We have a lot of new and exciting developments to share with you this month. We hope everyone has had a good start to the year, as always we thank you for your business and look forward to working with you throughout the coming year.
Label Tech In The News
Following the success of our award winning Screaming Banshee Craft Beer Label which was featured in design blogs worldwide, over the past few months the media have run a few articles about Label Tech, here’s a piece from last Friday’s Irish Times
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/manufacturing/label-tech-creates-custom-labels-that-stand-out-on-the-shelf-1.2619095
A recent piece featured in the Sunday Times, http://www.labeltech.ie/article.html Take a look through and let us know what you think.
Spotlight on Ballymaloe
Label Tech have had the pleasure of working with the Ballymaloe brand on packaging for 10 years now so we thought it would be interesting to turn the spotlight on them and see what’s happening with the product at the moment.
Q. Tell us a bit about the history/evolution of the brand?
A. Ballymaloe Foods was started in 1990 by Yasmin Hyde, a daughter of Myrtle Allen of Ballymaloe House. The company grew gradually, in 1995 we moved to a purpose built production unit, which allowed us to produce more. The company started with just one product, Ballymaloe Relish which was a recipe that was always served in Ballymaloe House. Yasmin saw the opportunity to produce it for retail and food service so started in a very small way in the kitchen in Ballymaloe before moving into a porta cabin at home. Since 1990 the range has grown to include 14 products which sell to Irish retailers, delis, restaurants and hotels all over Ireland. Exports are 16% of the company’s turnover, which are growing year on year.
Q. How important is in-store presence/shelf stand-out to your brand?
A. In store presence is a vital part of our communications mix, as they are with any food brand, especially one in the premium quality space that Ballymaloe occupy. As they say the shopper makes decisions in a matter of seconds so it is of the utmost importance that the packaging is right so that new customers are attracted to buying the product, then it is our job to ensure they enjoy it once purchased. We have worked with Label Tech to ensure our product labels are of the highest quality and portray Ballymaloe in the correct light according to our brand values.
Q. What are the key packaging trends at the moment that Ballymaloe have noted?
A. Reducing waste part of sustainability plans is getting more important, so we are trying to always make sure to source environmentally friendly and recyclable packaging.
Q. Do you feel the team at Label Tech understand your business and the challenges you face?
A. Yes, we have worked with Label Tech for over 10 years now and the team are very supportive, they understand production challenges, and turn print runs around very quickly when required.
Q. Where is Ballymaloe going from here on in, what key developments are in the pipeline?
A. We are focusing on launching our Steak Sauce in Ireland in the coming months, and marketing our Original Relish which is fairly new in UK retailers. We are also starting to build a new production facility so that will keep us very busy but we are looking forward to many more successful years to come.
Interview with Maxine Hyde, Marketing & Sales Manager, Ballymaloe Foods, more information on Ballymaloe available here…http://www.ballymaloefoods.ie/
