Small Batches, Big Flexibility: How Queen & Me Solved Label Printing for a Growing Artisan Food Brand
Queen & Me uses the Epson ColorWorks CW-C4000 to print professional full-colour labels on demand — helping the business manage seasonal, bespoke, and multi-SKU label requirements without bulk stock, delays, or unnecessary waste.
Flexible label printing for premium small-batch food production
Queen & Me produces premium small-batch jams, preserves, marmalades, and sauces for retail, hospitality, independent retailers, and corporate gifting markets. With seasonal products, bespoke runs, and multiple SKUs, the business needed a more flexible way to manage label production.
About Queen & Me
Queen & Me is a South African food manufacturing business specialising in premium, small-batch jams, preserves, marmalades, and sauces.
Crafted using quality ingredients, innovative flavour combinations, and a strong focus on consistency and food safety, their products supply retail stores, hospitality clients, independent retailers, and corporate gifting markets.
In addition to their core range, Queen & Me also develops seasonal and bespoke products tailored to specific customer needs — which means their label requirements are constantly changing.
Bulk labels and a growing product range did not mix
Before switching to on-demand colour label printing, Queen & Me faced the classic small-batch manufacturer’s dilemma: to get competitive pricing from external printers, they had to commit to large upfront label volumes.
Forecasting label demand became difficult
With multiple SKUs, seasonal variants, and custom runs, forecasting exactly how many labels would be needed — and which version would be required — was nearly impossible. Label stock also became difficult to manage and store.
Bulk label stock created cash flow pressure
“We were required to print large volumes of labels upfront to secure competitive pricing, which resulted in
high cash flow pressure and excess stock holding. Any product updates — ingredient changes, regulatory
adjustments, seasonal variants, or pricing updates — often meant that existing label stock became obsolete,
leading to waste and unnecessary cost.”
— Hetma, Owner
Label stock affected production planning
“Production planning became more complicated, as we had to constantly check label stock levels before
scheduling manufacturing runs. If labels were out of stock or incorrect, production was delayed — affecting
order fulfilment timelines and customer satisfaction.”
— Hetma, Owner
Epson ColorWorks CW-C4000: professional colour labels, in-house and on demand
Queen & Me selected the Epson ColorWorks CW-C4000 — a compact, capable on-demand colour label printer that fits both their budget and their operational volumes.
What stood out was the combination of high-resolution full-colour output, label durability, colour accuracy, and the simplicity of having everything managed in-house.
High-resolution labels at a practical price point
“The ability to produce high-resolution, full-colour labels in-house and on demand at a decent price point
stood out. The durability of the labels, colour accuracy, and professional finish were key differentiators
— particularly in the food manufacturing environment where compliance and product presentation are
critical. The whole setup is compact and easy to navigate.”
— Hetma, Owner
From rigid and reactive to streamlined and responsive
The shift to on-demand label printing transformed what was a bottleneck into a smooth, flexible part of Queen & Me’s daily production process.
Labels are now printed as needed — whether for a standard run, a seasonal variant, a bespoke corporate order, or a last-minute regulatory update.
What changed after switching to Epson ColorWorks
Complete control over the labelling process
“With ColorWorks, we gained complete control over our labelling process. Printing on demand has eliminated
overstock, reduced waste, and improved cash flow, while the high-quality, full-colour labels maintain our
brand's professional appearance. For any business that values flexibility, efficiency, and quality, I would
strongly recommend Epson ColorWorks. It transforms labelling from a headache into a smooth, stress-free part
of daily operations.”
— Hetma, Owner, Queen & Me
Premium small-batch jams, preserves, marmalades, and sauces
Queen & Me produces premium small-batch jams, preserves, marmalades, and sauces for retail, hospitality, and corporate gifting markets across South Africa.
For more information, contact Hetma at hetma@queenandme.co.za.
Want to Make Label Printing More Flexible?
Speak to Intellistor about Epson ColorWorks on-demand colour label printers and practical ways to reduce label waste, improve turnaround, and gain control over seasonal, bespoke, and multi-SKU label production.
“Intellistor – On-Demand Color Label Printing & Digital Label Finishing Solutions – South Africa”
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