Then. Now. Always.

In a world where nothing seems to last, we’re proud to say we have. For 132 years, we’ve led the way, constantly innovating, adapting and all the while looking after our people. This is our Sun Branding story so far… built from humble yet strong Yorkshire roots.

We’ve been in the graphics industry since 1893, with our founder Charles Gilchrist and one trusty apprentice in Leeds. 100 years on, a significant milestone occurred when we ventured into packaging design.

Today, we are a brand management and packaging agency, and our team has grown to span five studios across three continents servicing international clients across FMCG, retail and pharmaceutical sectors.

Chances are that the groceries you buy include the global brands we call clients. Offering five connected services across Creative, Graphics, Legal, Technology and Sustainability, our expert packaging teams craft new brand strategies, brand creation and refresh brand identities.

Heritage and Innovation

Innovation is in our DNA and our history is rich with evidence. From pioneering electronic scanners in the 1950s, to being early adopters of Apple Macs in the 1990s, we’ve consistently embraced new technology to better serve our clients.

In the 1970s, we made significant investment in photographic sets and digital technology for the iconic publication Vogue, to creating the first ever digital artworks for Asda and produced the ground breaking Next Directory in the 1980s.

Today, we continue the legacy with our innovative technology e-suite, a collection of powerful platforms designed to help clients go to market faster. Built on decades of experience with leading brands and retailers, this e-suite delivers greater impact and consistency, all at a lower cost.

In 2023, responding to the focus on packaging sustainability, we enhanced our consulting services through our sister brand, Aura, to pioneer global change and gained ISO14001 accreditation (alongside ISO9001 and ISO27001) to ensure we limit our own environmental footprint.

Brand Catalysts

We’ve thrived for 132 years by constantly evolving to suit our clients’ needs and market changes. But it’s mainly down to how we operate; our true Yorkshire grit and determination, always doing the right thing by our clients and our people.

But we’re not all born and bred in Yorkshire; there’s over 300 of us across five services, three continents and five studios. All with quite different skills, knowledge, and experience, all experts in our field, focused on brand growth for clients: our team of ‘brand catalysts’

It’s how we all work together that ensures Sun Branding’s success and longevity. It’s our Superpower. An eclectic mix of brand packaging experts coming together, from creatives to legal, tech developers to colour experts, project managers to strategic thinkers, blending whole brain thinking, respecting, advising, and appreciating each other, all under the Sun Branding roof.

Local and Global

We’ve significantly invested in our overseas studios and employees, as well as using the expertise of trusted freelancers and consultants that frequently work with us, some for over 10 years, and are fully integrated into our teams.

In February 2024, we opened our new central US studio in Bentonville, Arkansas. This location allows us to service US brands and retailers and be closer to one of our biggest clients, Walmart.

Our new India studio in Chennai officially opened in June 2025. This new studio is situated right in the heart of Chennai’s bustling commercial district. With this move, we’re not just upgrading the space, we’re investing in the future of our people, creativity, and our clients. Our India teams in Chennai and Bengaluru enable us to provide a global service for clients 24 hours a day, 6 days a week.

Today and Tomorrow

Today, we continue to create brilliant brand packaging. Whether it’s the creative design, brand consistency of graphics through to artwork, integrity checks of pack copy through our legal team; we do it all, to swiftly launch to market using our tech. Reducing costs and increasing efficiency for our global clients.

But we don’t stand still, our technology specialists are constantly innovating and developing ground breaking solutions, while our creative teams lead the way in identifying future packaging trends. Through Horizon Scanning reports, our legal experts provide insights into upcoming legislation with strategies to navigate them, ensuring our clients are always prepared for what lies ahead. We build long-term partnerships with our clients, adding value across the entire packaging supply chain and helping them achieve their future business goals.

After 132 years, there’s a sense that Sun Branding has sometimes remained under the radar but as the Sun rises, our story shines bright: driven by innovation, committed to adapting, and dedicated to creating brilliant brand packaging. Now we’re making global waves, and they are getting even bigger.