Services · Design and packaging · Packaging adaptation
Bilingual packaging adaptation for food brands entering Canada
852 Tangram adapts approved head-office packaging for the Canadian market. We lay out English and French label text from your approved copy, fit the bilingual Nutrition Facts table, add the importer line and resize to new dielines, then deliver print-ready files.
- English and French labels
- Nutrition Facts
- Importer line
- New dielines
- Print-ready files
Selected work
Label and in-store work in more than one language
Bilingual labelBilingual label artwork; we checked and rebuilt the barcode before print. 
Nutrition Facts panelThe bilingual Nutrition Facts panel on the same label. 
French and ChineseA recipe card in French and Chinese for the same brand.
Artwork made by 852 Tangram for a global Asian food brand. Dish photography and brand assets remain the client's own; brand marks and barcode are blurred.
What adaptation covers
Your pack, reworked for Canada.
We are based in Toronto and work with clients in Toronto, the GTA and Vancouver.
| Step | What we do | What we need from you |
|---|---|---|
| Label text | Lay out English and French mandatory text, keeping accents, spacing and French typography correct | Approved copy in each language |
| Nutrition Facts | Fit the bilingual Nutrition Facts table into the available panel | Approved nutrition values and table format |
| Importer line | Add the Canadian dealer or importer line, such as "Imported by / Importé par" | Importer name and address as it must appear |
| Other languages | Keep Chinese, Korean or other head-office text outside the Nutrition Facts table | Your head-office source files |
| Dielines | Resize and rebuild artwork for Canadian pack sizes and dielines | Printer or converter dielines |
| Print-ready files | PDFs checked for size, bleed, colour settings, fonts and resolution | Your printer's specifications |
We do not redesign your brand unless you ask us to. The pack should still look like the global product.
Your regulatory adviser signs off compliance. This is a design service, not legal or regulatory advice.
How we work
One SKU first, then the range.
- 01
Brief
You send the master artwork, approved copy in each language and the Canadian dieline. We list anything missing before design starts.
- 02
First adaptation
We build one SKU first, so your team and your regulatory reviewer can check the approach.
- 03
Review and sign-off
Your regulatory reviewer checks label and claim copy. We make the changes.
- 04
Roll-out
Remaining SKUs and pack sizes are built from the approved first adaptation.
- 05
Release
Print-ready files go to your printer, checked before release.
Who it is for
When we are a good fit.
- Imported sauces, snacks, drinks and pantry products moving into Canadian retail
- Head-office packaging that needs English and French added without losing the brand look
- Packs that keep Chinese or Korean alongside English and French
- New pack sizes or revised labels for an existing Canadian range
Also need shelf and counter materials for the launch? See in-store POSM design and sell sheet design.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does food packaging sold in Canada need to be in English and French?
In most cases, yes. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says mandatory information on consumer prepackaged food, such as the common name, net quantity, ingredients and Nutrition Facts table, must appear in both English and French. A few narrow exemptions exist for some specialty, local and test market foods. Check your own product with a regulatory adviser.
Are imported Asian foods exempt from bilingual labelling as specialty foods?
Usually not. The CFIA states that the majority of imported foods do not meet its definition of a specialty food, so they are not eligible for the bilingual labelling exemption. Most imported sauces, snacks and drinks sold at retail need full English and French labels. Confirm your product's status with a regulatory adviser.
What does Quebec require on packaging beyond federal rules?
Quebec's Charter of the French language requires French on products, packaging and accompanying documents, and another language cannot be given more prominence than French. Generic or descriptive words inside a trademark, such as the flavour or ingredients, must also appear in French. Have final artwork for Quebec reviewed by an adviser who knows these rules.
Can we keep Chinese, Japanese or Korean text on the pack?
Yes, as long as all mandatory information appears in English and French. The CFIA allows other languages on a label if they do not break federal rules, but not inside the Nutrition Facts table. We typeset English, French, Chinese and Korean layouts, and work from head-office source files in other languages.
What does packaging adaptation include?
Adaptation means taking your head-office packaging and reworking it for Canada: laying out English and French text, fitting the bilingual Nutrition Facts table, adding the importer line such as "Imported by / Importé par", resizing to new dielines and preparing print-ready files. We do not redesign your brand unless you ask us to.
Do you check labels for regulatory compliance?
We are designers, not regulatory consultants. We build artwork from your approved label copy and the CFIA's published requirements, and we flag anything that looks missing, such as a French common name or an importer line. Final compliance sign-off should come from your regulatory team, your importer or a food labelling consultant.
Who writes the French text?
Your head-office or regulatory team supplies approved French copy, and we set it accurately, keeping accents, spacing and French typography conventions correct on every panel. You approve every line before it goes on pack. We scope translation on request.
This page describes a design service. It is general information, not legal or regulatory advice.
Next step
Bringing a product into Canada?
Start with one SKU. Send us the master artwork, your approved copy and the Canadian dieline. We reply with questions and a written quote before design starts.
Or email askme@852tangram.org