A Northern collaboration in the name of Chocolate
Local artisan chocolate brand North Chocolates have collaborated with local companies to bring their new range to shops near you.
Working with Newcastle based award-winning creative consultancy DECIDE, and local artist Suzanne Homer to design the packaging for their latest selection of bars.
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.
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. They 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, National Trust and Sage Gateshead
* 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
*Estate Tea Company is an independent business specialising in high quality loose leaf teas based in Newcastle Upon Tyne; their passion is in sourcing only the top grades of small batch tea available. They take great pride in procuring their teas through honest and ethical channels wherever possible.
