Introduction

Instant coffee is one of the most familiar products in the world. Almost every household, office and hotel room has a jar or a box of sachets. Because the category is so familiar, new products need a reason to be noticed. In recent years, one of the most successful ways for coffee brands to create that reason has been the co-branded flavour: a coffee drink inspired by a well-loved chocolate bar or dessert.

These products bring together two sets of fans. Coffee drinkers get a sweet, indulgent treat for their break, and chocolate lovers get a new way to enjoy a familiar taste. For retailers and importers, co-branded flavours often attract attention quickly because shoppers already know and trust both brands.

This case study describes how Dsigngo Group designed a new-arrival poster for a mocha-flavoured instant coffee inspired by a caramel wafer chocolate bar, sold in boxes of seven sachets. The poster was produced for a UK-based food and beverage export distributor to announce the product to trade buyers and followers on social media. Its headline, “New arrival for your coffee break”, frames the product as an exciting addition to an everyday ritual.

The client and context

The client was a UK-based distributor and exporter of branded food and beverages. It promotes the products it supplies to importers, wholesalers, supermarkets and convenience stores in international markets, and regularly posts new arrivals on social media and in digital catalogues.

The product was a box of seven individual mocha sachets from a global instant coffee brand, co-branded with a caramel wafer chocolate bar known for its bold lion mascot. The box features a “New” flash, the coffee brand’s large white logo, the flavour name and a serving suggestion showing a mug of frothy mocha drizzled with caramel. A UK-style front-of-pack nutrition panel appears at the bottom.

The brief

The distributor asked for a poster that would:

• Announce the product as a new arrival.
• Make the flavour and co-branding immediately clear.
• Feel warm, inviting and connected to coffee breaks.
• Show the pack clearly so buyers recognise it.
• Name the product and pack format in a simple line of text.
• Follow the distributor’s layout, with its logo, website and “Order Now” button.
• Work as the first of a family of posters for other flavours in the same range.

The challenge

A familiar category

Instant coffee packs often look similar on shelf and online. The poster needed energy and personality so the new flavour would stand out.

Two brands on one pack

The pack carries both the coffee brand and the chocolate brand. The design needed to respect both identities without letting the poster feel crowded.

A busy pack design

The box itself is full of information: logos, flavour name, mug image, sachet count, “New” flash and nutrition panel. Any background or effects had to support the pack rather than compete with it.

Planning for a series

The distributor intended to promote several flavours from the same range. The layout needed to work as a template, so future posters could share the same structure while changing colours and products.

Research and insight

Our team looked at the moments when people drink flavoured instant coffee. The answer was clear: the coffee break. A mid-morning pause at work, an afternoon pick-me-up at home or a treat with friends. These moments are short, comforting and a little indulgent.

We also noted that the flavour combines three sensory cues that can be shown visually: roasted coffee, smooth chocolate and sweet caramel. The pack’s own serving suggestion, a frothy mug with caramel drizzle, already does much of the work. The poster needed to extend that warmth into the whole composition.

The insight was to make the poster feel like the coffee break itself: warm caramel tones, roasted beans, a flowing splash of coffee and a confident headline that tells buyers and consumers this is something new for a familiar moment.

The creative concept

The concept is “the new star of the coffee break”. The box stands at a slight angle in the centre, rising from a bed of roasted coffee beans. Two splashes of creamy coffee burst from behind it on each side, as if the box has just landed with energy. A few floating coffee beans and fresh green leaves add movement and freshness.

The background uses warm caramel and toffee tones with soft concentric circles radiating from behind the pack, drawing the eye to the centre like a spotlight. At the top, the headline “New arrival for your coffee break” is set in two styles: a lighter, italic line for “New arrival for your”, and a heavy, condensed, slightly slanted display type for “Coffee break”. Below it, a white line names the product and pack format. The distributor’s logo, “Order Now” button and website complete the layout.

Design decisions

Headline hierarchy

The headline is split into two levels. “New arrival for your” sets up the message, while “Coffee break” is the hero phrase, set much larger in a dark chocolate brown. The bold, condensed, italic style suggests speed and excitement, like a sports or energy brand, which matches the bold personality of the chocolate bar on the pack.

Product name line

A white sans serif line under the headline names the brand, the pack format and the flavour. This is especially useful for trade buyers, who need to know exactly which product and pack size is being offered.

The box

The box is the hero. It is shown large, angled slightly to reveal its side and top, which makes it look three-dimensional and tangible. Every element of the pack, including the “New” flash, flavour name and serving suggestion, remains legible.

Coffee splashes

Two splashes of milky coffee rise from behind the box. They add energy and suggest the creamy drink inside the sachets. Their colour matches the mug on the pack, linking the poster’s effects to the product itself.

Coffee beans

A bed of roasted beans fills the bottom of the poster, grounding the box and reinforcing the coffee message. Two beans float near the top of the box, blurred slightly for depth.

Green leaves

Small green leaves add a fresh contrast to the warm palette and give the eye a few points of interest around the edges. They suggest freshness and natural ingredients without making any specific claim.

Colour

The palette is built from coffee, caramel and chocolate tones: warm toffee in the background, dark chocolate brown for the headline, and deep roasted browns in the beans. The pack’s own reds, oranges and yellows stand out against these warm neutrals. White is used sparingly for the product name and website so they remain readable.

Distributor footer

The footer follows the distributor’s standard layout: “Order Now” button in a soft caramel tone at the bottom left, website at the bottom right and the logo at the top right.

Our design process

1. Asset gathering: approved pack image, product name, pack format and distributor details.
2. Concept development: we compared a café table setting, an office desk setting and a dynamic product-hero setting, then chose the product hero for maximum impact on social media.
3. Template planning: we planned the layout as a reusable structure for future flavours.
4. Visual creation: combining the pack, splashes, beans, leaves and background.
5. Typography: setting the two-level headline and product name.
6. Accuracy review: checking the product name, flavour and pack format.
7. Client approval and final files.

Designing a reusable template

One of the most valuable parts of this project was the template. The distributor regularly receives new flavours and products, and creating a completely new design for each one takes time.

We structured the poster so that these elements stay fixed:

• The headline position, wording and type styles.
• The bed of coffee beans and the splash positions.
• The background circles and lighting direction.
• The distributor footer and logo.

And these elements change for each product:

• The product name line.
• The pack image.
• The splash colour, if needed, to match the flavour.
• Background tones, if needed, to match the pack.

This approach allowed a second poster for another flavour in the same range to be produced quickly while keeping a consistent look. Our separate case study on the white latte poster shows how the template was adapted.

Lighting and realism

The box is lit from the upper left, with a highlight on its top edge and a slight shadow on its right side. A warm glow behind the pack, created by the concentric circles, makes it appear to stand out from the background. The splashes are given highlights and transparent edges so they read as liquid, and the beans in the foreground are sharp, while those further back are softer, creating depth.

Front-of-pack nutrition labelling

The pack carries a colour-coded front-of-pack nutrition panel, a format widely used in the UK to show energy, fat, saturates, sugars and salt per serving. We kept this panel visible and undistorted, because it is part of the brand owner’s approved pack and gives shoppers useful information.

When products are exported, local labelling rules apply. In Sri Lanka, for example, imported foods must meet local labelling regulations, and some markets require additional languages or stickers. In Gulf markets, labels must meet GCC and national standards, including Arabic text. Distributors should confirm these requirements with importers before shipping.

Co-branding done well

Co-branded products work best when both brands are clearly visible and their personalities support each other. In this case, the coffee brand provides trust and familiarity, while the chocolate bar’s bold mascot adds fun and energy.

In the poster, we let the pack carry both brands and kept the surrounding design neutral enough not to compete. The headline style borrows a little energy from the chocolate brand’s bold personality, while the coffee beans and splashes keep the focus on coffee. Neither brand’s logo was altered, recoloured or reused outside the pack.

Why the sachet format matters

Single-serve sachets have become a popular way to sell flavoured coffee. Each sachet contains one measured portion, so the drink tastes the same every time, and the format is easy to carry to work, keep in a drawer or offer to guests. A box of seven is also a low-cost way for shoppers to try a new flavour without committing to a large jar.

For importers and retailers, sachet boxes are compact, light and easy to stack, which helps with shipping and shelf space. They also suit markets where many shoppers buy smaller packs more often, including convenience stores and small grocery shops across South Asia and the Gulf. That is why the product name line on the poster states the pack format clearly: for many buyers, the format is as important as the flavour.

Supporting trade buyers

A new-arrival poster opens the conversation with buyers. To turn interest into orders, the distributor should be ready with:

• Product codes, barcodes and case configurations.
• Best-before dates and shelf life on arrival.
• Ingredient and allergen information, including milk, soya and wheat if present.
• Label language and sticker options for each market.
• Minimum order quantities and lead times.

Matching product sheets in the same visual style help buyers connect the poster with the full product details.

Adapting for retail and consumer use

In stores, the visual can be adapted for:

• Shelf talkers and wobblers announcing a new flavour.
• Posters near coffee aisles and office supply sections.
• Retailer social media posts and online listings.
• Sampling stands offering a taste of the new flavour.

For consumer versions, the product name line can be replaced with a short taste description, and the “Order Now” button with a retailer’s call to action.

Designing for social media performance

• The large, bold headline is readable in small previews.
• Warm colours stand out against cooler content in social feeds.
• The splashes and floating beans suggest movement.
• The product name line makes the post easy to search and share.

The splashes and beans can also be animated for short reels and stories, with the box dropping into place and coffee bursting out behind it.

Measuring success

Distributors can track trade enquiries, orders, message responses and engagement for each new-arrival post. Comparing the results of different flavours helps identify which products attract the most interest in each market.

Deliverables

• Portrait poster for social media and digital catalogues.
• Reusable template for other flavours in the range.
• Print-ready version for trade presentations.

What made this project work

• A clear new-arrival message tied to the familiar coffee break moment.
• A warm palette drawn from coffee, caramel and chocolate.
• Energetic splashes and beans that make the pack feel dynamic.
• Respect for both brands on a co-branded pack.
• A reusable template that saves time for future flavours.

Lessons for brands and distributors

• Connect new products to familiar moments, such as the coffee break.
• Let the pack be the hero, and use effects to support it.
• Name the product and format clearly for trade buyers.
• Build templates for product ranges to save time and stay consistent.
• Keep approved pack information, including nutrition panels, visible and undistorted.

Relevance for local brands

Sri Lankan coffee, tea and beverage brands can use the same approach to launch new flavours and pack formats. A consistent template for new arrivals, a warm palette linked to the product, and clear product naming help both consumers and trade buyers. Dsigngo Group’s own brands, including Raiden Coffee, benefit from this kind of planned visual system, and our team offers the same service to local and regional clients.

Frequently asked questions

Can you design new-arrival posters for product ranges?

Yes. We design individual posters and reusable templates so each new product can be announced quickly and consistently.

How do you handle co-branded products?

We keep both brands’ identities intact, follow their guidelines and design surrounding elements that support the pack without competing with it.

Can you create coffee splash and bean effects?

Yes. We create realistic coffee, milk and chocolate effects for still images and animation.

Do you design for local coffee and tea brands?

Yes. We work with Sri Lankan and regional coffee and tea brands on packaging, campaigns and trade materials.

Can posters be translated for export markets?

Yes. We adapt headlines and product details into Arabic, Sinhala, Tamil and other languages, adjusting layouts as needed.

Conclusion

This new-arrival poster turns a box of coffee sachets into the star of the coffee break. A warm palette, energetic splashes, a bed of roasted beans and a bold two-level headline make the co-branded mocha feel exciting, while the product name line and distributor footer give trade buyers everything they need to act. Just as importantly, the layout became a reusable template for future flavours.

Launching a new flavour or pack format? Talk to Dsigngo Group about posters and templates that make every new arrival stand out.

Announce Your New Arrival

Sources

• Dsigngo Group project files.
• UK Department of Health and Social Care, guidance on front-of-pack nutrition labelling, for general reference.