Efficiency the key to success

“Updating our labels with the help of Axicon has helped us to streamline our labelling meaning we can now process four times as many products in the same amount of time”

Since launching in 2016, Welshhomestead Smokery’s range of chilli jams, seasonings and smoked meats have been a firm favourite with foodies across Wales. Lockdown saw an increase in on-line sales and products can now be found in delicatessen and farm shops across the country.

As the range of products and sales volumes increases, so does the need for efficiency. Claire looked at all areas of the business including the product labelling. Axicon Labels have worked with Welshhomestead since their launch and worked alongside Claire to review all aspects of her labels Including:

Speeding-up label application (Streamline our labelling)

The existing smoked chilli jam labels had up to four labels: front, back, top and great taste awards. Applying these was tricky and time consuming. We suggested a wrap-around label which, as well as being easier to apply also allowed the great taste awards to be included on the same label removing the need to apply a separate label.

Cost Savings

Claire Jesse (Founder) has always realised that having great tasting award winning products does not guarantee success. Shelf and Instagram appeal are essential, but maintaining the look of the product throughout the duration of its life is also important. Many of the products in the range are kept refrigerated and used over extended periods of time with the inevitable drips and splashes of frequent use ending up on the jars and labels.

The finished labels needed to meet a number of key criteria including:

• A gloss finish

• Be wipeable

• An adhesive suitable for ambient, chilled and frozen environments.

We looked at several options including both paper and synthetic materials and supplied a number of samples for testing. Ultimately, the product selected not only fulfilled all of the above criteria but had the added bonus of reducing material costs by over 50%.

Axicon Labels specialise in the production of self-adhesive labels and have done so for over forty years. To find out how we can help you contact us here.