Introduction

Few dishes are as closely linked to Sri Lankan home life as the hopper. Thin and crisp at the edges, soft and spongy in the centre, sometimes with an egg cooked in the middle, hoppers are eaten for breakfast and dinner across the island and served at roadside stalls, hotels and family gatherings. Making them well depends on one essential tool: the small, deep, bowl-shaped hopper pan, or appa thachchiya.

Traditional hopper pans were made from cast iron or steel and needed seasoning, careful handling and plenty of practice. Non-stick hopper pans have made the dish easier for many households, because the batter releases cleanly and the pan is simpler to clean. As a result, non-stick hopper pans are now a familiar product in Sri Lankan supermarkets, hardware shops and household stores.

This case study describes how Dsigngo Group designed retail box packaging for the Peacock non-stick hopper pan, a large red pan with a stainless steel lid and heat-resistant handles. The design had to help the product stand out in a busy cookware section, explain its features clearly, and look modern enough to appeal to shoppers furnishing new kitchens.

The client

Peacock is a Sri Lankan cookware and household products brand produced by a manufacturer based in Kelaniya, in the Gampaha District. Its range includes cookware for everyday Sri Lankan cooking.

For the non-stick hopper pan, the brand needed a box that would protect the product, display it attractively on shelf and give shoppers the confidence to choose it over competing pans.

The brief

Peacock asked for packaging that would:

• Show the hopper pan clearly, including its colour, lid and handles.
• Present the product in an aspirational kitchen setting.
• Explain the key features: handles, interior coating and exterior finish.
• Show product details: content, size, thickness, colour and price.
• Carry the brand logo and manufacturer details.
• Work on a printed carton that could be produced economically in volume.

The challenge

A product category that looks similar

Many non-stick hopper pans on Sri Lankan shelves look alike: a dark or coloured bowl with two handles and a lid. Packaging is one of the few ways to create a difference.

Explaining hidden features

The most important features of a non-stick pan are not visible from outside: the coating inside, the paint finish outside and the heat resistance of the handles. The box needed to explain these in a simple way.

Appealing to modern buyers

Many buyers of new cookware are setting up new homes or upgrading their kitchens. The packaging needed to reflect a modern lifestyle, while still being clearly about a traditional Sri Lankan dish.

Practical production

Cookware boxes are produced in large quantities and handled roughly in warehouses and shops. The design needed to print well on carton board, survive handling and remain cost-effective.

Research and insight

Our team visited cookware sections in supermarkets and household stores and studied how hopper pans and other cookware were displayed. Boxes were often stacked on shelves or on the floor, with only one or two sides visible at a time. Many packs used plain backgrounds or simple product cut-outs, and feature information was often printed in small, crowded text.

We also noticed that shoppers often pick up a box, turn it around, and look for details such as size and coating before deciding. A box that answers their questions quickly, wherever they look, has an advantage.

The insight was to treat every visible side of the box as a selling surface. The large panels would show the product in a desirable kitchen setting, a side panel would explain features with clear images and short descriptions, and an end panel would hold the practical product details.

The creative concept

The concept is “a modern kitchen essential”. The large front and back panels show the red hopper pan with its steel lid partly open, placed in front of a bright, contemporary white kitchen with cabinets, an oven, plants and kitchen accessories. The background is softly blurred, so the pan stays sharp and prominent.

At the top of each large panel, the Peacock logo, a bold blue wordmark with a stylised shield-like symbol, sits on a light grey band with diagonal shapes, followed by “Non Stick Hopper Pan” in clear blue capitals. The light grey and blue palette gives the box a clean, modern feel, while the bright red pan becomes the clear focal point.

Design decisions

Lifestyle photography

Placing the pan in a modern kitchen helps shoppers imagine it in their own home. The white kitchen keeps the image bright and clean and contrasts with the red pan. The blurred background ensures the product remains the hero.

The red pan as hero

The red exterior is the product’s most distinctive visual feature. We positioned it large in the lower half of each main panel, with the lid lifted slightly to reveal the black non-stick interior. This angle shows the colour, the coating, the lid and the handles in one image.

Brand block

The Peacock logo is large and strong, set in a deep blue that stands out on the light grey background. Repeating the logo and product name on both large panels means the brand is visible however the box is placed on shelf.

Feature panel

One side panel presents three features, each with a product image and a short description:

• Handle: a close-up of the handle, explaining that it is made of thermally insulated, heat-resistant Bakelite with an ergonomic shape.
• Interior coating: an image of the pan with its lid, explaining the non-stick coating.
• Exterior coating: a smaller image of the pan, explaining the high-gloss, heat-resistant, scratch-resistant exterior paint.

This structure lets shoppers understand the main benefits in seconds.

Product details panel

The end panel lists the essential product details: content (one hopper pan), size (large, approximately 200 mm diameter), thickness (2.6 mm), colour (red) and a field for the maximum retail price. It also carries the manufacturer’s name and address, customer care number and logo. Text is set vertically to fit the narrow panel.

Colour palette

The palette combines light grey, white and deep blue for the brand and background, with the red of the pan as the accent. This gives the box a calm, organised look that makes the product stand out.

Typography

The Peacock wordmark uses a bold slab serif, giving the brand a solid, reliable feel. Product names use a clean sans serif in blue capitals. Feature descriptions and product details use a simple serif at a small but readable size.

Our design process

1. Discovery: discussing the product, its features, retail channels and printing budget with the client.
2. Shelf research: reviewing cookware packaging in stores.
3. Dieline: confirming the box dimensions and panel layout with the carton manufacturer.
4. Concepts: developing lifestyle and studio product concepts, then choosing the lifestyle kitchen concept.
5. Image preparation: cutting out and retouching the pan images, adjusting colour and adding shadows and reflections.
6. Layout: placing images, logo, product name, features and details on each panel.
7. Content review: checking all feature descriptions and product details with the client.
8. Print preparation: colour conversion, bleed, safe areas and final artwork.
9. Proof and approval.

Product photography and retouching

Cookware is difficult to photograph well. Stainless steel lids reflect everything around them, glossy paint shows every mark, and non-stick interiors can look flat and dull.

To make the pan look its best, the images were carefully retouched:

• The steel lid was cleaned up to show smooth, even reflections.
• The red exterior was adjusted to a rich, consistent colour.
• The black interior was given subtle highlights to show its smooth coating.
• Handles and the lid knob were sharpened and their edges cleaned.
• Soft shadows were added beneath the pan, so it sits naturally in the kitchen scene.

The colour of the red pan in the printed box should match the real product closely. Shoppers can be disappointed if the box shows a brighter or different shade than the pan inside. We recommend comparing printed proofs with an actual pan before approving the print run.

Packaging structure and printing

Cookware boxes are usually made from printed carton board, sometimes laminated onto corrugated board for extra strength. The choice depends on the product’s weight, the handling it will face and the budget.

For a pan with a steel lid, the packaging should:

• Prevent the lid from moving and scratching the coating, using inserts or separators.
• Protect the handles and knob from impact.
• Have strong corners and flaps that survive stacking.
• Be easy for shop staff to open and close if customers want to inspect the product.

Offset printing on carton board gives sharp images and accurate colour. A gloss or matt varnish, or lamination, can protect the print from scuffing during handling.

Claims and trademark care

Product claims on cookware boxes should be accurate and supportable, and trademarks must be used correctly.

The box refers to a branded non-stick coating. Brand names for non-stick coatings are registered trademarks, and their owners typically license their use to cookware manufacturers who use the genuine coating. Ownership of some well-known coating brands has also changed in recent years, so names printed on older artwork may be out of date. Before reprinting, Peacock should confirm that it is licensed to use the coating brand name and that the owner’s name and trademark wording are current.

The box also describes the coating as enabling healthy, fat-free cooking. Non-stick surfaces allow cooking with little or no oil, but “healthy” and “fat-free” are strong claims. We recommend wording such as “cook with little or no oil” unless the client has evidence to support stronger claims.

Cookware that comes into contact with food may also need to meet specific standards in some markets, particularly for export. The client should confirm any testing or certification requirements for each market.

Opportunities for the next print run

Packaging is never truly finished. Each reprint is an opportunity to improve it based on retailer and customer feedback. For the next edition of the Peacock box, we would suggest considering:

• Sinhala and Tamil text: adding the product name and key features in Sinhala and Tamil would help many shoppers, especially in regional stores. Words such as “appa thachchiya” connect the product directly to the dish.
• Care instructions: short guidance on first use, suitable utensils, heat levels and cleaning helps protect the coating and reduces complaints.
• A serving image: a small photograph of freshly made hoppers, perhaps an egg hopper, would show the result and add appetite appeal.
• A barcode: if not already present, a barcode supports supermarket listings and stock control.
• Hob compatibility: stating whether the pan suits gas, electric or induction hobs answers a common shopper question.
• Packaging material information: recycling guidance for the carton supports growing environmental expectations.

Supporting retailers

Retail packaging works best when supported by in-store materials. For the Peacock hopper pan, these could include:

• Shelf strips and wobblers highlighting the non-stick coating and handle safety.
• Posters showing hoppers being made with the pan.
• Display stands for supermarkets and household stores.
• Online product images and descriptions for e-commerce listings.

Digital and e-commerce use

More cookware is now sold online, through brand websites, marketplace platforms and supermarket delivery services. The box artwork and product images can be adapted for:

• Clean product photographs on white backgrounds.
• Feature infographics showing handles, coating and finish.
• Lifestyle images of hoppers being cooked.
• Short videos showing the pan in use and cleaning.

Consistent images across the box and online listings help shoppers recognise the product wherever they buy it. Online shoppers cannot pick up the box, so clear photographs of every panel, including the feature and details panels, also help answer their questions before they order.

Building a cookware range

The design can be extended to a full Peacock range: frying pans, kadais, tawas, saucepans and sets. Each box would keep the grey band, blue logo and modern kitchen setting, while changing the product image, name and details. A consistent range design helps retailers display products together and helps shoppers recognise the brand.

Measuring success

Peacock can measure the packaging’s impact through retailer feedback, new listings, sales by outlet and online engagement. Comparing sales before and after the new packaging helps show its contribution.

Deliverables

• Full box artwork with all panels.
• Retouched product images.
• Print-ready files for carton production.

What made this project work

• An aspirational kitchen setting that helps shoppers imagine the product at home.
• A bold red pan as the hero against a calm grey, white and blue palette.
• A feature panel that explains hidden benefits clearly.
• A practical details panel for size, thickness and colour.
• A design that can grow into a full cookware range.

Lessons for household product brands

• Use every visible side of the box to sell.
• Show the product in a setting your customers aspire to.
• Explain hidden features with images and short descriptions.
• Make practical details easy to find.
• Check claims and trademark wording before printing.
• Match printed product colours to the real product.

Relevance for Sri Lankan manufacturers

Sri Lankan manufacturers of cookware, household goods and consumer products compete with imported brands that often have large marketing budgets. Professional packaging helps local products look equally modern and trustworthy, and it supports growth into supermarkets, online channels and export markets. Dsigngo Group supports manufacturers with packaging design, product photography, print management and launch materials.

Frequently asked questions

Do you design packaging for household and cookware products?

Yes. We design boxes, labels and retail displays for cookware, appliances, household goods and other consumer products.

Can you photograph and retouch our products?

Yes. We arrange product photography and retouching, including challenging surfaces such as stainless steel and glossy paint.

Can you help with the box structure?

Yes. We work with carton manufacturers to confirm dielines, board grades, inserts and finishes.

Do you check claims on packaging?

We review claims and flag those that may need evidence, licensing or regulatory checks. Final approval remains with the client.

Can you design a full product range?

Yes. We create packaging systems that keep a consistent look across many products while allowing each one to be identified easily.

Conclusion

The Peacock non-stick hopper pan box shows how thoughtful packaging can help a traditional Sri Lankan cooking tool feel modern and desirable. A bright kitchen setting, a bold red pan, a strong blue brand block, clear feature panels and practical product details work together to attract shoppers and answer their questions, wherever they look on the box.

Manufacturing household or cookware products? Talk to Dsigngo Group about packaging that makes your products stand out on shelf.

Design Your Product Packaging

Sources

• Dsigngo Group project files.
• Product details as printed on the box artwork.