Packaging has to wear many hats in the drinks industry. It needs to protect the product, display mandatory information, be resilient enough to withstand transport and storage, and yet have enough shelf appeal to find its way into the customer’s basket.
The decisions you make about your food and drink packaging, and where you source them will influence everything from how fast you can scale up to the level of trust customers give you. In this guide, the drinks packaging experts at CJK explain what businesses should consider when choosing drink packaging, what labels need to show and how a good packaging supply partner can keep you compliant and flexible when it comes to increasing order volumes.
Choosing Suitable Food and Drink Packaging Materials
Packaging materials should be chosen according to the product, the process and the route to market. Food, beverages, sauces, powders, ingredients, fish products, chilled goods and drinks all create different demands.
Plastic drink packaging remains widely used across food packaging and beverage packaging because they are lightweight, practical and cost effective. Plastic bottles and containers can be especially useful where durability, ease of handling and transport efficiency are important.
Flexible packaging may suit products where weight, storage space or dispensing are key considerations. Glass jars can offer strong visual appeal and a premium feel, but they are heavier and more fragile than plastic. Paper and card are often used for sleeves, cartons, wraps and outer packaging where additional information, structure or brand presentation is needed.
The right material should be suitable for the product it will carry. For example, drink products may need packaging that can withstand moisture, condensation and repeated handling. Dry foods may need materials that help prevent exposure to moisture. Products sold through ecommerce will need postal containers that tolerate additional handling during packing and delivery.
The best packaging suppliers will send out samples of containers to allow businesses to test their use, and establish how effective they are for their specific product and route to market.removes friction from the packaging process and maintains momentum.
Food Labelling Requirements and Mandatory Information
Food labelling is an essential part of compliance. In the UK, food and drink labels must provide mandatory information clearly and must not be misleading. Government guidance on food labelling sets out that labels generally need to show information such as the name of the product, ingredients, allergens, quantity, date marking, storage conditions, business name and address, country of origin where required, instructions for use where needed and nutrition information.
The Food Standards Agency also explains that food businesses must follow legal requirements for providing food information to consumers, and notes that, outside Northern Ireland, references to EU regulations in its guidance should be read as retained EU law.
For businesses, this means the product label has to do several jobs at once. It must carry the ingredients list, make allergens clear, show the correct date mark such as “use by” or “best before”, provide storage information, identify the business responsible for the product and communicate any safety information customers need.
Food labels also need to be accurate. Claims, descriptions, origin information and product names must not mislead consumers. This is important for compliance, but it also protects customer confidence. If customers cannot trust the information on a label, they are less likely to trust the brand behind it.
Beverage Labels and Drink Product Packaging
Beverage labels create their own set of practical challenges. Drink products may be chilled, transported in bulk, handled repeatedly or exposed to moisture and condensation before they reach customers. The label needs to remain legible and secure throughout that journey.
For beverages, label durability is essential. Labels may need to withstand moisture in chilled storage, remain readable after handling and stay in position during distribution. This is particularly important for plastic bottles, drink containers and other packaging formats that move through production lines, storage, transport and retail shelves.
Beverage labels also need enough room to carry the right information. Depending on the product, this may include the product description, ingredients list, allergens, nutrition information, use by date or best before date, batch code, barcode, recycling information and country of origin where required.
For brands managing multiple flavours or product ranges, consistency becomes part of the customer experience. A label that is aligned, readable and well applied helps maintain the quality of the brand presentation and supports confidence at the point of purchase.
Durability and Label Application
Drink bottle labels need to be designed well, printed clearly and applied consistently. A label that peels, wrinkles, smudges or becomes difficult to read can create risk for the business and confusion for customers.
Durability labels are especially important where packaging may face moisture, refrigeration, repeated handling or long distribution routes. The label material, adhesive, print quality and application process all need to suit the container and the environment the product will pass through.
For growing food and beverage businesses, the label application process can become a pressure point. Applying labels by hand may work for very small runs, but it can become inefficient when production grows or when the business needs to manage multiple product lines, seasonal designs, barcodes or QR codes.
At CJK, our in-house label application service allows businesses to have labels applied to their packaging before it leaves our UK warehouse. CJK uses automated label applicator machines to apply customer labels to selected products from its warehouse, to create a fast process that cuts out steps in the logistics chain and gives you laser point accuracy.ses can improve overall efficiency and reduce reactive decision-making.
Sustainability and Packaging Waste
Sustainability is now built into many packaging decisions. Businesses are reviewing materials, packaging waste, plastic waste, transport efficiency and the environmental impact of their packaging choices.
This does not always mean removing plastic. In many cases, plastic containers and plastic bottles remain the right solution because they are lightweight, durable and practical. The more useful question is often how to choose materials responsibly and reduce waste where possible.
Recyclable materials, recycled content, lighter packaging formats and efficient container designs can all support sustainability goals. At the same time, packaging still has to protect the product. A more environmentally friendly material only works if it is suitable for the food or drink, maintains quality and performs through storage and distribution.
Good packaging can also reduce food waste. If packaging protects freshness, prevents leakage and helps customers store products correctly after opening, it will support both commercial performance and sustainability.
Compliance, Legislation and Avoiding Misleading Labels
Food and drink labels are part of a wider compliance picture. Businesses need to consider UK regulations, retain EU law where relevant, and any additional requirements for products sold in specific markets or through particular retailers.
The label must provide information clearly and accurately. This includes ingredients, allergens, quantity, date marking, storage instructions, country of origin where required and the details of the responsible food business. Labels must also avoid misleading descriptions, claims or presentation.
Allergens deserve particular care. If a product contains allergens, they must be communicated clearly so consumers can make safe decisions. For customers with allergies, the information on a food label is not just helpful; it is essential.
Compliance also extends to the packaging process. If labels are changed, updated or applied across multiple containers, businesses need a process that maintains accuracy and consistency. That is one reason why efficient labelling support can be valuable for brands with expanding product ranges.
Why Work With an Established Packaging Supplier?
An established packaging supplier can help businesses choose packaging that suits the product, supports compliance and works across production and distribution.
For food and beverage brands, this means having access to a wide selection of packaging materials, plastic containers, bottles, jars and other solutions. It also means being able to discuss label space, closure compatibility, durability, storage requirements and whether the packaging can accommodate the information required.
Supplier support becomes even more important as the business scales. A packaging supplier should be able to support small runs, larger volumes and repeat orders without creating unnecessary delays. Stock availability, fast dispatch and responsive advice can all help businesses maintain efficiency and stay ahead of the competition.
At CJK, businesses can access a wide range of packaging options, responsive support and in-house label application. This helps brands choose packaging that meets high standards for quality, presentation and practicality.
Choose CJK for Food Drink Packaging and Labels
At CJK Packaging, we supply a wide selection of food and drink packaging solutions, including plastic containers, bottles, jars, pots and other packaging formats suitable for a broad range of products.
Whether you need packaging for food, beverages, drink products or commercial liquids, our team can help you find the right solution for your product, process and brand. We can also support businesses with in-house label application, apply product labels, barcodes, QR codes and brand information consistently before packaging is shipped.
With no minimum order quantity, fast UK dispatch from stock and responsive support, CJK helps businesses move from small runs to larger volumes. Want advice on choosing the best packaging for your product? Get in touch with our helpful team today.