Work: Case Study Sobremesa
This burgeoning food brand was being built on some serious street cred. Inspired by Mark’s Italian-Mexican heritage, he and Adrienne had opened Congress, a beloved restaurant that fused the two food cultures. After closing the restaurant’s doors, they continued to offer their small-batch moles and salsas at local farmers markets. But it was time to grow the biz and launch a direct to consumer effort, calling for a new name, full brand identity and writing, packaging concepts, website, and marketing plan.
The brand’s products are a portal into bona fide Mexican regional cooking and culture, a fact we wanted to celebrate at every turn. From there, we sought to tap into something that resonates across cultures and kitchens: food’s remarkable ability to bring us together and forge connections with one another.
First up, the name. After exploring a series of options inspired by the storied origins of this brand—including Mark’s passion, Mexico’s diverse and dynamic regional cuisines, empowering home cooks to create something magical in the kitchen, and the transformative power of a good meal—it was settled. The brand would be Sobremesa, a Spanish word that captures the experience of relaxing around the table with friends and family after a meal.
The concept of Sobremesa and the significant cultural experience it represents became the wellspring for the brand. It shaped everything from the narrative-driven about copy to the creative identity, which include custom illustrations, product labels, merchandise, and website design.
Lively pops of color, inspired by the bright, brilliant hues so foundational to Mexican culture, allude to the products’ bold and nuanced flavors. We launched the Shopify website just in time for holiday orders and built a dynamic marketing plan that helped Sobremesa hit the ground running.
Found in shops across the country and always available via the brand’s online storefront, Sobremesa is truly thriving in the wild. Since our initial website launch, we’ve also supported Mark and Adrienne as they debuted their latest offering, Spicy Salsa Roj, which joins the unbeatable product lineup of flagship Mole Poblano, Roasted Salsa Verde, Smoky Salsa Oaxaqueña, and Citrus Habanero Hot Sauce. With every vibrant batch crafted, Sobremesa is bottling up a bit of culture, remarkable flavors, and an opportunity for customers to slow down and enjoy the moment with loved ones over a great meal. We’re thrilled to have played a part. Now who’s hungry?
