NCCO International Labels are an important part of the foodservice industry. Why? Not only do they represent a business through product and brand identification and differentiation, they are also a necessary part of day-to-day operations – tracking inventory, verifying nutritional and allergen information, identifying sell-by and use-by dates, and enhancing communications.
Not all labels are created equal, however. Stock labels can often work effectively for many business functions. In other instances, a label might require a bit of customization to be most effective. Size, shape, color, and adhesive are all part of the label discussion, after all. So how do you know if you need a stock label or a custom label?
Let’s talk about labels in the restaurant industry and the various functions and uses for stock vs. custom labels.
Stock Labels for Your Business
Stock labels are designed for everyday application. They have qualities that make them an effective product for various business functions, and there are several benefits to sticking with stock labels:
- Cost: Stock labels are typically the low-price option. This is due to the fact that they can be produced in large quantities, which drives down the unit cost for each label. These cost savings are passed along to the consumer, saving you money.
- Availability: Stock labels are also faster and easier to procure. They are inventoried by the label producer and are therefore available when you need them, making it the most convenient way to get what you need.
- Universality: Stock labels are designed to be as useful as possible. For example, use-by or sell-by date labels can be used for multiple products and are infinitely useful regardless of changing tastes, trends, brands, chain locations, etc.
Custom Labels for Your Business
Custom labels, on the other hand, are designed for a specific use, look, or purpose. They can adapt to the unique workflows of any foodservice operation and incorporate unique features – like branding or logos, personalized business information, barcodes and numbering, and specific colors, sizes, materials, and adhesives – which are not available on your average stock label.
Here are a few examples of custom label uses that cannot be met by standard labels:
- Personalization: It’s common to add custom labels on to-go or delivery food packaging, adding contact information like address and phone number or unique business information.
- Branding: Labels can be added to any type of packaging to represent your business. Product labels can incorporate unique branding elements, like logos, colors, and design elements unique to your business.
- Barcodes and numbering: Unique numbering and barcodes can be printed on labels and added to food packaging, inventory, or anything else you need.
- Allergen warnings: Designing a warning label with bright colors and fonts can add a layer of protection for consumers against potentially harmful food and drink.
- Spill protection: As anyone who has ever worked in a kitchen knows, spills are pretty much guaranteed. Protection from oils, chemicals, and other liquids with a laminate, or stronger material like polypropylene, can ensure your labels stay safe.
- Temperature abuse: Label information and application can also be compromised by extreme heat or cold. A special adhesive can be added to custom labels to ensure they stand up to temperature changes.
- Size and shape: Food products that are unique in size or shape often need a uniquely sized or shaped label to fit.
Finding the Right Label
As you can see, there are benefits to using both stock labels and custom labels – it simply depends on the needs of your business. For prep and inventory, functional stock labels might be all you need to get by, while custom labels can increase your visibility and act as a marketing tool, adding your brand to existing packaging, as well as useful information and unique attributes.
Plus, the good news is – there are professionals who can help you find exactly what you need.