NEW YORK CITY | Portuguese sardine tin wins top International Packaging Design Award

A Portuguese sardine tin has received one of the world’s highest honors in packaging design, putting Portuguese creativity and canned fish culture in the international spotlight.

The award-winning product, called “Portuguese Gold,” was created by The Fantastic World of the Portuguese Sardine and won in the Food Packaging category at the prestigious DIELINE Awards in New York.

This year’s competition attracted more than 1,500 entries from around 40 countries, with only 15 winners selected across all categories. The awards were presented on May 6 during Luxe Pack, an international event focused on luxury packaging and design.

The “Portuguese Gold” tin stands out for its striking gold appearance and embossed metal finish. Designers used advanced printing and metal packaging technology developed by Sonoco to create a modern version of the traditional Portuguese sardine tin.

The design was inspired by O Livro de Ouro das Conservas Portuguesas (“The Golden Book of Portuguese Tinned Fish”), written by Leitão de Barros. The book, published in the 20th century, celebrates Portugal’s canned fish industry and promotes Portuguese products to international markets.

According to the company, the book’s luxurious gold embossed cover became the main inspiration behind the packaging concept. The goal was to present Portuguese canned fish as a premium product associated with culture, exclusivity and high-quality design.

The international recognition is seen as an important achievement not only for the brand, but also for Portuguese design and the country’s traditional canned fish industry. The company says the award highlights the growing global appreciation for Portuguese canned fish products that combine heritage, identity and modern design.