Belfast food designer helps British producer boost business

Part Two Design in Northern Ireland has helped an award winning food company in Britain to grow sales faster through sharper design and presentation.

The Belfast-based design consultancy, led by founder and managing director Ian Bennington, worked with Shemin's, a producer of fresh Indian curry pastes and spices at Ascot in Berkshire on the design revamp. Shemin's Indian Curry Paste and Spice Blends, formed in 2011 by Shemin MacGregor, gained the top award in the English Curry Awards last year.

Bennington says: "Shemin MacGregor was having her packaging printed in Northern Ireland by specialists Priory Press and the printer's managing director, Mark McConville, recommended Part Two to Shemin as she was keen to improve her brand and presentation.

"We were delighted to be invited by Shemin to come up with some creative solutions for her business. What we did was to take her rather basic packs and create a very authentic image and storyline which subsequently increased her distribution in independents and delis throughout Britain and drove sales steadily upwards.

"We are now engaged with the brand in expanding the product range and in ongoing exhibition and web design.

"As we are all ardent foodies we have really enjoyed working on these fabulous products and have cooked many of the recipes from her three books which we have also designed. They are first class.

"At the English Curry Awards 2016, with stiff competition from the major brands in the UK, Shemin's came away with the top title. The judges said they loved the versatility of the paste and that is was made with 100 per cent natural and fresh ingredients.

"The work with Shemin's is the latest in a serious of commissions that we've won from food processors in the UK and Ireland," he adds.

Part Two Design has also helped a number of Northern Ireland companies to develop product packaging, websites, marketing material and brand identity. These include Antrim-based popcorn producer, Golden Popcorn, Doherty's Meats in Derry, as well as Scott's Crispy Onions in Coleraine, Rule of Crumb gluten-free foods based in Antrim, and Maud's Ice Cream of Carrickfergus.

The design team's brand and packaging for Monaghan-based beef jerky producer Rucksacks won "Best (Most Innovative) Packaging Award" at the 2016 Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards in Dingle.

Part Two Design was formed in January 2014 by Mr Bennington, who has been at the forefront of design for over 30 years.

Shemin's products are based on Shemin MacGregor's experience of watching her mother preparing food in Uganda. "I was surrounded by foods flavoured with fresh fragrant herbs and spices, and a love for great cooking."

Inspired by these memories, she subsequently created a range of fresh curry pastes based on traditional family recipes and using fresh herbs. The products are all made without additives, preservatives and colours. The small company has also produced three free recipe books.