skip to primary navigation skip to content
 

Summary of supplier guidelines

Many of the most important guidelines for suppliers have already been covered within the pages about How to choose an image layout, Standard pack layouts, Multipack layouts, and Bundle layouts. This page gives further detailed guidance on some additional topics.

Before reading this page, you should read the following topics that are covered within the page about Standard pack layouts:

The following additional topics are summarised on this page. Further information on each of these topics is given in a dedicated page on that topic, which can be accessed from the navigation menu.

On this page:

Manipulating the front of pack

The following guidelines relate to manipulating the assets from the front of pack to form the digital pack.

  • It is strongly encouraged that suppliers amplify everything that communicates the 4W’s and omit everything else. Read more.
  • Any visual elements that are added to the front of pack should convey one or more of the 4W’s, and should exist elsewhere on the physical pack. Read more.
  • Front pack assets may be rearranged into any position. However, assets should be kept in roughly the same relative positions as on the physical pack. Read more.
  • Front pack text should have sufficient contrast difference between foreground and background colours Read more.
  • Front pack text should not have key lines or drop shadows Read more.
  • If a pack is white, it is encouraged to present it with using off-white colour (RGB 253,253, 253). Read more.
  • Adding key lines to products with pale colours is encouraged to assist recognition of their shape. Read more.
  • Drop shadows and reflections should not be added. Read more.

Presenting size information

  • Off-pack size lozenges may be used to communicate size information. For bundle layouts, off-pack size lozenges should usually display both size and quantity information. If lozenges are used, they should be positioned in the bottom right corner of the image tile. Read more.
  • Suppliers are encouraged to describe size as a number of ‘functional uses’ (e.g. serves, washes) where there is an agreed category standard and/or the pack contains countable items. Read more.
  • Off-pack size lozenges should be rectangular with a rounded corner (except for laundry). Read more.
  • The typeface, font size and layout of off-pack size information should be standardised. Read more.
  • The colour of the size lozenge should be black. For bundle layouts, the ‘number of items’ lozenge should be grey (RGB 89,89,89). Read more.

Avoiding strips

  • Prior to June 2021, these guidelines stated that hero images may contain a coloured strip with a few keywords in it.
  • In June 2021, this guidance was changed to say that strips should not be used. Read more.

Avoiding other off-pack information

  • Graphics should not break out from the edges of the digital pack. Read more.
  • Brand assets should not be positioned off-pack. Read more.
  • Image tiles should not have borders drawn round them. Read more.
  • Floating words should not be positioned off-pack. Read more.
  • The contents of standard packs should not be shown outside of the pack Read more
  • .

Other technical details

  • If there is no size lozenge, then the centre of the digital pack should be in the centre of the image tile. Read more.
  • However, if there is a size lozenge, then the centre of the digital pack should be positioned offset centre. Read more.
  • Multiple views of the same product should not be shown. Read more.
  • Removing lids and caps is encouraged to show dispensing features and the product inside. Read more.
  • It is usually encouraged to show either the product or its packaging box, not both. Read more.
  • The digital pack should be as large as possible within the image tile to maximise visual clarity and recognisability. Read more.
  • Suppliers should not leave areas of the image tile blank in order to leave space for retailer special offer overlays. Retailers should position special offers so that they do not obscure any part of the image tile. This is described within positioning special offer flashes, which is part of the guidelines for retailers.

Using automated methods to create off-pack size lozenges

Suppliers and retailers are encouraged to use automated methods to create off-pack size lozenges within image tiles. This guarantees consistency in the styling of off-pack communications, because these are generated automatically by a computer, rather than manually by a human. Read more.

Feedback

We would welcome your feedback on this page:

Your name:


Your email:


I would like to receive the Inclusive Design Toolkit news bulletin. This bulletin showcases people’s achievements with inclusive design tools, and highlights new tools. It comes out once or twice a year.

I would be interested in contributing to the Inclusive Design Toolkit news bulletin.

I would like a FREE activation code for the Inclusive Design Toolkit's impairment simulator software.

Your comments:


Please leave this field blank (it's a spam trap):

Privacy policy. If your feedback comments warrant follow-up communication, we will send you an email using the details you have provided. Feedback comments are anonymized and then stored on our file server. If you select the option to receive or contribute to the news bulletin, we will store your name and email address on our file server for the purposes of managing your subscription. You can unsubscribe and have your details deleted at any time, by using our Unsubscribe form. If you select the option to receive an activation code, we will store your name and email address on our fileserver indefinitely. This information will only be used to contact you for the specific purpose that you have indicated; it will not be shared. We use this personal information with your consent, which you can withdraw at any time.

Read more about how we use your personal data. Any e-mails that are sent or received are stored on our mail server for up to 24 months.

Unless otherwise stated, all images are © Unilever and used with permission. Walkers is a trademark owned and designed by PepsiCo and used with permission.