Gold

Increasing sales 300% against pre-COVID levels, a revolutionary repositioning and striking new brand image saved Oxford Brewery following the worst period for hospitality in living memory.

Shotover Brewery was a little-known microbrewer in Oxford. Its beers were excellent, but sales were declining, and its new owners needed to act to widen market appeal and reinvigorate sales. 

Following a radical rebrand, baby food business Little Bellies has become a dominating force in its Australian home market and has been able to extend internationally, securing listings in 6,000 North American stores.

Since launching in 2011, Little Bellies had carved out a niche with its healthy snacks for babies. But by 2017, bigger brands and private label competitors were moving into the snacking space. To protect the brand, the business looked to expand beyond baby snacks and beyond Australia, to achieve 100% brand value growth within three years.

Staff numbers leapt from two to 28 following Billson’s complete rebrand. Reimagined and restored to its former glory, the business is now in the top 3% of local employers and its cordials command a premium price, 89% higher than the market leader. 

A dilapidated factory in Australia could have been lost to history, but in 2017 a young couple fell in love with the building and to save it, risked taking on the unprofitable cordials business it housed. Aiming to transform the failing business into a sustainable one, they worked with Cowan in 2018 to completely rebrand.