Sheep Print introduces short-run IML

Originally established in Lithuania, Sheep Print started offering IML pots to the UK market a few years ago, which are used by retailers such as Morrisons and the Co-op’s own ranges and also by suppliers to Waitrose, Holland & Barrett, Selfridges and Café Nero amongst others.

Sheep Print is made up of a consortium of Lithuanian print firms who specialize in IML and conventional labels for plastic containers. All products are produced in Lithuania using facilities of the co-operative's members. The UK part of the business trades with a cross-section of food companies and retailers, ranging from the major high street names including Asda, Tesco and Waitrose to speciality and artisan manufacturers, producing foods for a variety of different sectors.

IML provides a high-quality, more professional appearance than a conventional sticky product label, but minimum label production numbers of 50,000 have previously often ruled them out for use on new food trials due to initial lower production runs, Sheep Print said.

Sheep Print’s production includes full color printing and metallic options, and conversion into finished products. Its IML plastic pots are produced to BRC Food standards and ISO 9001, they are lightweight and can be stacked, can be clear or colored, and come in various shapes and sizes from 120ml to 2L with or without handles.

Sheep Print can also print on both sides of the lids and matching plastic containers. This provides additional flexibility and an outlet for secondary information such as cooking instructions, mixing information, different languages or marketing information.

The move by Sheep Print to offer lower IML production quantities is intended to benefit new product development managers who are often under pressure to test the market with initial product launches, to determine whether there is a demand to justify full scale production. It hopes that the short batch runs will appeal to not just large food producers looking to do food trials but also SMEs keen to present the feel of a more established on-shelf appearance.

Milda Laurikiete, who heads up Sheep Print’s UK operations, said: ‘We decided to introduce innovative new technology which has enable us to cut the production quantity from 50,000 to 10,000 IML labels to enable us to target the new product development market.

‘This solution is ideal for product launches and trials, and although the costs per label are a little bit higher on a 10,000 run we think the cost is justified because of the much greater professionalism the labels provide.’

Sheep Print said it can typically turn projects around in four to five weeks after the artwork has been signed off, which provides food personnel and new product managers with far greater flexibility. The company also offers a fast turnaround design service, providing samples of the whole range for visual reference, advice on color schemes for particular products and providing access to technical information. This permits an easier and faster decision making process, it said.