Stonewall Kitchen never ceases to impress me.
From the first time I saw their brand at the company’s Portland, Maine retail shop to their charming Summer 2015 Fancy Food Show booth…Stonewall Kitchen is the envy of specialty food brands for a reason.
Stonewall is everywhere
Walking to the Javitz center for the recent show, I talked to a guy on the street. That’s just the kind of thing I do.
Turns out he exports foods for companies like Stonewall Kitchen. This fellow confirmed how well known and loved the brand is around the world. I mentioned the huge, Stonewall Kitchen-branded shelving unit at Gelson’s Market in LA that so impressed me. He echoed that this type of merchandising works wonders.
In fact, a few years ago I noticed a display of Stonewall products at a boutique. This store was in a tiny Pennsylvania town in Amish country — otherwise known as canning central.
I asked why she carried Stonewall instead of from a local pickles and preserves company. “I like their brand and they have a good variety,” she told me. What she really meant (I think) was that the brand looked darn good on the shelf and added charm to the store.
Take a look at the Stonewall Kitchen’s Fancy Food Show booth, below…the brand’s simple, hand-written labels stand the test of time and test of brand extension.
Now, read this great Stonewall Kitchen profile in the Portland Press Herald, about Stonewall’s founding, the founders’ retirement and the company’s plans for the future into ready-to-eat meals.
On a related note, Amy’s Kitchen is extending its ready-to-eat and frozen meals into foodservice: Amy’s Drive Thru, a dream drive-through joint serving healthful food at fast food prices!
All in all, these natural / specialty food industry leaders are giving the people what they want…and finding success for it.
p.s. Did you know Stonewall Kitchen is one of the awesome companies which contributed tips to Good Food, Great Business?
Stonewall Kitchen continues to extend the company’s brand flawlessly to huge success.
So maybe your food doesn’t lend itself to a cute jar with a hand-written label…
Here are a few branding and packaging stories that you might kick off your own Stonewallian empire:
- Branding a Vegan Cheese as Upscale, with details on the creative process
- Strategic Package Design Positions Biscotti as Gifts…and how the business owner raised funds for her packaging run on Kickstarter
Need help or further ideas? Get in touch!
