Colour Label Printing for Food & Drink Products
Print professional full-colour food and drink labels in house, when you need them, with Epson ColorWorks colour label printers.
Ideal for food producers, drinks manufacturers, coffee roasters, bakeries, sauce makers, farm shops and growing artisan brands that want more control over label quantities, designs and product variations.
Already have label artwork? Send it to us and we can arrange an Epson ColorWorks print sample so you can see how your own product label looks before investing in a printer.
Print Your Food Labels In House
Ordering pre-printed labels works well when every product, design and quantity is predictable.
For growing food and drink businesses, that often isn't the reality.
Print Short Runs
Produce the quantity you need for small batches, seasonal products, samples and limited editions.
Change Designs Quickly
Update flavours, product names, branding, promotional artwork or other variable label information without ordering another large batch.
Reduce Label Waste
Print labels as required instead of holding large quantities of pre-printed stock that may become obsolete.
What Food & Drink Labels Can You Print?
Jams, Preserves & Chutneys
Produce colourful branded labels for jars of jam, marmalade, chutney, relish, honey and preserves.
Sauces & Condiments
Print different designs for hot sauces, cooking sauces, dressings, marinades and condiment ranges.
Coffee & Tea
Create labels for different origins, blends, roast profiles, bag sizes and seasonal coffee or tea ranges.
Bakery Products
Print branded labels for cakes, biscuits, confectionery, bread and packaged bakery products.
Bottled Drinks
Create colourful labels for appropriate bottled beverage applications, product ranges and limited editions.
Spices & Seasonings
Run multiple product varieties from the same printer rather than purchasing separate pre-printed label batches.
Farm Shop Products
Create own-brand labels for locally produced and packaged goods.
Delicatessen Products
Produce branded labels for packaged speciality foods and own-brand ranges.
New Product Samples
Produce professional-looking labels for test batches, buyer samples and new product launches without a full commercial print run.
Why Food Producers Bring Label Printing In House
More product variations
Print different flavours, recipes, sizes and designs without stocking a large quantity of every version.
Print different flavours, recipes, sizes and designs without stocking a large quantity of every version.
Smaller production batches
Match label quantities more closely to the products you're actually making.
Match label quantities more closely to the products you're actually making.
Faster product launches
Produce labels internally once your artwork is ready rather than waiting for another external print run.
Produce labels internally once your artwork is ready rather than waiting for another external print run.
Seasonal products
Print short runs for Christmas, gifting, promotions and limited-edition ranges.
Print short runs for Christmas, gifting, promotions and limited-edition ranges.
Artwork changes
Change the design without writing off large quantities of previously printed labels.
Change the design without writing off large quantities of previously printed labels.
Greater control
Decide when and how many labels to print based on current production requirements.
Decide when and how many labels to print based on current production requirements.
See Your Own Food Label Printed Before You Buy
Don't choose a colour label printer from a website image alone.
Tek Direkt can arrange free Epson ColorWorks print samples using your own label artwork.
Send us an existing jar, bottle, pouch, box or product label design and tell us the approximate size and application. You can then see the colour, detail and overall appearance of your own artwork before deciding whether in-house printing is right for you.
One Printer, Multiple Products
One of the strongest reasons for moving food-label production in house is the ability to print multiple designs from the same printer.
For example, a sauce manufacturer could produce labels for:
Original
The core product design.
Hot
A different colour and artwork variation.
Extra Hot
Another SKU printed from the same machine.
Seasonal Edition
A temporary design without ordering a large external print run.
The same principle applies to coffee origins, jam flavours, tea blends, spice mixes, bakery ranges and many other food products.
Print Only What You Need
Traditional Pre-Printed Labels
- Usually ordered in predetermined quantities
- Separate stock for different designs
- Artwork changes may leave obsolete labels
- Additional print runs require another order
- Can be economical for predictable high-volume requirements
On-Demand Colour Label Printing
- Print quantities based on current production
- Switch between label designs digitally
- Useful for multiple SKUs
- Produce short runs when required
- Respond more quickly to design changes
In-house printing doesn't necessarily have to replace every externally printed label. Some businesses use on-demand printing for short runs, new products and changing SKUs while retaining pre-printed labels for very high-volume, stable lines.
Labels for Growing Food Brands
Colour label printing is particularly useful when your product range is growing faster than the volume of each individual SKU.
Instead of buying thousands of labels for every flavour or variation, you can keep suitable blank label stock and print the required artwork as production changes.
Start-Ups
Produce professional product labels without immediately committing to large quantities of each design.
Established SMEs
Bring more label production under your own control as the number of products and variations increases.
Contract & Private Label
Switch artwork between customer brands and product lines where your production and labelling workflow supports it.
Which Epson ColorWorks Printer Is Right for Food Labels?
The right printer depends on label width, volume, media, finish and the way the printer will fit into your production process.
COMPACT DESKTOP
Epson ColorWorks C4000e
A strong starting point for smaller producers and businesses bringing professional colour label printing in house.
- Up to 108 mm print width
- Up to 1200 × 1200 dpi
- Compact desktop design
- Individual pigment inks
- Integrated autocutter
HIGHER PRODUCTION
Epson ColorWorks C6000 Series
Consider the C6000 family where production requirements, media handling or workflow demands go beyond a compact desktop printer.
WIDER LABELS
Epson ColorWorks C6500 Series
A larger-format ColorWorks option for applications requiring wider colour labels and more production-focused capabilities.
Not sure which model you need? Send us your label dimensions, approximate quantity and artwork. Starting with the actual label is usually easier than trying to choose a printer from specifications alone.
Choosing the Right Label Material
The printer is only part of the solution. The label material and adhesive also need to suit the product and environment.
Paper Labels
Suitable for many general food and packaging applications where significant moisture or harsh handling is not expected.
Synthetic Labels
Worth considering where greater resistance to moisture, handling or other environmental conditions is required.
Different Finishes
Matte and gloss-style materials can produce very different visual results, so test the intended stock with your artwork.
For refrigerated, frozen, oily, wet or otherwise demanding applications, the complete combination of label material + adhesive + ink + application surface + environment should be tested before production.
What Should Be on a Food Label?
Food labelling requirements depend on the product, how it is sold and the applicable UK regulations. Typical information may include elements such as:
Product name
Clear identification of the food or drink product.
Clear identification of the food or drink product.
Ingredients
Where required, an ingredients list presented according to applicable rules.
Where required, an ingredients list presented according to applicable rules.
Allergen information
Relevant allergens must be communicated in accordance with applicable food-labelling requirements.
Relevant allergens must be communicated in accordance with applicable food-labelling requirements.
Net quantity
The appropriate weight or volume information where required.
The appropriate weight or volume information where required.
Date information
Best-before or use-by information where applicable.
Best-before or use-by information where applicable.
Business information
Required responsible food-business details where applicable.
Required responsible food-business details where applicable.
A colour label printer is a production tool, not a compliance service. Always confirm the current legal labelling requirements that apply to your specific food or drink product before printing production labels.
Can You Print Barcodes on Food Labels?
Yes. A suitable colour label design can combine branding and product information with barcodes such as EAN retail barcodes, where required.
Barcode quality depends on factors including printer settings, artwork, barcode dimensions, colour contrast and label material.
If your products are entering retail distribution, make sure the barcode itself has been created and allocated correctly rather than simply generating a random barcode number.
Food & Drink Colour Label Printing FAQs
Can I print my own food product labels?
Yes. Businesses can use an on-demand colour label printer to produce their own product labels, provided the finished labels and information comply with the requirements that apply to the product.
Can I print different flavours from the same printer?
Yes. You can change the digital artwork between print jobs, making in-house colour printing particularly useful for businesses with multiple flavours, varieties or product designs.
Is the Epson C4000e suitable for food labels?
It can be a strong option for many short-run product-label applications where the required printable width fits within its 108 mm maximum. The correct media and adhesive still need to be selected for the specific product and environment.
Can I print waterproof food labels?
Durability depends on the combination of printer ink, label face material, adhesive, product surface and operating environment. For applications exposed to moisture, refrigeration or heavy handling, test an appropriate synthetic or specialist media before production.
Can I print labels for jars and bottles?
Yes, provided the label dimensions, material and adhesive are appropriate for the container and application.
Can I print small quantities?
Yes. Short-run production is one of the main reasons businesses consider on-demand colour label printing.
Can I see my label printed before buying a printer?
Yes. Send Tek Direkt your artwork and label requirements and we can arrange a free Epson ColorWorks print sample.
Which printer should I buy?
That depends on your label width, print volume, media and workflow. For many smaller producers the C4000e is a logical starting point, while C6000 and C6500 models suit different production and format requirements.
See Your Food or Drink Label Printed
If you're considering bringing label printing in house, start with the label rather than the printer.
Send us your artwork, approximate label dimensions and tell us what the label is going onto. We can arrange a free Epson ColorWorks print sample so you can see the result before choosing your equipment.
Your artwork. A real printed sample. No obligation to buy a printer.