Panettone, the classic dome-shaped dessert, which originates from Milan, is typically enjoyed during wintertime in Italy, and has gained popularity throughout the world. The IYO Group, whose Milanese restaurants include Omakase and Aalto, decided to offer a limited-edition panettone for their customers in 2023, collaborating with local studio Cacao Design to create some memorable packaging.
Cacao Design, founded twenty years ago by friends Alessandro Floridia, Masa Magnoni and Mauro Pastore, has worked in partnership with IYO Group founder and restaurateur Claudio Liu since 2010. Liu, according to Pastore, ‘is an absolute master of hospitality’.
The recipe for this traditional Italian sweet bread was reinvented under the talented hands of IYO’s head pastry chef Luca De Santi. Pastore says: ‘The result is an exquisite interplay of flavours between Italy and Japan, the two worlds that IYO brings into dialogue.’
The magnetic-closure packaging created by Cacao Design was designed for the overarching IYO Group, since the panettone was offered at all three of the group’s restaurants. When talking about the design process for the project, Pastore says: ‘It breaks away from the single restaurant’s visual identity and presents a new identity that is more institutional and suitable for a “group” concept, while remaining refined and upscale.’
The studio decided to use Sirio Ultra Black paper for the packaging because of its tactile feel and richness. ‘To further embellish the result,’ says Pastore, ‘the print is in glossy UV and the IYO logo is in gold foil.’
Papers:
Sirio Ultra Black