CMA Design

What CMA Design does

CMA Design is a Houston-based, privately held branding and packaging design agency founded in 1986, operating as a B2B professional services firm. Its core offering is end-to-end brand and package design for consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands, delivered across three phases: Strategy (brand positioning, architecture, naming, brand story), Design (visual identity, logo, packaging, illustration, photography), and Production (adaptation, digital 3D renders, package mockups, artwork/digital asset management). The firm is sold on direct senior-talent engagement, with a stated policy that clients work only with the expert team and not junior staff.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees and agency-of-record retainers. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven: prospective clients engage directly via the firm's website contact page, email ([email protected]), or phone (713.834.0180). There is no self-serve or e-commerce model. Acquisition channels are predominantly portfolio-driven inbound and referrals.

The client base is concentrated in CPG verticals — notably food and beverage (Minute Maid, Simply Juices, Bob's Red Mill, NatureSweet, Kroger), spirits (Fireball, Traveller Whiskey, Southern Comfort), and household/grilling (Royal Oak). Tenure is the defining feature of the book: Minute Maid since 1986, Simply Juices since 2001, NatureSweet since 2003. Marquee engagements include a flexible private-label packaging system for Kroger spanning approximately 33,000 SKUs and co-development of Traveller Whiskey with Buffalo Trace and Chris Stapleton. The firm operates a single Houston studio (11-50 employees), serves North America, and discloses no institutional ownership, funding, or acquisitions.

Name

CMA Design

Legal name

CMA Design

Website

https://cmadesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CMA Design is a Houston-based branding and packaging design agency serving CPG brands across food and beverage, spirits, and household categories with end-to-end strategy, design, and production services. Founded in 1986, it maintains multi-decade agency-of-record engagements with clients such as Minute Maid, Simply Juices, and NatureSweet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Branding & Packaging Design Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430), Commercial Photography (541922), Industrial Design Services (541420)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging & Brand Identity Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAN)

Keywords

• Branding design services
• Packaging design agency
• Visual identity design
• CPG brand strategy
• Logo and brand development

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Branding and Packaging Design Services: CMA Design generates revenue through professional services fees for branding strategy, packaging design, visual identity development, and related creative services. The engagement model involves direct client relationships with CPG brands for project-based work, including new product launches, brand refreshes, and ongoing agency-of-record arrangements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

CMA Design is a Houston-based branding and packaging design agency that provides strategy, visual identity, logo, packaging, illustration, photography, 3D render, and production/artwork management services to consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands in food and beverage, spirits, household goods, and personal care. Engagements are sold as project-based work, agency-of-record retainers, brand refreshes, and new product launch design support.

Product overview

CMA Design is an award-winning branding and packaging design agency with 38 years of experience serving CPG brands. The agency offers a unified suite of design services organized across three phases: Strategy (brand strategy, positioning, architecture, naming, and brand story), Design (visual identity, logo design, illustration, photography, and packaging design), and Production (adaptation, digital renders, package mock-ups, and artwork management). The agency specializes in food and beverage branding but has expanded into household goods, personal care, and spirits categories. Notable client projects include Kroger's private label redesign spanning 33,000 SKUs, Fireball brand refresh with new Blazin' Apple flavor, Simply Juices ongoing brand evolution since 2001, Traveller Whiskey new product launch with Buffalo Trace, Southern Comfort heritage refresh, and long-term partnerships with Minute Maid since 1986 and NatureSweet since 2003.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brand Strategy & Positioning Strategic consulting service that helps CPG brands define their market position, brand architecture, and competitive differentiation as the upstream phase of an engagement.
• Naming & Ideation Creative naming and concept development service for new products and brand refreshes in the CPG space.
• Logo Design Visual identity design service including logo redesign, creation of brand visual asset libraries, and brand guidelines.
• Package Design Packaging design service for food, beverage, household goods, personal care, and spirits categories, focused on packaging that drives consumer appeal and shelf sales.
• Package Mockup Physical mockup production service that visualizes packaging designs prior to manufacturing runs.
• Illustration & Photography Visual content creation service providing illustration and photography for packaging and marketing materials.
• Digital 3D Renders Digital rendering service providing 3D visualization of packaging designs for client presentations and approvals.
• Production & Digital Asset Management Production preparation and artwork management service that adapts designs for production, creates package mockups, and manages ongoing digital asset libraries for the client.

Quantifiable outcome

• Developed flexible package system proliferated across approximately 33,000 Kroger brand SKUs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Buffalo TracecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMA Design collaborated with Buffalo Trace distillery to create Traveller Whiskey packaging in partnership with music legend Chris Stapleton. The design was inspired by Kentucky heritage and Chris Stapleton's debut album 'Traveller', featuring intricate map details, vintage whiskey aesthetics, and hand-drawn logo with textured details honoring Kentucky's craftsmanship.
• Chris StapletoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic legend Chris Stapleton partnered with CMA Design and Buffalo Trace to create Traveller Whiskey. The packaging draws inspiration from his Kentucky roots and his iconic album 'Traveller'. The design embodies the spirit of exploration, craftsmanship, and storytelling that defines both the artist and the whiskey.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stranger & Stranger: Independent design agency specializing in beverage and spirits packaging design, with a portfolio spanning wine, beer, and spirits. Highly comparable to CMA's premium spirits work (Fireball, Traveller, Southern Comfort) and adjacent food/beverage categories.
• Coley Porter Bell: WPP-owned brand and design agency specializing in CPG and FMCG branding and packaging. Comparable to CMA in CPG focus and packaging-led services, with the strategic distinction of being part of a global holding company.
• Pearlfisher: Independent, London-founded branding and packaging design agency specializing in CPG, food, beverage, and beauty brands. Highly comparable to CMA in service offering, category focus, and boutique-but-premium positioning.
• ForceMajeure: Independent design agency specializing in premium food, beverage, and spirits packaging design. Highly comparable to CMA in category focus, premium positioning, and portfolio of spirits and food brand engagements.
• Sterling Brands: Independent New York-based brand and packaging design agency focused on CPG, food, beverage, and beauty clients. Highly comparable to CMA on service mix, category specialization, and mid-sized independent positioning.
• Turner Duckworth: Globally networked design agency specializing in brand identity and packaging for CPG giants (Diageo, Levi's, Burger King). Comparable to CMA in CPG packaging focus but operating at significantly larger scale with offices in multiple countries.
• Landor & Fitch: Global branding and design agency with a substantial CPG packaging practice serving food, beverage, and spirits clients. Closely comparable to CMA's core service mix and category focus, but operating at significantly greater scale with worldwide offices.
• Chase Design Group: California-based CPG packaging and branding agency serving food, beverage, and household goods clients. Closely aligned with CMA on category mix, packaging-led offering, and mid-sized independent agency positioning.
• Dragon Rouge: Global brand and packaging design agency with strong CPG and food & beverage practice. Directly comparable to CMA in offering, category focus, and creative-led boutique positioning across multiple geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Bulletproof (Accenture Song): Global brand and packaging design agency, now part of Accenture Song, with deep CPG and beverage expertise. Comparable service offering to CMA but considerably larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cma_branding
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cma-design

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CMA Design