Food branding and packaging design are crucial aspects of the food industry that can help a product stand out on store shelves and attract customers. In the UK, there are numerous agencies that specialize in providing top-notch food branding and packaging design services. These agencies offer a range of creative solutions to enhance the visual appeal of food products, from concept development to graphic design, packaging engineering and production management. In this article, we will highlight some of the best food branding and packaging design agencies in the UK that have made a name for themselves in the industry.
IdeaHits
Ideahits UK is one of the leading food branding and packaging design agencies in the United Kingdom. We are saying this after what they have created for major brands like Nestle. We understand the need for branding and packaging design. So, they aim to create the best designs for the brands they interact with. Do you need branding and packaging design services for your food like jam branding and packaging, drinks branding and packaging and more, they are here to help. Either you are empty minded or have an idea about branding, IdeaHits can take you brand to next level.
Bloom
We could go on and on about how blooming wonderful they are, but we suppose that is the pun they intended—or at least one of them—in the name. Primarily based in London, Bloom helps a brand develop, blossom, and eventually bloom into its full splendour. They create amazing food designs. They advise you to “be all that you can be.” This agency does not enjoy entering awards, but that does not mean they have not received any. They have been recognized with a Pentaward and FAB Award for JW Black Label, a Design Week Award for Best Branded Packaging, and a Diageo Global Marketing Brilliance Award for their Talisker limited edition gift pack design.
Contact: dav..@bloom-london.com
Brand Me
An agency that needs to learn about web design a little or at least outsource it for a refresh, but then they famous for packaging so I guess it doesn’t matter, especially when they helped create the likes of ‘Taste the Difference’ for Sainsbury’s – the first premium supermarket sub-brand which has grown from zero to a £1 billion brand. They are winners of highly recognized UK Design Effectiveness Awards (Overall Design and a Grand Prix) and have also received a Clio Award, a Design Week Award and a couple Pentawards. Their best work is primarily done for customers like Sainsbury’s, Simple, and Fosters.
Contact: chantal….det@brandme-uk.com
Brand House
It’s a full house here and what a hand they play at the Brandhouse, they are an agency that uses the power of emotion to create high growth brands which deliver outstanding commercial success for clients and also won them international awards for effectiveness and creativity, awards such as DBAs and and at least 3 Pentawards in 2013 alone (I wonder if they have an awards shelf in their house Look out for projects for Robinsons, Kellogg’s, Britvic, San Miguel and Moulton Brown.
Contact: new…ess@thgstudios.com
CBA London
Because CBA has won accolades from the Superdesign Awards, 2 Red Dots, Sol Awards, and 5 Pentawards in 2013 alone, it is clear that they truly design brands with their hearts. They now solely focus on their job with respectable short case studies with ROI results thanks to their recently revamped website, which luckily no longer harps on about accolades as much as their old one (which went into a bit of an overkill). Visit their project archive to browse their portfolio by office. A lot of the best work is submitted by the Paris office. Nestlé, Givenchy, and Unilever are a few well-known international clients.
Design Bridge
If you are interested in branding and packaging, you probably already know that Design Bridge is the “daddy” in the industry and sets the bar for other firms to attempt to meet or surpass. the Pentawards, the highest regarded packaging awards, named them Agency of the Year in 2010. Additionally, they received 4 additional individual accolades in 2011, 6 in 2012, and 4 in 2013. (Which includes a rare Platinum Award). Five DBA Design Effectiveness Awards—two of which were given in 2014—and two Mobius Awards—given in 2012 and 2013 are further recent hauls.
Design Intellect
Since 2003, Design Intellect has been an agile, boutique design firm that has been successful on all fronts. To offer clients across a variety of company sectors a full spectrum of branding, print and digital design, packaging, and strategic services, they blend the small agency focus with big agency thinking. They enjoy collaborating with companies to help them make their communications more engaging, spur growth, and provide stunning, provocative design solutions that strike the ideal balance between creativity and efficiency.
Echo Brand Design
As a wild card, I’ve included Echo as one of the top branding and packaging agencies to watch. The company was founded in 2004 as a breakaway from the award-winning packaging giant Blue Marlin, and it already has 30 employees. In 2010, it also managed to crack the Design Week top 100 list for packaging alone, coming in at number 73. If these individuals had more skills at their disposal, they would rank much higher. They appear to be quite adept at fusing the diverse fields of product design, innovation, and structural packaging into a cohesive whole. A few well-known brands owned by Echo include WD40, Cobra, Carling, Cow & Gate, Sure, and Axe (Lynx). A person to keep an eye on.
HRG
To enhance the value of the packaging agencies on this list, we have included this one. Marketing Week has recognized HRG as the top retail marketing firm, and HRG creates incredible in-store theatres, POP, and sales promotions. Since 2008, HRG has taken up 34 Point of Purchase Advertising International (POPAI) Awards, more than any other POP firm. Their portfolio has some excellent instances of their work for brands including Nokia, Cow & Gate, Kellog’s, Blackberry, and HMV.
Landor
The original branding agency, Landor has been reinventing branding since since its founder, Walter Landor, contributed to its invention. With more than 60 years of expertise working with the most well-known companies in the world, Landor has a history that helps its clients on a daily basis. It’s incredible that their design archives are on display at the Smithsonian Institution rather than in a basement. They have played a significant role in the development of iconic brands including Coca-Cola, Levi’s, WWF, FedEx, and Bank of America. Alcatel, Alfa Romeo, Avaya, Blackberry, BP, Citroen, Heinz, HP, Panasonic, and a long list of other companies are among their many clients now engaged in branding work (305 case studies and counting).
Osborne Pike
OP are masters of PR for catching customer attention rather than competing in design competitions, even though they aren’t really prize winners in their current version (saying that, the founders are 2 former bigwigs from Design Bridge and undoubtedly have plenty of combined accolades under the belts).
Utilizing the instinctive, intuitive, “unthinking” portion of the brain—a feature of human development that recognizes what’s healthy for us and what isn’t—their design seeks to encourage consumer purchases by creating brands that are more like the healthy edible mushroom than deadly toadstools.
Parker Williams
PW is by no means your inferior package supplier; they have won numerous awards and wish to make your brand stand out. PW goes above and beyond to comprehend a brand from the perspective of the consumer and to propel the brand where it lives, whether that be on the shelf or in the corporate world.
A project worth mentioning is Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference line, which won a DBA Design Effectiveness Award for its design strategy, identity, and execution across 1300 products and resulted in a 23% boost in sales. Of course, my personal favorite is the Simply Organic line.
Pearlfisher
All of PF’s designs have produced financial benefits for their clients as well as numerous honors for themselves. They are passionate about the power of design and the role it plays in a brand’s commercial success. Since they have already received a tonne of international design prizes, it makes sense that they like receiving recognition for their innovation.
R-Design
This award-winning branding and packaging business aims to capture the spirit of a brand with a straightforward, inventive solution that engages the consumer right away. They at least summarised it for the rest of us that aspire to be at their level! They produce some (well, a lot) incredible “own brand” work for Tesco and Selfridges, as well as outstanding creativity for the Food Doctor, Speedo (luckily swimming goggles rather than terrible trunks), Debenhams, and a vast variety of other brands on their logos page.
SomeOne in London
It is claimed by SomeOne, an award-winning design firm, that they conduct branding and not blanding since they create symbols of change rather than changing the symbol. They systematically launch, relaunch, and safeguard brands across the globe. An agency after my own heart because their clients can interact and collaborate with the designers there rather than the suits to develop innovative ideas that will change a company’s products or services in the future so that they can profit from change. All lofty ideals, but as evidenced by the fact that they have received numerous accolades for almost five years in this field, they actually live up to their lofty claims.
Springetts
For those who enjoy sports, Springetts has created a number of sports brandings, including as the corporate identities for Manchester United, the Barclays Premiership, and the Rugby Football Union (or RFU and WRU). With regard to packaging, well-known examples include Weetabix, Evian, Youngs, and Twining’s. They assist customers in building and expanding their brands through strategic thinking and compelling design solutions. They must be good because even the man from Del Monte said yes to them. Hell yes, it’s good enough to have won the 2014 DBA Design Effectiveness Award for the fourth time! Not to mention the additional three A Awards, one IPA, two Mobius, four Pentawards, three FABs, one red dot, two Starpacks, and two Fresh Awards:-)
Taxi Studio
Over 130 national and international awards have been given to Taxi, including the coveted New York International Grand Award (which is actually just a shiny silver fruit bowl; come on NY, dig a little deeper), an Epica, a D&AD (in-book), a Pentaward, a Cannes Silver Lion, and a Design Week Benchmarks trophy. Not bad, but wouldn’t you have to chew a fruit pastel before putting it in your mouth? (I have no idea why I mentioned that Rowntree’s is not one of their clients; no, it is not.) P.S. I think the Clarks Superlight Shoe POS idea is brilliant.
Stranger and Stranger
Since they began in 1994, Stranger and Stranger have received a tonne of honours, but more importantly, they have helped sell a billion bottles of beer, wine, and spirits in one of the most competitive markets in the world. That has my support! Yes, as you might have suspected, S&S specialises in the branding of alcoholic beverages. The company has won numerous industry accolades, including Gold medals from Beverage World, the International Spirits Challenge Design & Packaging Awards (ISC), and the International Food & Beverage Awards (FAB). Personally, I adore the packaging for Kraken Rum, Solerno Orange Liqueur, Ogio Wine for Tesco, and Zarco Tequila. Yum!
Frequently Asked Questions About Food Branding and Packaging Services
What is the Difference Between Food Brand and Food Packaging?
Food branding and food packaging are two important aspects of the food industry that play a crucial role in how consumers perceive and purchase products. While both elements contribute to a product’s overall image and appeal, there are key differences between food branding and food packaging that are important to understand.
Food branding refers to the creation of a unique identity for a food product through the use of a specific name, logo, and visual style. It is a way for a company to differentiate its products from those of its competitors and create an emotional connection with its target audience. The branding of a food product can influence a consumer’s perception of the product’s quality, taste, and value, and can play a significant role in their purchasing decisions.
Food packaging, on the other hand, refers to the physical material that surrounds and protects a food product. The primary purpose of food packaging is to preserve and protect the food inside, but it also serves as a marketing tool. Food packaging can help to communicate the product’s key attributes, such as its ingredients, nutritional information, and target audience, to consumers. It can also influence their purchasing decisions by affecting the way they perceive the product’s quality and value.
In conclusion, food branding and food packaging are both important components of the food industry that play a significant role in shaping the way consumers perceive and purchase products. While food branding focuses on creating a unique identity for a product, food packaging serves as a protective and marketing tool. Together, these elements help to create a complete brand image for a food product and contribute to its overall success in the market.
What is Food Branding vs Food Packaging?
Food branding and food packaging are two important aspects of the food industry that play a crucial role in how consumers perceive and purchase products. While both elements contribute to a product’s overall image and appeal, there are key differences between food branding and food packaging that are important to understand.
Food branding refers to the creation of a unique identity for a food product through the use of a specific name, logo, and visual style. It is a way for a company to differentiate its products from those of its competitors and create an emotional connection with its target audience. The branding of a food product can influence a consumer’s perception of the product’s quality, taste, and value, and can play a significant role in their purchasing decisions.
Food packaging, on the other hand, refers to the physical material that surrounds and protects a food product. The primary purpose of food packaging is to preserve and protect the food inside, but it also serves as a marketing tool. Food packaging can help to communicate the product’s key attributes, such as its ingredients, nutritional information, and target audience, to consumers. It can also influence their purchasing decisions by affecting the way they perceive the product’s quality and value.
In conclusion, food branding and food packaging are both important components of the food industry that play a significant role in shaping the way consumers perceive and purchase products. While food branding focuses on creating a unique identity for a product, food packaging serves as a protective and marketing tool. Together, these elements help to create a complete brand image for a food product and contribute to its overall success in the market.
How to Build Your Food Brand with Packaging Design?
Building your brand with packaging design is a powerful strategy for businesses looking to stand out in a competitive marketplace. A well-designed package not only protects your product, but it also serves as a visual representation of your brand and can greatly influence consumer purchasing decisions. Here are a few key ways you can use packaging design to build your brand:
- Establish a visual identity: Your packaging design should reflect your brand’s visual identity, including your logo, colors, and typography. This helps to create a consistent look and feel for your products, making them instantly recognizable to customers.
- Convey product benefits: The design of your packaging should communicate the key benefits of your product to consumers. This might include information about ingredients, usage, or unique features. By highlighting what sets your product apart from competitors, you can build consumer trust and loyalty.
- Create an emotional connection: Packaging design can evoke emotions in consumers, such as excitement, joy, or nostalgia. By using colors, imagery, and messaging that resonate with your target audience, you can create an emotional connection with them and build a stronger brand relationship.
- Differentiate from competitors: By creating a unique and eye-catching packaging design, you can differentiate your brand from competitors and stand out on store shelves. A memorable and distinctive package design can also help increase brand awareness and recall.
- Build brand recognition: Consistent and high-quality packaging design can help build brand recognition over time. When customers see your products on store shelves, they will associate your brand with a certain level of quality and reliability.
Why is Branding Important in Food?
Branding is an essential aspect of the food industry and plays a crucial role in the success of food products. A strong brand can help a food product stand out in a competitive marketplace and create a lasting impression on consumers. Here are just a few of the reasons why branding is important in the food industry:
- Differentiation: With so many food products available, branding can help a product differentiate itself from competitors. A unique brand name, logo, and packaging design can help consumers easily identify and remember a product, increasing brand recognition and recall.
- Trust and Loyalty: A strong brand can create trust and loyalty with consumers. By consistently delivering high-quality products and positive experiences, a brand can build a positive reputation and establish a loyal customer base.
- Emotional Connections: Food often evokes strong emotional connections with consumers, and branding can help tap into these emotions. A well-designed brand can create a personal connection with consumers, making them more likely to purchase a product.
- Increased Value: A strong brand can add perceived value to a product, making it more appealing to consumers. This can help justify a higher price point, making the product more profitable for the company.
- Competitive Advantage: A strong brand can give a company a competitive advantage in the marketplace. By creating a recognizable and trusted brand, a company can establish itself as a leader in the industry and gain a larger market share.
In conclusion, branding is a crucial aspect of the food industry and can greatly impact a product’s success. From creating differentiation and trust to building emotional connections and increasing value, a strong brand can give a food product a competitive advantage and help it succeed in the marketplace.
Theo Faber is a seasoned blogger with a passion for sharing knowledge and expertise on Social Media, Technology, Business, Digital Marketing and many other fields. With years of experience under his belt, he has established himself as a respected voice and influencer in the online community.