heritage.
How to Make Coffee Labels: Design labels that reflect the rich, robust nature of your coffee brand.
How to Make Bakery Labels: Tips for creating warm, inviting labels for baked goods.
How to Make Honey Labels: Capture the essence of nature with rustic, authentic honey labels.
Do you still need help?
We’re here to help! If you’re still having a hard time creating your labels or deciding what products and materials are best for your items, please reach out to our top-rated Customer Care Team at (800) 942-8379. They are ready to help you create the perfect labels for all your food and beverage products.
