Came across a couple of striking examples of cereal packaging in Avoca during a recent visit and they inspired this post. The area of brand, logo and packaging is one which can result in very different styles – even within the brief of taking a mix which is lovingly and passionately brought into the world by an artisan producer.

Staple Diet – http://www.stablediet.com/

This is a Wexford based business going since 1995. They do a variety of products and to my eye the brand is presented quite conservatively – especially compared with the others underneath. Ironically the container they use is reusable for storage afterwards so they score points for that.

However as both Flahavans and Ballybrado have shown recently traditional products do not necessarily have to retain an old fashioned feel – or at least can combine hertitage with a more contemporary feeling.

Paddy O’Granola – http://www.granola.ie/

Elements of the approach similiar to Staple Diet in that the packaging is clear so the product shows through. This is a first generation package (the business is based in Co Tipperary having started in 2010) and I have a feeling that I saw generation two very recently but I did not take a photo of it and cannot see a reference online anywhere. UPDATE – they made a reference to their new packaging on Facebook, however not out yet.

Thanks to TheDailySpud for the shot above.

Drumeel Farm

Without a website to refer to I cannot see much about this business except that they are based in Longford (I think) and they are an on-farm enterprise. Solid container like Staple Diets but contemporary feel to the imagery used.

Pimhill Farm – http://www.pimhill.com

More heritage (organic since 1949) and with packaging which reflects a rebranding to “has been re-branded to appeal to today’s market and reflect the unique and quirky essence of Pimhill to deliver wholesome, tasty and nutritious organic food – without the use of any artificial fertilisers or chemicals”

I like this one.

Rude Health – http://www.rudehealth.com/index

It’s organic as well. With the passion, without the same heritage. Totally contemporary feel to their brand, the most modern of the ones in this post. On their packaging “The cardboard we use to box our cereals is made from 100% recycled material, and is 100% recyclable – please do your bit. Yes, yes we know there’s a plastic bag inside, but that’s the best way to stop the cereal getting damaged, which would be the biggest waste of all.”

Also like this – for me both of the above are strong and allow you to pick out their core brand strengths with a quick glance. For the Irish brands this is the competition – both as they export (particularly into the South East of England where a number of companies I have chatted to recently are very strong) and also on the shelves of specialist retailers in Ireland.

Being Irish and local is important – however so is doing yourself justice in a cost effective manner on the shelf-edge.

Any cereals you particularly like?

Keith