Grain designer’s packaging project impressed the Dragons and secured an impressive investment

Have you followed the latest season of Dragons’ Den on BBC? We’re massive fans of the show and were all excited to see our designer Rosalind Gregoire’s packaging project attracting investment from business tycoon Peter Jones.

The UK is well stocked with exciting foods from all over Europe, Asia and the Americas, but the rich and diverse foods of Africa remain largely undiscovered. When Chika’s A Taste of the Exotic was first conceived, founder and owner Chika set out to create something that was defined by more than just delicious products, albeit that was a very important part. It was about creating an edible experience that would take people on a journey to the beautiful and exotic part of the world that is incredibly close to her heart.

Rosalind was asked to create a visual identity and design the food packaging. This packaging was so beautifully done that it wowed all Dragons when Chika presented them the samples. Both Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden were impressed with the packaging and loved the brand even before they tasted the products. After they sampled the snacks, their decisions were immediately confirmed. Chika was offered the cash that she was asking for to further expand her business.

After careful deliberation, Chika accepted the offer from Peter Jones and we have to say: well done Chika, you’ve made a good decision! We’re no strangers to Peter Jones. In fact, in early 2013 we took on a project for his school, the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy. We created the name and identity for the Ignite apprenticeship programme. We’re so inspired by Peter Jones’ hard work, success and vision, that we are certain that Chika’s Taste of the Exotic will be a huge success with Peter’s support.

Reflecting on this project, Rosalind said, “When I took on the project, I tried my best to embody the feel of the products and represent Chika’s love and passion for African food. I developed the branding, packaging and website as well as doing product photography and packing mockups – but the best part of the project was getting to try the tasty snacks as I worked! It’s really fantastic to see how well Chika’s is doing.”