Food labels play a vital role in today's competitive food industry. Whether you are packaging baked goods, snacks, beverages, frozen foods, or deli items, a clear and compliant food label helps build trust, ensures regulatory compliance, and enhances your brand image.

In this guide, we'll walk you through how to create a professional food label from start to finish—using the Hanin(HPRT) HD100 4-inch Direct Thermal Label Printer as an example. This step-by-step process works for food manufacturers, restaurants, bakeries, central kitchens, small food businesses, and retail stores.

1. Step One: Prepare Your Food Label Content

Before you begin designing, outline everything your food label needs to include. Common elements are:

Essential Information

•Product name

•Net weight

•Brand logo

•Short product description

Ingredient & Regulatory Information

•Ingredients list (in descending order of weight)

•Allergen declaration

•Nutrition Facts (if required in your country)

•Storage instructions

•Country of origin

Traceability & Retail Information

•Production date / Best-before date

•Batch or lot number

•Barcode (EAN/UPC)

•QR code (optional)

Organizing this information first makes the design and printing process easier.

2. Step Two: Choose Label Size & Material

Food labels vary widely depending on the package shape and information density. Common sizes include:

•Small packs: 40×60 mm, 50×70 mm

•Medium packs: 60×90 mm, 70×100 mm

•Large packs: 100×150 mm (4×6 inches)

The Hanin HD100 supports a maximum print width of 108 mm, making it suitable for most food packaging, including 4×6 Nutrition Facts labels.

Material Selection

Since the HD100 is a direct thermal printer, you should choose:

•Direct thermal labels: for standard food labels, barcodes, dates, and Nutrition Facts

•Oil-resistant / waterproof thermal labels: for food containers exposed to moisture, oil, or refrigeration

•Freezer-grade labels: for frozen foods

3. Step Three: Set Up the Hanin HD100

Setting up the HD100 is simple and fast, ideal for busy production environments.

1. Load the Label Roll

•Open the top cover

•Insert a label roll (up to 127 mm diameter)

•Adjust the guides to match label width

•Ensure the gap sensor is aligned correctly

2. Install Drivers & Connect

The HD100 supports:

•USB

•Serial

•Ethernet

Download the driver and utility tool from the official Hanin website.

3. Calibrate the Labels

Press and hold the FEED button for around 3 seconds to let the printer automatically learn the label size and gaps.

4. Step Four: Design the Food Label

You can design your label using:

•Hanin HereLable label design software

Key Design Tips

1. Layout Structure

•Top area: Logo + product name

•Middle area: Net weight, product description

•Lower area: Ingredients, allergen info, Nutrition Facts

•Bottom/side: Barcode + date + batch code

2. Typography & Legibility

•Use high-contrast black text on white background

•Follow local regulations for minimum font sizes

•Ensure Nutrition Facts tables follow the required structure

3. Barcode Rules

•Maintain quiet zones (white margins)

•Use 203 dpi for crisp, scannable barcodes

•Test scan before mass production

4. Test Print

Always print a sample and apply it to your packaging to check:

•Adhesion

•Readability

•Barcode scan performance

5. Step Five: Print Your Food Label with the HD100

Once your label is ready, it's time to print.

Recommended Print Settings

•Media type: Direct Thermal

•Print width: Match your label, up to 108 mm

•Speed: Default or adjust based on material

•Density: Increase if your label material requires darker print

Batch Printing

If you need to print:

•Different batch numbers

•Different dates

•Unique serial codes

You can use variable data printing by importing Excel/CSV data into your label design software.

6. Step Six: Apply & Inspect Your Labels

After printing, apply your labels to the product packaging manually or using a labeling machine.

Quality Control Checklist

•Is the text sharp and readable?

•Does the barcode scan instantly?

•Is the label applied smoothly without wrinkles?

•Does it stay firmly on the surface (especially for frozen, oily, or curved containers)?

Routine checks help maintain professional consistency across all packages.

Why the Hanin HD100 Is Ideal for Food Label Printing

The HD100 is engineered for high-efficiency labeling environments. Here's why it stands out:

✔ 4-inch Wide Printing (Max 108 mm)

Perfect for large Nutrition Facts labels, ingredient labels, and barcodes.

✔ Direct Thermal Technology

•No ink

•No toner

•Low operating cost

•Fast printing speed

Ideal for daily food label production.

✔ Sharp 203 dpi Printing

Ensures crisp barcodes, dates, and fine-text ingredient lists.

✔ Multi-interface Connectivity

USB, Serial, and Ethernet meet the needs of kitchens, factories, and retail stores.

✔ Easy Maintenance

Simple label loading, auto-calibration, and minimal cleaning requirements.

Conclusion

Creating a professional food label is easier than ever with the right process and the right equipment. By preparing your content, designing a clear layout, choosing suitable materials, and printing with the Hanin HD100, you can produce high-quality, compliant labels that elevate your brand and streamline your operations.

Whether you're running a bakery, a snack production line, a deli counter, or a small packaged food business, the HD100 label printer offers reliable performance and excellent value.