Rhyton Cretan Thyme Honey is a winner on two different fronts: as a first-quality specialty gastronomic product, and as an outstanding example of how to label and pack such a product. Brought to market by Rhyton – a Greek cooperative supporting gastronomic products from a network of local producers – the honey is a perfect marriage of flavor and good looks. 

Awarded a Golden Star in the Great Taste Awards for 2014 – for the second year running – Rhyton Cretan Thyme Honey joins an exclusive club, because the UK Guild of Fine Food’s annual international taste index of specialty foods and beverages is widely recognized as the “foodie Oscars.” But that’s not all. In the annual international FINAT Label Competition, promoted by Europe’s label industry association, Rhyton Cretan Thyme Honey’s self-adhesive label, printed by the Greek self-adhesive label specialists N. Cabas S.A., took first prize in the food products category. 

Sometimes less is more
This particular award was indeed proof that sometimes less is more because the label employed just two colors on a silver substrate to deliver the premium, luxury result.

Tony White, chairman of the judging panel for the FINAT Label Competition, explains the jury’s thinking: “This is a really nicely printed label. The chosen typeface and the two Pantone ink colors really complement the design without subsuming it, and the choice of a PP film substrate is a practical choice for moisture-resistance and wipe-ability.  In recent years we have seen a lot of Cabas’ work in the Label Competition – winning many category and group awards – so their success in this year’s prize winners’ lineup is no surprise.”

Printed via rotary letterpress on UPM Raflatac’s PP Silver Gloss TC50 self-adhesive labelstock and protected by a matte UV varnish, the label also contributes a valuable security feature: a tamper-evident seal over the jar lid.  Comments Panos Cabas, general manager of Athens-based Cabas S.A.:  “Rhyton Cretan Thyme Honey’s label design represents the collection of pollen and nectar from the flower by a bee. The visualization of this process becomes the identity of this exquisite honey and accompanies it to every destination.

“Our challenge was to help the product stand out with a label that would enable the illustration to be the protagonist. So we printed on a gloss polypropylene labelstock that provided a neutral, pearly (yet sophisticated) background, and used just two colors – one simulating the color of honey for the small, yet significant, details, and the other black, for the rest of the ‘story’ – in order to achieve the desired final outcome. The label was then finished with a matte varnish to ensure an equable visual outcome from every angle.”

Shared standards of excellence

Rhyton’s representatives, Michalis Arkopoulos and Nikos Mexis add: “We share the same standards and passion for excellence and quality with our cooperators, Cabas, and we are proud to see our common values awarded.”

Tony White concludes: “It is always a pleasure to see the functional qualities of a self-adhesive label – high-quality print, clean, accurate diecutting and perfect on-pack positioning and application – partnered with first-class, thoughtful decorative qualities.”

Rhyton Cretan Thyme Honey is available in specialty food shops across Europe.