From heritage to handmade… packaging inspiration at the GYS
Written by Claire Barker, Chilli's Senior Account Manager for FMCG brands, with over 25 years of marketing experience.
Last week I spent a lovely work day at the Great Yorkshire Show.
What a treat, on a day that promised blue skies and 26 degree heat in abundance!
As a senior account manager at Chilli, food branding and packaging is my absolute passion. So, I headed straight for the food hall and the artisan stalls here didn’t disappoint. They are truly a masterclass in visual storytelling, where the packaging is almost as carefully crafted as the food and drink itself.
Rather than flashy, mass-produced plastics, the brands here lean heavily into tactile, heritage-driven designs that communicate a sense of place and genuine authenticity.
Packaging trends:
crafting authentic stories
Across the vast hall, the packaging trends were clear…
Local cheese mongers wrapped their Wensleydale and blue cheeses in thick, wax-coated paper, tied with natural butcher's twine, giving each wedge a premium, rustic, hand-finished feel.
Heavy plastics were remarkably rare. Instead, fudge makers and preserve companies favoured compostable cellophane bags, glass jars with simple matte-paper labels, and stamped cardboard boxes. Environmental awareness is still going strong!
Local pride was everywhere. Almost every label proudly stated its exact origin. Whether it was a small-batch chilli jam from a village outside York, or a heavily branded rhubarb gin from the Yorkshire Dales.
I sampled gins, discussed the merits of kombucha and ate my body weight in tiny cheese squares, olives and marshmallows!
A heartwarming day of Yorkshire pride
The afternoon was a blur of ice cream, brass bands, sheep shearing and a ridiculous amount of agricultural Yorkshire pride. I walked 22,000 steps (to offset some of the cheese I ate), then headed home to ponder what a wonderful county I am lucky enough to call home!!
Big up Yorkshire!!
We have some amazing local brands!
So, if you are looking for packaging design specialists to help you with your brand (Yorkshire or otherwise!), then reach out. The team at Chilli, FMCG packaging design leaders, are ready to help you!
Contact our team to discuss your design and packaging requirements.