Status-symbol packaging: 16 larder staples that look as good as they taste

In 2026, factors when perusing the supermarket aisles are no longer solely about the flavour of your ingredients — it should look good too.

Welcome to the era of the kitchen larder flex, where bijou tins of smoked fish, jewel-toned jars of olives and painterly bottles of olive oil double as décor; their aesthetically pleasing packaging left on display as a quiet status symbol.

It’s a shift driven by Instagram, yes, but also by a broader rethinking of luxury. Food has become fashion-adjacent: we’re buying provenance, craft and storytelling, wrapped up in packaging that feels collectable. These are products designed to be seen, not shoved into a cupboard. Think the sort of tins you stack artfully next to your Le Creuset, jars you casually leave by the hob, bottles that earn a permanent spot on the countertop.

There’s also a subtle signalling at play. An arty sardine tin or a hand-labelled bottle of single-estate olive oil says something about taste, discernment and disposable income without shouting about it. This is quiet luxury, kitchen edition — an IYKYK status symbol.

From heritage British brands leaning into archival graphics to European producers turning pantry staples into objets, the common thread is packaging that feels intentional, elevated and aesthetically pleasing. The food world has cottoned on to what fashion and beauty have known for years: beautiful packaging doesn’t just sell a product. It sells a lifestyle.

How I tested

Focusing on home kitchen decor and shelf styling to dinner party chic aesthetics, we assessed each product on flavour, finish and — crucially — how its aesthetically pleasing packaging performed as a status symbol when left in full view.

We considered price, availability, durability of the packaging once opened, and whether the product felt genuinely special rather than gimmicky. Only items we’d happily display, eat (or use), and buy again have made the cut.

Below, we’ve shopped the most covetable tins, jars and bottles worth leaving out on the counter. Each one earns its place not just for flavour, but for looks — proof that in 2026, packaging is part of the luxury.

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Oritz White Tuna in Olive Oil

Ortiz White Tuna in Olive Oil has long been a chef favourite, but its iconic status is now as much about packaging as flavour. The Pop Art-esque graphic tin adds just the right amount of ‘kitchen chic’ to any counter — though true package fiends will know to stack a couple of Ortiz tins to secure instant credibility. Inside, the tuna is pretty silky for a tinned good, rich as well, but it’s that simple design that keeps this tin on show long after opening.

Buy now £5.60, Waitrose

The Fine Cheese Co Walnut Honey Olive Oil Crackers

The Fine Cheese Co. Crackers for Cheese in their minimalist packaging prove that even crackers can be cool. The box has a Britishness to it (and it is, the company is based in Bath), with its off-white cardboard and foodie sketches. You certainly won’t want to bin this packaging when serving the cheese board. The crackers are delicately seasoned (the brand has a variety of flavours; I’m also keen on the date toasts with hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds).

Buy now £3.20, The Fine Cheese Co

Perelló Gordal Picante Olives

Perelló Gordal Olives have taken social media (and our tapas bowls) by storm. The juicy olives are housed in eye-catching packaging, adding a zip of green when placed on open shelving. The flavour is just as confident: meaty, perfectly seasoned and dangerously snackable with a hint of chilli to keep things interesting.

While they’re not my favourite olives on the market, the premium packaging makes this 1.44kg jar a fixture for kitchen parties.

Buy now £13.99, Selfridges

The Tinned Fish Society Ibarra Selection

Tinned fish has gone gourmet, and this curated box proves it. It comprises a selection from Spain’s legendary Ibarra cannery, beautifully packaged and ready for a tapas spread. Think sardines in olive oil, razor clams, and tuna belly — rich, briny, and ready to impress. Ideal for food-forward hosts or anyone who enjoys turning a last-minute nibble into something celebratory.

Buy now £45.00, The Tinned Fish Society

Nicolas Alziari Olemt Olive Oil Extra Virgin

Now, here's a tin you'll want to keep in view when friends pop over. Made in France, Nicolas Alziari's EVOO is presented as beautifully as its contents taste.

Olives are cold-pressed in a stone mill to safeguard the delicate flavour before being filled in these pretty tins and sent off to retailers around the world.

Fruity, nutty and sweet, it's a great offering to take to a dinner party or keep for yourself to enjoy with fresh-baked bread.

Buy now £22.50, Waitrose

Galantino Extra Virgin Olive Oil Yellow Splatter Ceramic Bottle

The Galantino Extra Virgin Olive Oil Yellow Splatter Ceramic Bottle elevates your counter to such a degree, you won’t ever want to put it back in the cupboard. Hand-decorated by artisans with a striking pattern that feels inspired by contemporary art, it’ll fit right in next to your prize mortar and pestle or bowl of stone fruit.

Inside is top-quality extra virgin olive oil from Puglia, cold-extracted to preserve the balance of fruity flavour with a peppery finish — and let the bottle stand as a centrepiece on the table when hosting dinner parties.

Buy now £35.00, John Lewis

Belazu Rose Harissa Paste

Belazu Rose Harissa Paste is a product that will appease both chefs and interiors enthusiasts in the household. The deep rose paste, visible through clean, aesthetically pleasing packaging, makes this jar far too pretty to hide away. Flavourwise, Belazu Rose Harissa Paste delivers warmth rather than heat, adding a punchy but not overwhelming flavour to any dish, but it’s the packaging — contemporary chic, unfussy — that earns it a permanent spot by the stove.

Buy now £3.80, Waitrose

Maille Dijon Original Mustard 215g

A heavyweight in the world of French mustards, Maille is a brand that needs little introduction. The brand has been marking the pantry essential condiment since 1747 and it tastes as good as it did back then, with a smooth, slightly pungent flavour that will take a humble lunchtime sarnie to grand heights. 

Slather it onto various foodstuffs or spoon a dollop into a salad dressing to make a punchy vinaigrette.

Buy now £2.50, Waitrose

The Bold Bean Co

Star buy: the Queen Butter Beans are incredibly versatile and can be used as an alternative to gnocchi

Beans may be an everyday staple, but The Bold Bean Co has given their rep a cool makeover.

The brand, beloved by keen chefs and food bloggers, offers a variety of organic beans in recyclable glass jars: think Queen chickpeas, red beans, black beans, butter beans and more.

Meanwhile, the website is packed with seasonal ideas on what to make, upping your bean game and adding delicious new dishes to your repertoire, not to mention increasing your protein and fibre intake, which is never a bad thing.

From £4

Buy now £4.00, Amazon

Lina Stores Orecchiette Pasta

Even dried pasta can feel like part of a curated kitchen when presented right, and Lina Stores’ Orecchiette Pasta (along with the other pasta shapes) delivers just that. The simple cardboard box with Lina Stores’ signature green stripe aesthetic works beautifully on open shelves, turning a humble staple into a quiet status symbol. It’s the sort of product you’ll happily display alongside your favourite olive oil and spices, nudging well beyond supermarket basics. In 2026, even pasta deserves packaging that earns its spot on view.

Buy now £8.99, Selfridges

Superbon Crisps Pimento

In today’s world, it’s easy to be drawn in by packaging. With a packet as snazzy as this, you wonder if Superbon might be hiding mediocre crisps inside. Cast those suspicions aside, for these crisps are golden. And so they should be: the man behind the brand is celebrated chef Philippe Emanuelli.

They come in truffle and salt & vinegar flavour, but if you like a bit of gentle spice, pimento is the bag to pick.

Buy now £3.50, Not Another Bill

Rise & Grind Rocket Fuel Coffee Tin

For those who take their caffeine seriously — and insist it looks good too — the Ride & Grind Rocket Fuel Coffee Bean Tin is stylish, reusable and undeniably eye-catching. Housed in a bold, retro-inspired tin, a nod to vintage motor oil cans, this 250g pack of beans feels more like a design object than a food product, making it perfect for open shelving or countertop display. Giving your kitchen a slice of attitude alongside seriously drinkable coffee, these 100 per cent Arabica beans have been roasted to deliver rich, full flavour — a treat for both morning brews and leisurely weekend lattes.

Buy now £13.99, Selfridges

Fortnum and Mason Black Tea with Vanilla Loose Leaf Caddy

When sweet tooth cravings strike, this vanilla blend tea from Fortnums is on hand to help. The OG of the ornate, pretty packaging, this tea tin goes far beyond the usual box of tea bags you usually stuff into the larder. The tea itself is rich and comforting, but it’s the tin — proudly displayed — that makes this feel like a treat rather than a substitute. Plus, you can re-use this decorative vessel again, long after the tea itself has gone.

Buy now £11.95, Fortnum and Mason

Blood Orange Marmalade

Fortnum & Mason Blood Orange Marmalade delivers indulgence through nostalgia and sharp citrus richness. The iconic jar, with its charming design, acts as a heritage-led status symbol — the kind of thing you leave out even when it’s half-empty, courtesy of its glossy, jewel-toned filling. There’s indulgence in every spoonful of this preserve — and the jar itself deserves a prime spot on your breakfast bar.

Buy now £6.95, Fortnum and Mason

Daylesford Organic Balsamic Vinegar of Modena 250ml

Presented in a simple yet stylish bottle that you’d be happy to leave on your countertop, Daylesford’s balsamic vinegar hails from Modena and is made with typical Trebbiano and Lambrusco grape must. Use it on salads now, and to caramelise hearty root veggies when the weather starts to cool.

Buy now £24.75, Daylesford

Leonardi Gran Riserva Oro 100-Year-Old Balsamic Vinegar

If you’re happy to display a bottle of mezcal or a small-batch whisky on open shelving, it makes perfect sense to do the same with Leonardi Gran Riserva Oro 100-Year-Old Balsamic Vinegar. This is premium balsamic as a showpiece — the kind of bottle that reads less ‘pantry staple’ and more ‘top-shelf spirit’. Sealed in a hand-numbered vessel and finished with the gravitas of a fine liqueur, it’s a quiet status symbol for serious food and drink people.

Aged for a full century, the balsamic itself is thick, glossy and intensely complex, meant to be used sparingly — a few drops over Parmesan, strawberries or vanilla ice cream. Leave it out, admire it, pour it with intent. The packaging alone cements its place on display.

Buy now £300.00, Harrods

ButterNut of London Rose & Pistachio Butter

This is the kind of jar you buy as much for the shelf as for the spoon. Its funky label comprises of bright, bold hues, and an artsy design, making this rose and pistachio an aesthetically pleasing purchase that feels deliberately designed to be left out, not hidden away. For anyone curating their kitchen like a moodboard, this jar proves that even nut butter can earn its place on open shelving when the packaging gets it right.

Buy now £16.50, ButterNut of London