French Broad Chocolate's journey with BP Solutions Group illustrates how the right packaging partner can transform a business challenge into a competitive advantage. Through careful collaboration and deep understanding of both brand heritage and market demands, what began as a need to "freshen up" became a masterclass in balancing innovation with authenticity.
"We make a product that requires packaging to make an impression on the customer before they ever have the opportunity to try the product," explains Jael Skeffington, owner of French Broad Chocolate. This simple truth would guide every decision in their packaging transformation.
The Challenge: Preserving Legacy While Embracing Innovation
After 18 years of carefully building their brand in Asheville's competitive artisanal food scene, French Broad Chocolate faced a delicate balancing act. The chocolate market had evolved dramatically, with new players entering regularly and consumer expectations reaching new heights. The company needed packaging that would help them stand out in an increasingly crowded landscape while preserving the brand integrity they had worked nearly two decades to establish.
"We've worked for 18 years to create the brand that we have," Skeffington reflects. "We need to freshen up. We need to make sure that we have the products that we need while not taking away from the brand integrity that we've built."
This challenge extended beyond mere aesthetics. The packaging needed to be both beautiful and highly functional, serving as a silent salesperson that could communicate quality, craftsmanship, and brand values before customers ever tasted the product inside. In the chocolate industry, where premium products often command premium prices, packaging quality has a direct influence on customer expectations regarding product quality.
The functional requirements were equally demanding. Chocolate packaging must protect a delicate product from temperature variations, moisture, and physical damage while maintaining visual appeal throughout the supply chain. The solution needed to work seamlessly from production through retail display to the customer's hands.
French Broad Chocolate also prioritized working with local partners who understood both their brand values and their commitment to supporting Asheville's economy. "We love working with companies that have deep roots in Asheville and that contribute to the vital economy that we're all trying to build," Skeffington notes.
The Partnership Process: Local Expertise Meets Artisanal Vision
Choosing BP Solutions Group represented more than a business decision—it was a commitment to keeping their packaging production within the community they served. This choice reflected French Broad Chocolate's values while providing practical advantages throughout the design and production process.
The collaboration began with BP Solutions Group's structural design team working closely with French Broad Chocolate to understand not just their immediate packaging needs, but their brand story, customer base, and long-term vision. This deep-dive approach ensured that every design decision aligned with the company's established brand identity while pushing creative boundaries.
"The design team at BP really helped us get from a concept and a need to a finished product that worked really well," Skeffington explains. This transformation didn't happen overnight—it required multiple iterations, careful consideration of materials and techniques, and constant communication between both teams.
The local partnership provided significant advantages throughout the process. Face-to-face meetings allowed for immediate feedback and adjustments, while BP Solutions Group's understanding of the local market helped inform design decisions. The team could also coordinate closely on timing, ensuring that production schedules aligned with French Broad Chocolate's business needs.
Working locally also meant supporting the broader Asheville economy, a value that resonated deeply with French Broad Chocolate's customer base. Many consumers today actively seek brands that demonstrate community commitment, making this partnership a marketing advantage as well as a practical choice.
The collaborative process extended beyond simple vendor-client dynamics. BP Solutions Group's team became invested in French Broad Chocolate's success, bringing not just technical expertise but creative insights that enhanced the final product. This level of engagement would prove crucial in achieving the award-winning results that followed.
The Solution: Award-Winning Design That Honors Heritage
The final packaging solution achieved the seemingly impossible: it felt both fresh and familiar, innovative yet true to French Broad Chocolate's established identity. The design maintained recognizable brand elements that customers had come to love while introducing new visual and tactile elements that elevated the overall experience.
"This new packaging met that requirement by being bespoke, beautiful, artistic and also maintaining so many of the elements that our customers recognize at this point," Skeffington describes the final result. The solution was truly custom, designed specifically for French Broad Chocolate's products and brand personality rather than adapted from existing templates.
The functionality proved equally impressive. The packaging protected the delicate chocolate products while enhancing the unboxing experience—a crucial factor in premium chocolate sales. Every structural element served both protective and aesthetic purposes, ensuring that customers received their chocolate in perfect condition while feeling they were opening something special.
Material choices reflected both quality and sustainability considerations. The packaging needed to convey premium quality through touch and appearance while meeting modern consumers' expectations for responsible packaging choices. BP Solutions Group's expertise in sustainable printing and packaging options helped French Broad Chocolate make choices that aligned with their values.
The artistic elements of the design captured French Broad Chocolate's artisanal approach while ensuring shelf appeal in competitive retail environments. Colors, typography, and imagery worked together to tell the brand story instantly, helping customers understand what they were purchasing even from a distance.
Quality control throughout production ensured consistency across all packaging elements. BP Solutions Group's manufacturing expertise meant that every package met the same high standards, protecting the brand's reputation and ensuring customer satisfaction with every purchase.
Results and Recognition: Market Impact and Community Recognition
The packaging transformation delivered results that exceeded expectations, earning recognition both in the marketplace and within the industry. The 2024 PICA Awards "Best of Category" recognition validated the design excellence achieved through the partnership between French Broad Chocolate and BP Solutions Group.
Customer response proved equally rewarding. "Since launching this new packaging we've gotten a lot of great feedback on the aesthetics and on the functionality," Skeffington reports. This dual appreciation—for both form and function—demonstrated that the packaging successfully balanced all the requirements that had driven the project.
The market differentiation French Broad Chocolate sought became clearly evident. "The quality of the packaging lets our customers know what to expect as far as the quality of the product," Skeffington explains. "So it is a way for us to differentiate from our competitors in a very crowded landscape."
This differentiation proved particularly valuable in retail environments where French Broad Chocolate products competed directly with national and international brands. The custom packaging helped their products command attention and communicate premium quality instantly, supporting pricing strategies and brand positioning.
The partnership also delivered on French Broad Chocolate's commitment to supporting the local economy. "We've worked with printers from around the country and we're so happy to finally have all of our chocolate bar packaging handcrafted with care right here in Asheville," Skeffington notes. This local production story became part of their marketing narrative, resonating with customers who valued community-focused businesses.
The award recognition provided additional marketing value, offering third-party validation of the packaging's excellence. PICA Awards represent industry recognition of outstanding print and packaging work, lending credibility to French Broad Chocolate's positioning as a premium brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Power of Local Partnership in Premium Packaging
French Broad Chocolate's packaging transformation demonstrates how the right partnership can elevate a brand while honoring its heritage. Through careful collaboration with BP Solutions Group, they achieved packaging that not only met their immediate needs but earned industry recognition and enhanced their competitive position.
This success reflects the value of choosing partners who understand your brand, share your values, and bring both creative vision and technical expertise to every project. For French Broad Chocolate, this meant finding a local partner committed to their success and the broader Asheville community.
Whether you're refreshing an established brand or launching something entirely new, your packaging tells your story before customers ever experience your product. Make sure it's telling the right story with the right partner.
Ready to elevate your brand with award-winning packaging design? Contact BP Solutions Group to discover how our design team can help you create packaging that honors your heritage while driving your business forward. Let's craft something beautiful together.
BP Solutions Group has been creating exceptional print and packaging solutions for Western North Carolina businesses since 1925. Our award-winning team specializes in custom packaging that balances form, function, and brand integrity.
