Design team give Yorkshire firms a taste of success

Small food and drink businesses across Yorkshire are serving up a real feast - thanks to a Sheffield-based design consultancy which has given them the recipe for success.

Design Futures, Sheffield Hallam University's in-house product and packaging design consultancy, has spent the summer helping small businesses in Leeds, Hebden Bridge, Doncaster, Sheffield, Dewsbury, Bradford and Halifax to develop packaging and branding solutions - putting them on the supermarket shelves and bringing awards success.

Creative director John Kirkby said: "Our recent work has been a real success story for Yorkshire. We've been able to provide the expertise to take local companies to the next level, and in many cases, enable them to compete on the national stage.

"It's great to see companies from across Yorkshire having the confidence to re-think what they do and for us to be part of their success story, But I'll admit, it's often left me feeling hungry and thirsty."

Toppings Pies, based in Doncaster, were one of the first companies to approach John's team this summer. The company supply pies to supermarket delicatessen counters and wanted to package them for the first time.

And the packages - with a distinctive new logo and purple packaging - are now selling like hot pies.

Director Matthew Topping said: "Design Futures helped us to realise the potential of our boxed product range and also helped us to redesign our logo and bring Toppings Pie in to the 21st century. They gave us just what we needed."

Sheffield-based Fancie Cakes approached the consultancy to solve a dilemma - how to transport an individual cup-cake while shopping at Meadowhall.

The Design Futures team conceived a carry-case where the cake remains on show, which has won a Starpak award for its innovative design.

Amanda Perry from Fancie Cakes said: "Design Futures used its creative genius, experience in packaging usability and extensive contacts to create a solution which fitted both the brief and budget.  It was an utter delight to work with the team and meetings with them have definitely been among the most fun I have experienced. Their ongoing support and interest in Fancie has just added to the overall experience and I would definitely use them in the future."

Other companies that Design Futures have worked with recently include:

Little Valley Brewery (Hebden Bridge) - rebranded company identity including redesigning labels and pump-clips for a range of organic real ales
Curry Cuisine (Dewsbury) - designed labels for spice-infused dessert sauces, set to be sold in Asda next year.
Lottie Shaws (Elland) - designed new packaging for their parkin and biscuit ranges. The products have now been nominated for a Deliciously Yorkshire award.
Exquisite Handmake Cakes (Leeds) - rebranded company and packaging design stickers for a range of cake products.
Dalesman Foods (Bradford) - new logo, branding and packaging for stuffing and sauce mixes - six new products in a new Gordon Rhodes range were  launched in September 2011 at the Speciality and Fine Food Fair in London, and retailers and distributors began taking orders.

For press information contact: Laurie Harvey on 0114 225 2621 or email pressoffice@shu.ac.uk