Customers often decide whether to try a product based on how it looks. Good packaging protects your food, builds trust and helps people come back for more.
Choosing packaging
- Keep it food-safe: use containers and bags made for food contact.
- Match the product: airtight jars for pickles and sauces, sturdy boxes for cakes, and resealable bags or tins for cookies and snacks.
- Protect freshness: airtight packaging extends shelf life and keeps texture crisp.
- Think about delivery: packaging should survive a bumpy ride without leaking or crushing.
- Consider the planet: paper, glass and compostable options appeal to many customers.
What to put on your label
Labeling rules vary by country and region, so check your local requirements. Common items include:
- Product name
- Your business name and contact details
- Full list of ingredients, usually from largest to smallest amount
- Allergens, such as nuts, milk, eggs, wheat (gluten), soy and sesame, clearly highlighted
- Net weight or quantity
- Date made and best-before or use-by date
- Storage instructions, such as “Keep refrigerated”
- Your food registration or license number, if required where you live
Design tips
- Keep your logo, colors and fonts the same on every product.
- Make the product name easy to read from a distance.
- Use a sticker or tag with a short story about your kitchen.
- Add your Instagram handle or a QR code for reorders.
Budget-friendly ideas
- Start with plain packaging and a well-designed sticker label.
- Order labels in small batches until your products and recipes are final.
- Buy packaging in bulk once you know what sells.
Keep reading: How to price homemade food products and social media marketing for your home food business.