An award-winning creative agency is hoping to “break the ice” with local companies after expanding to new premises on Aycliffe Business Park. LemonTop Creative has moved into the Incubation Centre on Durham Way South after several years in Darlington, just on the other side of the A1 (M). The agency works with businesses all over the world in a variety of sectors, but is best-known for its work in the food and beverage industry – and in particular, within the brewery sector.
To celebrate the firm’s relocation to Aycliffe, LemonTop has created its very own beer, aptly named Ice Breaker, to serve as an introductory ice breaking gift to prospective customers and neighbours. Bosses say it’s an exciting time for the company, which was named after the famous Redcar ice cream when it was formed with a team of three in March 2012. “We’ve watched the development of Aycliffe Business Park over recent years, on the periphery at Darlington, and we decided it was time to become a part of the community,” says director Steve Gill. “To do that we recognised that we’d need to relocate here, to become part of the Aycliffe family, and to expose us to a whole new audience.”
LemonTop boasts more than 100 years’ combined creative experience. Its team is made up of directors Steve Gill, Andy Mogg and creative director Arron Stoutt. “We’re constantly coming up with our own ideas and ways to be different,” says Andy Mogg. “We have the ability to create stuff from scratch. We don’t use generic or stock images – we create unique illustrations for our clients. We’re at the top of our game when it comes to creative brands, concepts and strategies.”
Since its formation seven years ago, LemonTop has worked with around 200 breweries, from household names like Molson Coors to smaller craft breweries like Boss Brewing. The agency was awarded Supplier Associate of the Year at the 2018 SIBA awards, the annual celebration of the Society of Independent Brewers, a trade organisation for independent British brewers.
LemonTop is a member of the Brewing, Food & Beverage Industry Suppliers Association (BFBI), which is a global organisation for the industry. LemonTop have also recently completed the new BFBi branding and website, as well as a website build for the body’s bi-annual awards ceremony which attracts entries from around the world. “That’s a big feather in our cap,” says Steve. “We’ll be at the final awards ceremony in London in May, when all the major players from the industry will be there together, so we’re delighted to have worked on that project.”
As well as establishing a firm foothold in the brewing sector, LemonTop also works with businesses from various other industries including food and beverage, retail, publishing and international trade as well as engineering and manufacturing. Steve adds: “We’re just as happy designing for local businesses as we are taking on a full international marketing brief for a multi-national company, or advising on marketing concepts. “With the years of advertising experience we have between us, we’re at home working on large-scale strategies as we are small projects for SMEs.”
LemonTop’s impressive list of clients and portfolio of work is backed up by a strong list of professional creative services. The agency offers branding and brand guidelines, logo design, commercial illustrations, graphic design for print and digital, and it also designs and builds commercial and eCommerce websites. Creative director Arron Stoutt adds: “We always offer an improved approach to advertising and marketing with fresh ideas and innovative ways to sell products. “Creative ideas are at the forefront of everything we do. We know that trying to be seen and heard in a visually noisy world is a big challenge. We overcome this by getting to know our clients and their business, and use that knowledge to create productive strategies and inspiring communications. “From the initial branding and identity of a business, to creative, innovative eCommerce solutions, we make sure everything we create will capture people’s attention, advertise our clients’ qualities and bring their brand to life.”
If you’re interested in our services, why not contact us today!
