FINAT Announces Food and Beverage Label Winners 2013

FINAT, the worldwide association representing the interests of the self-adhesive labelling industry, announced the winners of its 33rd label awards competition at the award ceremony of its annual congress in Münich. In the food and beverage categories the winning labels, representing entries from all over the world, promote and decorate wine, spirits, beer, cheese, tea, appelsauce and even 'fleur de sel'...

The food and beverage angle to the FINAT Awards
Once again the food and beverage categories were in clear evidence in the 2013 FINAT Label competition with almost 20 % of the total entries.

As usual the wine and spirits sectors lead the way in appealing designs. Amongst the trends noticed in the 2013 entries is that about 90% of the wine and spirits labels have a tactile feel to them. This is achieved using several techniques, either individually or in combination. Positive and negative embossing giving an almost 3D effect: using the silk screen process which (because of the really thick ink layer) gives a “raised” feel to the label.

Differential varnishing using matt and glossy varnishes was used extensively in many of the drinks and food labels. The wide use of gold and silver foiling on many of the entries gave the added feeling of luxury. One of the whiskey labels used the 3D holographic effect in the background to such a degree that the label looked about 4-5 cm deep. One label used a flock type ink to give a result which the consumer could actually feel. Although this was for a cosmetic label the principle could easily be adapted for non-alcoholic drinks or even some types of food labelling.

The Printing Processes group winner was an apple cider label using combination printing to give a pleasing, almost understated effect. In the offset class a very scary label for an Australian beer certainly grabbed the attention of the judges. Screen printing on a clear film base with very simple, bold, colourful images was used to label a liqueur bottle, the result was very striking.

The colours used on the food labels were much more intense. Gone are the days of mediocre illustrations of food on the label, welcome the more saturated colours which are used to attract the attention of the uncommitted consumer. One can see that the brand owners are using colour in a much more dramatic way to differentiate their products on the supermarket shelves.

Group and Category Winners

A. Marketing/End-uses Group: The food and alcoholic drinks categories were the second most popular in the marketing group. The wine category was responsible for 39 entries (16% of all entries).

Category Awards

• Wines: Collotype Labels, Australia for Carnival Love
This is a busy and colourful label evoking the sprit of the carnival depicted by the personalities expected to attend such an event. The old looking poster adds atmosphere. Offset litho was used with an unusual die cutting format making it that little bit different. It also scored high marks for its design elements. The use of high build and matt varnishes added a deft touch to the whole label.

• Alcoholic Drinks: Label Apeel Ltd, UK for Gilpin’s Extra Dry Gin
A label ideally suited for the digital process due to its short run. The use of a fluted die to achieve positive and negative embossing along with well produced and intricate detailed foiling makes for a very attractive label. The fine contrast between the obvious black company logo and the red of the additional information is backed up by the controlled use of the silver foiling. A nice open and clean looking result.

• Non-Alcoholic Drinks: Pragati Pack (India) Pvt. Ltd., India for The Boston Tea Company
The illustrations depict the olden days of tea trading when the cost of tea was only for the rich. The reversed out printing of the white type is excellent. The red lettering gives a subtle colour balance to the label as does the white area in the centre. The Boston Tea Company logo is prominent and gives the label authority. The flexo process has been used to produce an extremely good result. The addition of a gloss varnish gives the label an extra “lift”.

• Food Products: Skanem Skurup, Sweden for Önos Äppelmos
A small but well printed label with masses of detail expertly printed mostly in halftone using offset litho. The label has several illustrations, which together make up a very attractive result. The subdued borders and the 1903 date along with the royal crest throw up the main illustration of the apple and the company logo into definite prominence.

• Promotional Coupons: Novelprint Sistemas de Etiquetagem Ltda, Brazil for Philadelphia Light Promotional label
A well printed promotion for the cream cheese with several recipes for customers to collect. Nicely printed by flexo in nine colours onto a white BOPP filmic substrate. The design of the front label draws the eye to the brand Philadelphia and gives the label a “light” feel. The rest of the front label consists of a number of small illustrations showing how to use the product. On the back side the individual recipes are clear to read in reversed out white lettering..

• Sets of Labels: Cabas SA, Greece for Gaea-Trikalinos Greek Fleur de Sel
The set of three labels is very well printed using UV letterpress on a silver gloss paper. The very small type is very legible. The illustrations on each label depict the origins of the product “salt”. To add to the interest the pictures were taken at the lagoon from which the ALATI (salt) is harvested. The colour ways of the individual labels represent blue for the sea for the natural flavour, green for the herbal connection and the reddish colour for the paprika, which is present in the final product. Allowing the silver substrate to show through adds class to an already good label. The result is a stunning set of small but extremely well produced labels.


B: Printing Processes Group

Category Awards

• Screen Printing (Silk Screen): Kolibri Labels B.V, The Netherlands for A Nice Liqueur
A no label look entry printed on clear PP with bright bold images. There is a nice contrast between the intense red, large typefaces with the black paw print. The white outline print has been treated with a high build lacquer, which also serves to give a tactile feel to the transparent snow-flakes and the Braille characters. The overall gloss lacquer protects the label from spillages. A nice screen-printed label.

• Reel fed Offset Lithography: Collotype Labels, Australia for The Convict
An extremely busy looking label, with masses of detail and a scary illustration, reminiscent of a mythological scene for a ghost story. The small type, which is well printed, says it all. Escape from the chains. Printed using offset litho the complex illustration is sharp and the detail is excellent.

• Combination Printing: Rotakett AB, Sweden for Astrakan Guld äppelcider halvtorr (Kiviks Musteri)
A nice, understated label with a smooth light coloured background with white screen printed type, gold leaves and gold type in the centre. The black logo with the red apple contrasts with the background nicely. Flexo and screen-printing have been used in combination to produce this label. The matt varnish gives the end result a smooth look and feel. The screen printed type is well done and is easily readable.

C: Non-Adhesive Applications Group

• Sleeves: Collotype Labels, Chile for Havana Club Añejo Reserva
A bold, bright and busy looking label printed using flexography on a PET base. Although the images look to be solid they are, in fact, modified by the use of halftone overlays with the odd pocket of 4 colour halftone areas. The only two solid colours are the black and white images. The whole label has a southern American festival feel about it.

Special mention went to Hennessy VSOP by Rotakett AB, Sweden. Using screen printing for the main images and hot foiling this label deserved mention for the use of Rolling Optics 3D material.

Additional images of the award winners can be downloaded from:
ftp://NEWS:NEWS@ftp.duomedia.com/FINAT/images FINAT Label Awards 2013_Food & Beverage