LoCo Grocer
CK Signs Ltd.
Client: LoCo Grocer
LoCo Grocer is a café and gourmet food market located in the centre of Arklow, Co. Wicklow. Sarah Reid, the owner and creator of this unique and independent delicatessen, is dedicated to providing the best quality local produce, made with the finest ingredients.
Challenge
When it came to the look and feel of the LoCo Grocer brand Sarah had a strong idea of what she wanted.
LoCo Grocer's market is a modern-day interpretation of the local grocers of the past. Therefore, the identity needed to reference the past, while still being relevant and engaging for today's customer.
Overview
Research for the logo design focused on calligraphy, hand-drawn and script fonts, old produce stamps and circular logos.
The basic blue and white colour palette of the logo and shop front design is inspired by Mediterranean market places and azulejos tiles, which are the blue and white glazed tiles that you find everywhere in Portugal. Additionally, the shopfronts of 1950s-60s Irish grocery stores, bakers and butchers were often painted blue and white.
My Role:
Logo & Identity Design, Exterior Signage & Packaging
Collaboration:
CK Signs
Project Management by Gavin O'Toole
Artwork Production by Paul O'Connor
Installation by Dariusz Denisiuk & Mohammed Nour
Logo Design
There are two versions of the logo: circular and landscape. The logo features Atlantic Bentley, a distressed script font. The font has been digitally altered to best suit the layout and aesthetic of the logo. It is encircled by two pieces of text in the modern font Gotham, the tagline: "Coffee, Eats, Market" and "Neighbourhood Café" as well as the phone number.
Shop Front Signage
Here is the LoCo Grocer shop front graphics and double-sided projecting sign being installed by skilled sign writer Mohammed Nour. The fascia features the landscape version of the logo, the street number and the phone number.
The Market
LoCo Grocer stock several wonderful Irish products including Chimac Hot Sauces, 3fe Coffee, Flora Lab Candles, Tara Hill Honey and Scúp Gelato, to name a few. The illustration design for the cotton tote bag concept is inspired by the mural in the outdoor dining area of the café.
The Café
The café menu includes an amazing all day brunch selection, healthy soups, beautiful salads, sandwiches made with fresh, locally baked bread and great coffee. The LoCo Grocer premises feature a beautiful outdoor dining area with potted plants and a vibrant wall mural consisting of abstract shapes in teal, magenta, yellow, red and dark green.
Packaging Design
When it comes to packaging design, I promote the use of economic and sustainable solutions as much as possible. I implemented three simple packaging options for LoCo Grocer. The circular version of the logo is printed onto environmentally friendly coffee cups. Circular printed labels are applied to the smoothie / juice cups and take-away pots. Finally, the LoCo Grocer staff are able to apply the logo directly on paper bags and take-away cartons using a bespoke rubber stamp.