DECIDE delivers a unique taste of the North

DECIDE delivers a unique taste of the North

Newcastle-based, award-winning creative consultancy DECIDE, has designed the packaging for a new range of artisan chocolate bars for leading local brand North Chocolates.

Company founder, and chocolate maker extraordinaire, Bev Stephenson wanted to launch a selection of her award-winning, small batch gourmet chocolate bars to celebrate the special heritage, landscape, inventions and culture that are synonymous with the North East as part of The Great Exhibition of the North. The event, which runs from 22nd June to 9th September 2018, aims to showcase the very best of the region’s pioneering spirit in art, design and innovation, so it seemed only natural that North Chocolates should be a part of it.

After seeing Grant Marshall, Creative Director of DECIDE, giving a talk at a DNN (Design Network North) food and drink conference, in which he explained how the consultancy uses its proprietary 'd3thinking tools' to influence shopper decision making, Bev approached DECIDE to undertake this exciting project.

The new range packaging features craft paper stock imagery to enhance the product’s artisanal, handmade cues, with a colour coded ’splash’ of ink to visually differentiate between each product. The introduction of a graphic map border device to complement the brand’s ‘compass' brand marque also reinforces the local provenance of the chocolate. Each pack features illustrations specially commissioned from local artist Suzanne Homer. The handmade chocolates range from a classic Single origin 45% Milk bar with an illustration of the iconic Tyne Bridge, to one inspired by the ‘Great Reformer’ Earl Grey from Northumberland featuring a flavourful blend from Newcastle’s Estate tea Company proudly represented with an illustration of Newcastle's famous city centre monument.

First reactions from stockists look promising, with demand exceeding expectations, and the range securing a coveted place within The Great Exhibition of the North corporate brand packs.

  •  DECIDE combines strategic branding, packaging design, shopper marketing & digital expertise to effectively engage every stakeholder

We create ‘decision-ready’ brands that…Engage the Retailer, Inspire the Shopper and delight the consumer …through insight-led creativity, designed to influence people at every touch-point on today’s omni-channel shopper journey…at home, in-store, on-the-go

* North Chocolates is a Newcastle-based producer of gourmet artisan chocolate specialising in small batch chocolate bars with flavours ranging from the classic to the unusual, and was winner of ‘Artisan Producer’ at the Newcastle Business Awards. North Chocolate bars, novelties or bespoke hampers are the perfect treat or gift. North Chocolate is also ideal for weddings, events and bespoke corporate Christmas gifts. Prestigious stockists include; Fenwick’s Food Hall, Baltic Kitchen and Sage Gateshead

(www.northchocolates.co.uk)

* Suzanne Homer is a Swiss-born, British artist living and working in Newcastle. Her inspiration stems from the architecture she observed as she travelled through different countries while growing up. Her work is available in galleries and shops and she has completed commissions for a range of clients, from private individuals to Newcastle university where one of her artworks was gifted to Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal

(www.zannadesigns.co.uk)