Equator Design, a division of Marks (part of the Propelis Group), has been named Agency of the Year at the Vertex Awards for the second consecutive year, marking its sixth Agency of the Year title overall and topping off an extraordinary haul of 24 wins, including 23 individual project awards.
Winning Gold, Silver and Bronze across a broad range of categories and clients, Equator’s results reflect the breadth and consistency of the agency’s creative excellence. To date, the agency has collaborated with more than 20 retailers at the Vertex Awards, earning over 100 accolades.
Adding to the celebrations, Equator’s long-standing client, The Fresh Market, was simultaneously named Retailer of the Year for the second year running, making it a remarkable back-to-back double for both organisations.
The depth of Equator’s relationship with The Fresh Market was reflected in the results, with 15 awards coming from work produced for the premium US grocer. Spanning products across the retailer’s Everyday Extraordinary and Chef Inspired ranges, the victories demonstrate the strength of a creative partnership that continues to achieve standout results.
Among the winning projects was Equator’s bespoke holiday pack structure and visual identity for The Fresh Market’s seasonal range, which use a folk art-style illustration and colour palette that works across both fall and winter products.
Michelle Beck, Director of Own Brands Merchandising at The Fresh Market, commented: “It’s great to see the results of our work with Equator receiving such an enthusiastic endorsement. We chose them as a creative partner because they love our brand as much as we do and share our vision to see it succeed. Our packaging is now delighting and captivating our guests in store, and I’m thrilled that it’s had a similar effect on the Vertex judges.”
Beyond The Fresh Market, Equator’s work spanned a range of clients on both sides of the Atlantic. Aldi UK’s limited-edition Halloween range picked up both Gold and Silver having been entered across two categories, while Meijer secured two Gold awards, one for the redesign of its Grand Gourmet kitchenware brand and one for the relaunch of its LawnScape range. A further Gold was awarded for Equator’s work on Morrisons’ range of pre-mixed canned cocktails, recognised for its bold, youth-oriented visual identity.
At Silver, Co-op’s Irresistible Alvarinho wine was rewarded for its contemporary and distinctive label design. Bronze awards recognised Equator’s work for Aldi US on its Barissimo Single Serve Coffee Cups Advent Calendar and for Sam’s Club on their Member’s Mark Silver Rum.
Michael Duffy, SVP & Global Creative Lead at Equator, commented: “To retain the title of Agency of the Year for the second consecutive year, while also marking our sixth Agency of the Year title overall, is a tremendous honour and a reflection of the huge effort that’s put in consistently by our team. It’s also the result of the trusted partnerships we have with brands who share our passion for creating packaging that truly resonates with consumers. We’re incredibly grateful for that trust, and it inspires us to keep pushing the boundaries of what private brand design can be.”