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What’s the problem with Nutri-Score?

What’s the problem with Nutri-Score?

France loves it, Italy’s banned it, and Germany is trying to gain greater control over it. We are, of course, talking about Nutri-Score.  The front-of-pack nutrition labelling system is used across Europe to help consumers make healthier choices. At one point, it was...

Are clean energy drinks the next buzz in beverages?

Are clean energy drinks the next buzz in beverages?

Most of us need a quick energy boost from time to time, but it’s not always coffee we reach for. Sometimes a can of Red Bull or Monster hits the spot – and for a long time, these brands have dominated the energy drink sector.   But now the tide is turning. Rather than...

Compliance update: new food laws in Asia

Compliance update: new food laws in Asia

Is your brand selling in Asia or are you considering moving into Asia? Either way, it’s critical you keep up with the latest food industry regulations.  To save you hours of research, Hooley Brown has rounded up the most important new food laws in the pacific region:...

All packaging should be accessible packaging – here’s why

All packaging should be accessible packaging – here’s why

How many times a day do you open some form of packaging? From flipping the lid on your shampoo bottle each morning to unscrewing the toothpaste cap at bedtime, we interact with products without noticing. At least, most of us do.  For the one billion people worldwide...

7 (and a half) food law changes coming into force in 2023

7 (and a half) food law changes coming into force in 2023

Keeping your products compliant with the latest industry legislation is easier said than done. Especially if you’re selling internationally.  To make life a little easier, Hooley Brown has put together a round-up of key food and beverage legislation coming into force...

14 fast-growing food and drink brands to watch in 2023

14 fast-growing food and drink brands to watch in 2023

It’s been a year of adapting to new challenges for the food industry, from HFSS laws in the UK to ingredient shortages worldwide. Yet despite these challenges, many food and drink brands have grown significantly in 2022. They feel confident and ready to launch even...

Personal care and beauty brands to watch in 2023

Personal care and beauty brands to watch in 2023

Few sectors move as quickly as beauty and personal care. We’ve covered some of 2022’s biggest beauty product trends – from reef-safe sunscreen to collagen supplements – on our blog. And we’re always looking out for challenger brands disrupting the beauty industry....

Natural goodness: how to manage organic food supplement legislation

Natural goodness: how to manage organic food supplement legislation

In an ideal world, we’d all get enough nutrients from the food we eat to feel energised and healthy. But sometimes we need a little extra help. The food supplement industry is booming: up to three-quarters of adults take dietary supplements daily, and many consumers...

How can compliance help emerging and scale-up businesses to grow?

How can compliance help emerging and scale-up businesses to grow?

For many CPG companies, compliance is seen as a ‘necessary evil’. Essential for meeting legal requirements, but not always conducive to growth. And for emerging and scale-up businesses, employing someone to manage regulation can be a major expense.  But product...

Baby love: these 7 kids’ snack brands are parents’ go-to grabs

Baby love: these 7 kids’ snack brands are parents’ go-to grabs

With nearly two billion children in the world, the kids’ meal and snack category is a very lucrative market. But it’s also very competitive. Brands need to be the healthiest, most transparent and best branded to capture parental spend.  We’ve come a long way since...

Choosing cheap Halloween makeup palettes could haunt consumers

Choosing cheap Halloween makeup palettes could haunt consumers

Halloween is the scariest night of the year. But you don’t want to frighten yourself with an allergic reaction to your costume makeup.  Using face-safe cosmetics is essential – especially if you’re creating spooky looks for children. Unfortunately, there are ghoulish...

4 strategies for clustering languages on your product packaging

4 strategies for clustering languages on your product packaging

Language localisation is an essential component of packaging and labelling compliance. Consumers need to understand what they’re buying from you in order to build a safe, trusted relationship.  However, creating separate packaging designs for every market you want to...

4 ways to make your consumer goods user manual more accessible

4 ways to make your consumer goods user manual more accessible

With every consumer goods launch comes an accompanying user manual. For some sectors, such as electronics and toys, user guides are a legal requirement. For others, they’re a useful way to help people assemble and use your products correctly.  Yet, given user manuals'...

Will blockchain raise the bar on food authenticity?

Will blockchain raise the bar on food authenticity?

Authenticity is a word that’s used a lot in product marketing. Rather than selling a dream, brands have seen the power of selling consumers their reality. But they can’t build an authentic relationship on promotional hype.  As consumers become more curious about where...

Everything you need to know about European animal welfare labelling

Everything you need to know about European animal welfare labelling

Does animal welfare impact the way people shop? Yes, research suggests – and people want greater clarity over the conditions in which livestock are reared.  A Compassion in World Farming study has found that 68% of consumers would welcome animal welfare labels on the...

NPD: the cost of leaving compliance until the implementation check

NPD: the cost of leaving compliance until the implementation check

Imagine this: you’ve devised a great idea for a new product. You’ve invested time and money into developing it. Finally, you’re ready to go into production when you carry out a final implementation check… and discover the labelling is non-compliant, so all your...

How can food brands build consumer confidence in cultivated meat?

How can food brands build consumer confidence in cultivated meat?

After decades of convenience being king, consumers are paying more attention to the environmental impact of their food choices. So far, the sustainable food movement has been driven by plant-based products, with over 79 million people now following a vegan diet. But...

Are compliance agencies more cost-effective than hiring a CCO?

Are compliance agencies more cost-effective than hiring a CCO?

Whether you’re a food, beverage or beauty brand, compliance is a cornerstone of your company’s success. And increasingly, brands are seeing the value of enlisting someone to focus on industry legislation.  But should that person be a full-time hire, or would your...

Reef-safe sunscreen is the new frontier of summer skincare

Reef-safe sunscreen is the new frontier of summer skincare

Consumer attitudes to sunscreen have changed significantly in the past forty years. Sitting in the midday sun, slathered in tanning oil has been replaced by high SPFs and shade for most people. So it’s little surprise that the sun care industry’s value will surpass...

Sugar shift: the latest trends in confectionery sales

Sugar shift: the latest trends in confectionery sales

Nothing gets in the way of a sweet tooth it appears. Not even a global pandemic. Over the past two years, sugar confectionery sales have grown steadily, with experts predicting that global market value will reach $69.5 billion by 2026.  “If you look at the remarkable...

How will HFSS affect future product development?

How will HFSS affect future product development?

As the clock counts down to 1st October 2022, many food and beverage brands are racing to reformulate their products outside HFSS restrictions. But reducing the salt, fat and sugar content of the UK’s favourite foods is easier said than done.  How can brands update...

Take it away: transformative trends in the food-to-go market

Take it away: transformative trends in the food-to-go market

Staying in is the new going out – at least when it comes to food. The takeaway market has never been stronger.  Forget choosing between Indian and Chinese; almost every type of cuisine can now be delivered to people’s doors. And consumer appetite for food-to-go is...

Will your products need reformulating to meet new HFSS guidelines?

Will your products need reformulating to meet new HFSS guidelines?

The food and beverage sector is preparing for its biggest shake-up in years with the roll-out of promotional restrictions on products high in saturated fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) this October.  Following our introduction to what HFSS is and how it will impact food...

What is HFSS – and will it affect your business?

What is HFSS – and will it affect your business?

New government guidelines are due to come into force in October 2022 that will place limitations on the promotion of products containing high levels of fat, sugar and salt. But recent research by YouGov has revealed that 70% of food and drink companies aren’t prepared...

Spotlight on: Sacred Spirits

Spotlight on: Sacred Spirits

It’s hard to remember a time when gin wasn’t one of the UK’s most popular spirits, but back in the early 2000s it had fallen out of favour. Sacred Spirits was among the artisan brands leading gin’s renaissance – capturing the essence of a true ‘London spirit’ through...

Mindful eating: the rise of nootropic food and supplement brands

Mindful eating: the rise of nootropic food and supplement brands

There’s a well-documented relationship between what we eat and how we feel. And many CPG brands have built successful sales strategies on promoting the physical health benefits of consuming their products. But what about mental health?  With global stress levels at an...

18 awesome female-founded CPG brands

18 awesome female-founded CPG brands

Women drive the world’s economy, influencing up to 85% of consumer spending. But this isn’t mirrored on the business side of transactions: currently, only 1 in 3 entrepreneurs are female.  The number of women-owned businesses is rising, but the CPG industry needs to...

9 brands whose tone of voice we love

9 brands whose tone of voice we love

What makes customers loyal to a brand? Of course, product quality plays a huge role. But when consumers are presented with a choice, brand loyalty is often built on a compelling tone of voice. Many industry leaders and market disruptors have grown their audience on a...

How to read a UK or EU nutrition label

How to read a UK or EU nutrition label

We all want to know what goes into our food, and product packaging is a natural first place to look for reassurance. But nutrition information isn’t always easy to interpret.  This is more than just frustrating; unclear instructions can put people with specialist...

How can compliance help emerging and scale-up businesses to grow?

How can compliance help emerging and scale-up businesses to grow?

For many CPG companies, compliance is seen as a ‘necessary evil’. Essential for meeting legal requirements, but not always conducive to growth. And for emerging and scale-up businesses, employing someone to manage regulation can be a major expense.  But product...

11 chocolate brands we can’t get enough of

11 chocolate brands we can’t get enough of

We’re living in a world full of chocoholics. According to industry figures, we just can’t get enough of the sweet stuff – with global chocolate sales set to grow to $169 billion by 2026.  Buoyant sales prospects mean more companies than ever want a chunk of the...

6 CBD brands thriving in the complex cannabis market

6 CBD brands thriving in the complex cannabis market

Few product categories are growing quicker than CBD. The global cannabidiol market surpassed $7.1 billion in 2020 and is forecast to reach $10.8 billion by 2027, as more consumers embrace its suggested anti-inflammatory properties and calming effects.  But while CBD...

CBD: launching compliant products in an ever-changing legal landscape

CBD: launching compliant products in an ever-changing legal landscape

Food is a trends-driven industry – and one of the biggest trends in recent years has been infusing products with CBD. From chewing gum to coffee, chocolate to potato chips, the range of goods containing cannabidiol is innovative and diverse.  But while brand interest...

Doing Veganuary? Check your food labels carefully

Doing Veganuary? Check your food labels carefully

Consuming less meat has become a popular New Year’s resolution, and many people explore plant-based eating by taking part in Veganuary. But while intentions are good, many consumers struggle to embrace veganism when Veganuary ends on January 31st because unclear...

8 beauty and personal care brands to watch in 2022

8 beauty and personal care brands to watch in 2022

Few markets move faster than beauty and personal care – which leaves brands with the choice between setting trends and following them.  As experts in labelling and packaging compliance, we’re fascinated by how cosmetics and skincare companies innovate in line changing...

15 fast-growing food brands to watch in 2022

15 fast-growing food brands to watch in 2022

Consumer tastes are constantly changing, as we’ve seen in our preview of 2022’s hottest food trends. For food and beverage companies, this provides continuous opportunities to create new products and expand current ranges. But which fast-growing food brands will...

Everything you need to know about mandatory food allergen labelling

Everything you need to know about mandatory food allergen labelling

With over 200 million people worldwide suffering from food allergies, clear product labelling is a critical issue. Making a mistake or omitting allergen information isn’t just inconvenient to the consumer; it can trigger a potentially deadly reaction.  To protect...

Are subscription boxes the future of brand loyalty?

Are subscription boxes the future of brand loyalty?

2020 was a massive year for subscription box sales. As the shutters went down on retail stores, the pandemic created a surge in home deliveries. And with many consumers happy to sign up for purchases on a monthly basis, it’s easy to see why more brands than ever...

Sustainable packaging: let’s seek progress over perfection

Sustainable packaging: let’s seek progress over perfection

In recent years, we’ve seen sustainability shift from a long-term corporate objective to a critical company policy. Brands now realise that their environmental approach has a massive impact on customer relationships and their bottom line. As shoppers push companies to...

What’s the market opportunity in: plant-based food and beverages?

What’s the market opportunity in: plant-based food and beverages?

What do Benedict Cumberbatch, Natalie Portman and Ariana Grande have in common? Apart from being talented, successful, and incredibly famous, they’re all vegan. And it’s not just celebrities that are eschewing animal products.  Over the past decade, veganism has...

Should plant-based alternatives use animal product names?

Should plant-based alternatives use animal product names?

"Call it Gary or something. Just don't call it cheese. Because it's not cheese!" Anyone who’s active on social media will remember the Gary debacle from 2016, when a woman’s complaint about naming a dairy-free vegan product ‘cheese’ went viral on Facebook.  Five years...

5 FMCG brands that have nailed their D2C packaging design

5 FMCG brands that have nailed their D2C packaging design

Going direct to consumer is incredibly liberating for brands, giving them complete autonomy over customer relationships. Plus, they’ve got carte blanche when it comes to packaging and labelling design. While retail distribution is focussed around standing out on a...

What’s the brand opportunity in: eco-friendly cleaning products?

What’s the brand opportunity in: eco-friendly cleaning products?

It’s not just food, beverages and cosmetics that are guided by consumer trends and external forces. The cleaning product industry is also shaped by market influences: just look at what Instagram ‘clean queen’ Mrs Hinch has done for Zoflora sales. One of the fastest...

I was delighted by how quickly and efficiently you were able to translate and adapt our packaging for the Middle East. You got things turned around much faster than expected and our distributor was very impressed with the results. We’ll be using your services again!

Healthy snacks producer

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