Bantam Bagels were fresh out of the tank when they were introduced to Strong Studio in 2015. After securing a deal on Shark Tank, Nick and Elyse Oleksak’s mini stuffed bagels were sending their small business skyrocketing into stardom.
Before launching into 7,700 Starbucks locations nationwide, the couple partnered with Strong Studio to create a cohesive and professional identity to their growing brand.
Strong Studio, referred to Bantam Bagels by the Starbucks Corporation, was tasked with creating a brand that felt premium, authentic, and true to its New York City roots.
Inspired by iconic landmarks and signage from around the city, Strong Studio employed distinctive typography and ornate shapes to create a sophisticated brand system that debuted in over 7,700 pastry cases nationwide.
In 2016, Bantam Bagels faced their biggest challenge yet – breaking into the supermarket aisle.
In order to compete with household names of the frozen breakfast category, Strong Studio created a line of packaging that highlighted key differentiation factors: high-quality ingredients, mouth-watering taste, and a unique twist on a real deal New York City bagel.
Since their retail debut, Bantam Bagels has expanded to three product lines in over 20,000 retail doors, including Target, Stop and Shop, Wegmans, Kroger, and Costco. Strong Studio manages the design and production of the product portfolio to this day.
Bantam Bagels were becoming an on-the-go breakfast staple across households nationwide, so much so that the business sold for $34 million to the T. Marzetti Company in 2018.
In order to keep up with the demand and innovation of a growing company, Strong Studio redesigned the website and routinely refreshes it alongside marketing and social promotions.
To help tell the Bantam Story and celebrate the company’s New York City authenticity, Strong Studio created a catalog of custom, hand-drawn illustrations for their flagship Bleecker Street shop.
The illustrations tied the overall shop elements – storefront, interior, menu, and merchandise – together into a cohesive space where locals, tourists, and friends come together to share a bite of New York.
Watch the Strong Studio Team paint the Bantam Mural, here!
In 2019, Bantam took to the road and began hand-delivering their authentic New York City bagels across the country.
Look out for #BantamMobile — decked out with the hand-drawn illustrations from the shop — in a city near you!