Cheers ! – LemonTop Creative directors Steve Gill , Andy Mogg and Arron Stoutt celebrate their move to Teesside with a bottle of their very own LemonTop Gin .
Teesside move tops it all for seaside treatloving creatives
ICE TO BE HOME !
O ne of the North-East ’ s leading creative design agencies is relocating to Teesside to continue its growth after multiple account wins in the area .
LemonTop Creative is fast developing a client base in Teesside , working with businesses such as Port of Middlesbrough , Tees and Hartlepool Port Users Association , Acquiro Digital , Salt Steel Brewing and Yarm Distillery , to name a few .
LemonTop has taken the connection one step further with the production and marketing of its very own LemonTop Gin , a nostalgic taste of the seaside .
Mix it with cream soda and it tastes exactly like a lemon top ice cream . This was probably the tipping point of the company ’ s decision to move to Teesside .
Director Andy Mogg , a born and bred Teessider , says : “ Some of our Teesside clients asked us why LemonTop Gin had an address in Newton Aycliffe when it was based on a Teesside delicacy . It was at that point we realised it made sense to look for an office in the area .”
After several years in County Durham , LemonTop Creative has moved into Belasis Technology Park , Billingham .
The agency works with businesses all over the world in a variety of sectors , but is best known for its work in the food and beverage industry – and particularly breweries .
It ’ s an exciting time for the company , which was named after the famous Teesside ice cream when it was formed in March 2012 .
Being in Newton Aycliffe has been good for the growth of LemonTop . It has worked with some exceptional businesses but has now outgrown its existing office .
On looking for new premises they realised a lot of their clients and customers were in the Teesside area , so it made sense to see if they could find a suitable base here .
Two of its three directors were born on Teesside , so they know the area and its personality and that a strong business culture has been rapidly developing on Teesside , making it a prime area to work and invest in .
“ We ’ ve watched that development over recent years and felt now was the perfect time to become a part of
PICTURE : CHRIS BOOTH
such a progressive area ,” says director Steve Gill , another Teessider .
“ To do that we recognised that we had to relocate here , so we can become part of this vibrant business community and expose LemonTop to an exciting business audience .”
LemonTop has worked with breweries from household names to small local firms , including Molson Coors , Boss Brewing and Purity Brewing .
The agency was awarded Supplier Associate of the Year at the 2018 SIBA awards , the annual celebration of the Society of Independent Brewers , a trade organisation for independent British brewers . It was a finalist in the same awards in 2020 .
LemonTop now works for national institutions such as the Co-op and KHS , as well as expanding into the Far East with T Warriors Brewery and Lairgforest , two of China ’ s most promising new brands .
Director Arron Stoutt says : “ It ’ s great to have such high-profile clients , but we still ensure we are offering the same high-quality service to our smaller local clients , the ones we have grown with and who have helped us along the way , who we see regularly , even it ’ s just for a chat and a coffee .”
Asked about the unusual name , Andy explains : “ LemonTop was born out of wanting a distinctive name that would make people smile , and would also give us the opportunity to create unique and memorable business promotions .
“ The lemon top ice cream is a delicacy of the Teesside coastline and evokes memories of sunny childhood days , walking on the beach without a care in the world . Its zesty taste heightened the senses and was usually the climax of a wonderful day .
“ We wanted the work we do to heighten the senses of businesspeople around the North-East and create a taste for more – just like a lemon top ice cream did for us as children .”
lemontopcreative . com
118 | Tees Business