Contagious

What Contagious does

Contagious is a UK-based creative brand agency founded in 2001 by Matt Chapman, operating exclusively in the global drinks and spirits vertical. From studios in Edinburgh (Commercial Quay, Leith) and Glasgow (Social Hub, Candleriggs), the firm delivers brand strategy, visual identity, packaging design, brand environments/brand homes and trade activation programmes to a client roster spanning heritage Scotch distilleries (The Dalmore, Glengoyne, Gordon & MacPhail, Rosebank, Bladnoch, anCnoc, Ardbeg, Bowmore), craft gin and vodka brands (Edinburgh Gin, Lind & Lime, Citadelle, Belvedere, Absolut), rum and brandy (Stade's, Burnt Faith), and bourbon (Angel's Envy, Great Jones, Shiner).

The agency operates a four-pillar service model — Brand, Activation, Packaging and Environments — positioned as an 'omni-channel partner' that consolidates the traditionally fragmented multi-agency model in drinks branding under one relationship. Pricing is project-based and not publicly disclosed; new business is sourced through direct outreach, referrals, event presence (Whisky Live Paris, Bar Convent Brooklyn) and award-winning case-study visibility. Notable commercial outcomes include Lind & Lime Gin achieving a three-year sales target in 14 months, Feddie becoming Norway's best-selling single malt within weeks of launch, Glengoyne's +117% visitor and +81% visitor-spend uplift over a decade of work, and Karuizawa 1960 packaging realising a £363,000 world-record auction sale.

Contagious is founder-owned and privately held with 11–50 employees, no disclosed external funding, no parent company, and a referenced sister agency relationship with Heart & Feints. The firm has won more than 100 industry awards across design, drinks and tourism categories, including DBA Golds, Pentawards Platinum, Dieline Best in Show, San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold, and the 2025 World's Best Visitor Attraction at the World Drinks Awards for Citadelle Gin.

Name

Contagious

Legal name

Contagious

Website

https://contagious.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Contagious is a UK-based creative brand agency founded in 2001, exclusively serving the global drinks and spirits industry with brand strategy, packaging design, brand environments, and trade activation from studios in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Brand Agency (Drinks and Spirits)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Brand Activations & Experiential Campaign Design (MPAAAGAA)

Keywords

• Drinks brand agency
• Spirits branding services
• Packaging design agency
• Brand environment design
• Distillery brand home

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Creative Agency Fees: Contagious generates revenue through project-based fees for brand strategy, visual identity, packaging design, brand environments, and campaign work for drinks and spirits brands. Services include brand creation, brand world development, packaging, brand environments/brand homes, activation, and trade education programmes. Fees are negotiated per project engagement.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Contagious is a creative brand agency that delivers brand strategy, visual identity, packaging design, brand environments (brand homes, distillery guest experiences, travel retail), and activation/trade education programmes exclusively for drinks and spirits brands. The agency works globally with clients across whisky, gin, vodka, rum, brandy and beer categories, from craft start-ups to multinational spirits companies, providing an integrated 'omni-channel partner' model that consolidates strategy, packaging, environments and activation under one roof.

Product overview

Contagious is a UK-based creative agency founded in 2001, specializing in brand development, activation, packaging design, and immersive brand environments for global drinks brands. The agency operates through four core service offerings: Brand Services (strategy, creative direction, visual identity), Activation Services (campaigns, advocacy programmes, education platforms), Packaging Services (graphic and structural design for luxury and prestige expressions), and Environments Services (brand homes, guest experiences, global travel retail). The agency's portfolio demonstrates expertise across whisky, gin, brandy, rum, and bourbon categories, with notable client work including The Dalmore Brand Home, Edinburgh Gin Distillery, Belvedere Takeout advocacy platform, Ardbeg Masters of Smoke education programme, and brands such as Feddie, Burnt Faith, Lind & Lime, and Lochlea. Their work spans from prestige packaging for ultra-rare whiskies like Karuizawa to large-scale brand environment design for distillery attractions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brand Services Strategic brand development covering brand strategy, creative strategy, tone of voice, brand world development, and visual brand identity creation for drinks and spirits brands.
• Activation Services Campaign development and execution across on-trade and off-trade channels, including consumer and trade advocacy programmes and education platforms for drinks brands.
• Packaging Services Full packaging design services including portfolio architecture, graphic design, structural design, new product launches, portfolio extensions, innovation, redesigns, luxury ranges, and prestige expressions for drinks and spirits brands.
• Environments Services Design and development of brand homes, distillery guest experiences, interior design, global travel retail spaces, pop-ups, and product launches for drinks brands.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lind & Lime achieved its 3-year sales target in 14 months and now exports to 25 markets including the U.S.
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Feedback MadagascarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContagious designed the brand identity, packaging, and storytelling for The Maclean Foundation, a charity founded by Charlie Maclean and his sons that raises funds for clean water projects in Madagascar. The partnership is ongoing, with Contagious providing pro-bono creative services for whisky bottlings that fund the charity's clean water mission.
• Trash TikiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContagious partnered with anti-waste crusaders Trash Tiki for Absolut's Green Hustle campaign at the Athens Bar Show, creating eco-friendly cocktail activations that taught bartenders waste-reduction habits.
• Rare Whisky 101minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRare Whisky 101 served as headline sponsor of the Maclean Brothers' Pacific Row charity challenge, which The Maclean Foundation (for which Contagious did brand work) used as a fundraising vehicle for clean water in Madagascar.
• Heart & FeintsminorOthersHeart & Feints is identified as Contagious's 'sister agency' on the Contagious website footer. The nature of the relationship is not detailed beyond this reference.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Here Design: London design studio specialising in premium drinks and hospitality branding. Comparable in craft focus, packaging-led identity work, and serving high-end spirits and food clients.
• B&B Studio: UK creative agency with deep specialism in drinks and hospitality branding, packaging, and brand world design. Closely comparable in vertical focus, scale, and client roster (premium spirits, craft brands).
• Stranger & Stranger: London-based creative agency exclusively focused on drinks branding and packaging design. Most direct functional peer — competing for the same spirits brand identity and prestige packaging briefs as Contagious, with comparable category specialism.
• Robot Food: UK branding agency with a strong beer, spirits, and FMCG portfolio (e.g., craft beer, gin, premium spirits). Comparable in client mix, packaging-led identity work, and mid-sized creative-boutique scale.
• Pearlfisher: London brand design agency recognised for drinks, beauty, and luxury packaging work. Comparable in calibre of spirits clients (e.g., prestige whisky, gin) and the editorial/structural packaging craft that Contagious also emphasises.
• Bulletproof: Global brand agency with a strong premium drinks and luxury portfolio. Comparable in serving multinational spirits groups and brand-environment work, but slightly larger and broader in scope.

Broad incumbents

• Elmwood: Global brand, packaging, and design consultancy with drinks and consumer goods clients. A larger, broader incumbent that overlaps with Contagious on spirits packaging and brand experience but serves wider categories.
• Landor & Fitch: Global branding powerhouse within WPP with extensive spirits and luxury portfolio. A scale incumbent overlapping on brand strategy and environments for the same multinational drinks clients (e.g., Diageo, Pernod Ricard ecosystems).
• BrandOpus: London-based brand strategy and design consultancy with drinks and FMCG clients. Comparable in packaging and brand identity work, though broader in vertical scope beyond drinks.

Others

• Heart & Feints: Identified on Contagious's website as their 'sister agency'. Likely adjacent creative services capability; included as the closest known affiliated entity, not a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/contagious
• Xx.com/WeAreContagious
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/contagious

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Contagious