Guide to Crafting Standout Food and Drink Labels
Design food & beverage labels that get noticed
Whether you’re bottling small-batch honey, roasting your own coffee, or brewing craft beer, your label is more than a sticker — it’s your first impression. The right design tells your story, builds trust, and helps your products pop on the shelf. This guide walks you through how to create food and beverage labels that look great, meet regulations, and connect with your customers.
1. Define your brand’s look
Start with what makes your brand unique. Your logo, colors, fonts, and overall style should tell your story at a glance. If you’re selling artisanal honey, natural tones and clean typography suggest purity and simplicity. For bright fruit juices, bold colors and modern fonts signal energy and freshness. The goal is to create a consistent, recognizable look that customers remember.
2. Choose materials that last
Food and drink labels go through a lot, from moisture and handling to temperature changes. That’s why choosing the right label material matters. Waterproof films with protective laminate hold up beautifully in coolers or refrigerated cases. They keep your design sharp and your brand looking professional, even after hours in storage or transit.
3. Keep it compliant
Food and beverage products come with strict labeling requirements. Make sure your label includes the essentials, such as:
- Product name
- Ingredient list
- Net weight or volume
- Allergen information
- Nutrition facts (if required)
- Manufacturer or distributor details
For packaged foods, check the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local regulations to ensure your label meets every rule before you print.
4. Add your creative touch
Compliance doesn’t have to mean boring. Unique shapes, creative illustrations, or custom finishes can make your product stand out. Think vintage styles for baked goods, minimalist labels for coffee, or elegant metallic details for wine. Small design choices can instantly elevate your brand and help customers connect emotionally with your product.
5. Design made easy
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
Explore hundreds of food and beverage label templates built with key sections for ingredients, branding, and descriptions. Adjust fonts, colors, and layouts to match your style.
Easy Text Fill
Add all your details in one place. With Easy Text Fill, you can quickly input ingredients, nutrition facts, or product info, and update them across your design instantly.
Custom Text Boxes
Need extra space for a story, batch number, or tagline? Add new text boxes in seconds and move or rotate them anywhere on your label.
Nutrition Labels
Need a full nutrition panel? Upload your own or use our partner ReciPal to generate one fast. Save it, upload it into Avery Design & Print, and you’re ready to go.
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
Want more ideas? Explore our quick guides tailored to specific products:
Tips to design labels that highlight your brand’s flavor and freshness.
Learn the TTB requirements plus creative ways to make your brews stand out.
Capture your wine’s story with designs that blend artistry and compliance.
Build packaging that reflects your roast’s personality and connects with coffee lovers.
Create warm, inviting designs that make your baked goods look irresistible.
Design beautiful labels that meet regulations and showcase your product’s natural charm.
Ready to make your mark?
Your food and drink labels do more than meet requirements — they tell your story, inspire confidence, and help customers choose your product over the next one. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, Avery has everything you need to create standout labels that look sharp and stay put.
If you need any help 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.
