TheDieline.com: The Leading Package Design Blog

Kohler Chocolates

Kohler Chocolates makes several enticing chocolate products. Their bars are packaged very nicely and have a very elegant feel. The story behind Kohler is interesting. Destination Kohler is a resort/spa in Kohler, Wisconsin in the US. The parent company owns several international businesses. Many people know the Kohler name from kitchen and bath fixtures - this is actually only one of the companies under the Kohler name. It's interesting to see chocolate and plumbing fixtures under the same brand name, that's for sure. Still, they manage to keep everything distinct from each other. At the show, they told me the Kohler Resorts was making chocolates for sale within the resort itself. But, due to demand for their popular chocolates, they decided to make them available to the general public as retail products.

Olio & Spices - Fancy Food Show 2008

At the NYC Fancy Food Show earlier this month, I had the pleasure of meeting the folks behind Olio & Spices, an Israeli company with knock-out good sauces, spices and other great food products.  My favorite product line in their collection are these sauces. The solid band of color differentiates them easily, while witty ink draw characters add loads of personality to each bottle. A paper-wrapped cover on the lid highlights the gourmet nature of these products.

Packaging and branding by Tel Aviv-based PM Designers (Sharon Michaeli), who collaborated with illustrators Einat Peled and Michal Bonano.

I wasn't the only one to notice their great packaging - in  2006 Communication Arts awarded their spice  blend series (continue reading for an image of the spice blends and more...)

(thank you, Erez!)

Chocochic - Fancy Food Show 2008

At the NYC Fancy Food Show last week, I discovered Chocochic - a UK chocolatier with beautiful branding and packaging. The bold and liberal use of vivid aqua blue (even more vivid than the photo shows) make the line striking and unique. The structural designs are also quite good.

Continue reading for more images.

Branding and packaging designed by Pure Equator.

Veetee Dine in

Continuing the chronicles of packaging I saw at the Fancy Food Show last weekend – Veetee's range of ready rices. I like the way the visual of the packaging refers to the ideal situation; you haven't got the time, energy or capacity to make authentic Indian rice, but this is how it could be served and how this rice could taste. The small visual of the garnish takes a somewhat unappetizing structure and makes it more palatable.

Tyrrell's Vodka

You know Tyrrell's, but did you know they made vodka? I certainly didn't. It makes sense as a way to promote a love of potatoes – if you're making chips, you may as well make vodka too, right? This bottle keeps the simplicity of the chip designs and the illustration style, and places a foot in the vodka category by using the back of the bottle for the imagery.

Q Tonic

One of the highlight from the show was Q Tonic: "Q Tonic is dedicated to making the world’s best tonic water - a clean, crisp, completely ungeneric beverage that enhances the finest spirits or stands proudly on its own. We’ve used the best ingredients we could find. We went to the slopes of the Peruvian Andes for hand-picked quinine and to the Mexican countryside for organic agave, a sweetener better than honey with a gently rounded sweetness. We meticulously refined our recipe with both food scientists and mixologists. Then we worked with one of New York City’s best design shops to develop a bottle as beautiful as the liquid it holds. We think we’ve come up with a superior tonic water. One that’s good enough for the gin, vodka, or rum you’d choose to mix it with. And good enough to change the way you think about tonic water." Designed by Arulinden.

LUXE: by Wildly Delicious

A fantastic new product launch from Wildly Delicious, "sensual delights for the sweet tooth, featuring sinful Enrobing Sweet Sauces and European-inspired cocktail mixes". I wonder who designed it, it looks very upscale and elegant. More pics after the jump!

Valais Water

Twist

Twist, who we previously featured, launched their new naked sponge.

Tonton

Tonton Gourmet Japanese Sauces, great stuff, I love the color scheme. More pics after the jump!

Theo Chocolates

We recently featured the work of Kittenchops, and it was a pleasant surprise to see Theo Chocolates at the show!

Tea's Tea

Taste Buds

Nice work from Taste buds intense granola cookies, some of the healthiest and tastiest cookies around! Take a look at more after the jump!

Sweet's

Sweet's award winning and patent pending twist packaging made a big impact at the show. "The Sweet Candy Company design team of the winning packaging includes: the paper box supplier for the candy - Utah Paper Box and the high-end creative shop - Struck. What makes this packaging so unique is the patent pending design of the box that Sweet Candy and UPB developed together. The box has two ends that "twist," mirroring the twist ends of the taffy inside. The graphics of the packaging highlight the richness and distinctiveness of the candy." Take a look at the full line after the jump!

Made in Napa Valley

I am a big fan of Made in Napa Valley so it was really nice to see their entire line in person. Take a look at more after the jump!

Castor & Pollux

New tin packaging from Castor & Pollux, I think the lunchbox is great for dog treats! More pics after the jump!

Peerless Coffee & Tea

Monica's

Galler Chocolat

Simple and colorful packaging from Galler Chocolat. More pics after the jump!

La Amarilla De Ronda

A new 2 pack giftset was introduced from La Amarilla De Ronda. I am a HUGE fan of this packaging, take a look at previous coverage. Spectacular.

Kind Fruit & Nut Bars

Late July

I love the classic packaging from Late July, but after a quick google search I find a post from Rider over at Sustainable Is Good (and a blogger at The Dieline!). Late July's cookies are excessively over packaged, with less than half the box full of cookies!

Kaboom

Kaboom is the World's First USDA Certified Organic Energy   Juice. The design of the bottle has a very interesting shape and makes you really want to pick it up!

Jake's BBQ Sauce

Hiball Energy

Hiball Energy is a new beverage in the market, a sparkling water with a light natural flavor, and infused with active energizing ingredients. The packaging has a bit of a retro flair yet looks entirely modern. More pics after the jump!

Grab an O

Refined food with a twist, who said olives have to be in a can or jar?

Dolfin Chocolat

Very nice spring themed packaging from Dofin Chocolat.

Hint Mint

Hint mints are arguably the most fashionable mints around! More pics after the jump.

Dufflet

Dufflet simply has gorgeous packaging and design and were one of my favorites at the show. Take a look at a few more pics after the jump!

Dale & Thomas Popcorn

Brix

Brix, specially formulated chocolate to enhance the flavors of wine! Designed by MOD. More pics after the jump.

Beth's

Dry Soda Co

Dry Soda Co. was at the show and I was able to take some great shots of their award winning packaging. We posted about Dry Soda Co last year and it was really great to see them up close and in person. More pics after the jump!

Bloomsberry & Co

Bloomsberry & Co's line of high end chocolate bars with witty packaging is quite refreshing. I love Bochox and Girth Control bars!

Dr. Stuarts

Dr. Stuarts Tea, designed by one of my favorites Pearlfisher, redefines tea packaging with whimsical, quirky, and humorous illustrations that show the benefits or attributes of the tea. Compare this to your standard shot of loose tea leaves and the difference is astounding. Well done as always! Take a look at more pics after the jump!

34 Degrees Crispbread

Bellagio

This year Bellagio added new flavors, as well as a gift pack to their
stunning line of sipping chocolates. Take a look after the jump for more photos!

Buckley's

Gorgeous packaging for Buckley's Thimble Cookies. One more pic after the jump!

Chuao Chocolatier

I love this simple twist packaging from Chuao Chocolatier.

Kromland Farm Organic Tea

Function

Function had a very strong presence at the show, showing their line of functional health and sports drinks. The packaging is well, functional of course, and very well done! The use of color and type is top notch and overall it looks very good! More pics after the jump!

Popcorn, Indiana

Popcorn, Indiana Popcorn. Its actually a real city!

Coco-Luxe Confections

I love this packaging from Coco-Luxe, it has a very high-end yet hip feel to it. More pics after the jump!

Sweetwater Spice Co: BBQ Bath

Some simple yet striking packaging for a new line of "BBQ baths", flavored brine concentrates by the Sweetwater Spice Company.

The Fine Cheese Co

Crackers designed for cheese.

Fizzy Lizzy

Meet Fizzy Lizzy, a fun new brand of bottled sparkling juices. More pics after the jump!

Climate Change Chocolate

Climate Change Chocolate, by Bloomsbury & Co, is an eco-conscious approach to the chocolate bar, they have teamed up with TerraPass, a green energy broker. The wrappers have 15 tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint on the environment, and each bar has included in the sale price, enough carbon energy credits from TerraPass to offset your carbon footprint for one day. Good for you, good for the earth. Take a look at more pics after the jump!

Anteadote

Fancy Food Show: Winter 2008

I just came back from the 2008 Winter Fancy Food show in San Diego, California! The show consists of aisles and aisles of gourmet and specialty food products. It is a plethora of packaging, some great, and others, well not so much. Over the course of this week (monday - friday) I will be sharing around 50 new posts, the best packaging finds from the show! Check back often as the posts will update throughout the day.

Fancy Food 2008

Stay tuned: I will be attending the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Diego this coming sunday, so expect to see tons of fresh new food and beverage packaging! Also, take a look at the packaging we featured from last years show. Will anyone else be attending?