Brand Strategy for Hospitality, F&B &
Lifestyle Brands
Build your brand on strategy,
not assumption.
Every successful brand begins with clarity. I help founders define what makes their business different before investing in design or marketing. Through brand strategy and positioning, we create the foundations for brands that stand out, connect with the right audience and grow with confidence.
What brand strategy really means
A great logo can attract attention, but brand strategy is what gives people a reason to choose you.
Brand strategy defines how your business is positioned, what it stands for and why customers should care. It creates clarity before creativity, shaping everything from your visual identity and messaging to your customer experience and future growth. Whether you're launching a new hospitality concept, scaling an F&B business or repositioning an established lifestyle brand, strategy provides the direction that every successful brand is built upon.
How brand strategy works
1/ Building your brand foundations
Every successful brand begins with a clear foundation. Together we'll define your purpose, vision, values, positioning, strategic pillars and brand promise, creating a framework that guides every decision your business makes.
When everyone understands what the brand stands for, decisions become easier, messaging becomes clearer and growth becomes more consistent. Whether you're opening your first coffee shop, launching a restaurant or expanding an established hospitality brand, these foundations create confidence for both your team and your customers.
2/ Finding your position in the market
The strongest brands don't try to appeal to everyone. They own a space that competitors can't.
Through market research, competitor analysis, audience insight and brand positioning, I'll identify where your business can genuinely stand apart. Together we'll define a compelling value proposition that gives customers a clear reason to choose you over the alternatives.
The outcome is a brand position that's commercially relevant, memorable and built for long-term growth.
3/ Crafting a brand people remember
Once your positioning is clear, your brand needs a voice that brings it to life.
Together we'll define your tone of voice, messaging framework and brand story so every interaction feels consistent, whether it's your website, menus, social media, packaging or customer experience. The goal isn't simply to sound different, but to create a brand that people recognise, remember and genuinely connect with.
"Working with Marc and his team was a game changer for Burro Blanco. They defined our brand’s positioning in a way that stayed true to our roots but ready for growth. Marc’s insight and storytelling brought clarity to our messaging and identity, putting us in a stronger position as we expand across the GCC."
Saied El Hakim, Founder of Burro Blanco
What founders say
Marc helped me develop my brand from scratch, and the result is spectacular. He has a great understanding of both brand strategy and design, and really took the time to understand what I was trying to achieve. His ideas, guidance and attention to detail made the brand stronger than I had imagined. We've had fantastic feedback on both the brand and the logo, and I couldn't be happier with the outcome.
Petra Tanos - Founder / Sticks & Cones
We’ve been working with Marc for more than three years and he has become a trusted partner in the growth of Fresko. From evolving the brand for the UK market to refining our identity in Greece, he has consistently brought strategic thinking, creativity and clarity to every stage of the journey. He takes the time to understand both the business and the customer, and his work has played an important role in shaping Fresko into the brand it is today.
Sofia Zournatzidi - Founder / Fresko
Marc has been a key branding partner for more than six years, helping to create and develop hospitality brands including KOA, Myra and HAZAL. His ability to combine strategic thinking with creativity ensures every brand is built on a strong foundation before being brought to life. From positioning and naming through to identity design, he consistently creates brands that feel authentic, commercially strong and built for long-term growth.
Amro Bagedo - Founder & CEO / KRAIV & KAB Holding
Every successful brand begins with clarity. Let's build yours.
Recent brand strategy projects:
Myra — Brand Strategy and Visual Identity for a Luxury Patisserie in Saudi Arabia
Brand strategy, positioning and visual identity for Myra, a luxury French-inspired patisserie in Riyadh and Jeddah, creating a distinctive brand that blends artisanal craftsmanship with Saudi cultural nuance.
Brand Strategy / Brand Naming / Visual Identity
Sipside — Brand Strategy, Naming and Visual Identity for a Coffee Shop in Jeddah
Brand strategy, positioning, naming and visual identity for Sipside, creating a lifestyle-led coffee shop brand designed as a social destination for young people and families in Jeddah.
Brand Strategy / Market Positioning / Brand Naming / Visual Identity / Brand Messaging & Voice / Brand Experience
Bread Ahead — Brand Strategy and Market Positioning for an Iconic London Bakery
Brand strategy and market positioning for Bread Ahead, supporting its international franchise expansion while strengthening the positioning of one of London's most recognised bakery brands.
Brand Strategy / Market Positioning / Global Franchise Expansion
Town Hall Hotel — Brand Positioning and Visual Identity for a Luxury London Landmark
Brand strategy and repositioning for Town Hall Hotel, transforming a historic London landmark into a culturally connected lifestyle destination for modern travellers.
Brand Strategy / Market Positioning / Visual Identity / Brand Messaging & Voice / Brand Experience
Let's talk about your brand
Whether you're launching something new, refining an existing concept or preparing for growth, I'd love to hear more about what you're building.
FAQs
I am always happy to talk through the brand strategy process on an introductory call. In the meantime, here are answers to the questions I am asked most often.
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Collaboration is essential to building a brand that genuinely resonates. You will be involved at every stage, sharing feedback and insight so the final strategy reflects your vision, your knowledge of the business and your ambition for it.
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Communication is consistent throughout the project. We will have regular check ins, and I am always available between sessions to share updates, talk through feedback or answer questions.
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Yes. Once the brand strategy is presented, there is dedicated time for feedback and discussion. This collaborative stage allows us to refine the thinking together and make sure the final direction aligns with your vision and goals.
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You do not need to prepare a detailed brief. I guide the process through structured questioning, usually starting with key questions during our discovery call so we capture clear, instinctive responses that reflect the brand honestly. If you have existing brand materials or background context, feel free to share them, but they are not essential to get started.
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Most brand strategy projects take between two and four weeks, depending on the depth of engagement and how quickly feedback and information come through. I always set out a clear timeline and milestones at the start so everything stays on track.
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Payments are usually structured in two equal instalments of 50 percent. The first instalment is required to begin the work, with the balance due on completion. For larger or longer engagements, I am happy to agree a payment plan that suits the scope of your project.
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I specialise in premium hospitality, F&B, restaurant, hotel, retail and lifestyle brands, with extensive experience across the UK, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Across 15 years in branding I have also worked in beauty, wellness, fashion, real estate and tech. Every brand strategy is tailored to its sector, market and ambition.
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I focus on building strategies that are genuinely differentiated, grounded in research and rooted in what is true about your brand. By combining market analysis, competitor mapping, audience insight and cultural context, I shape positioning that helps your brand earn attention rather than chase it.
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Yes. I work with businesses looking to refresh or fully rebrand their positioning and visual identity. Whether you are adapting to market shifts, evolving your values or planning a complete transformation, the strategy work brings renewed clarity while preserving what makes your brand distinct. I also deliver the visual identity directly, so the strategy carries through into design with consistency and intent.
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Yes, and startups often get the most value from brand strategy. It helps lay a clear foundation early, so key decisions are made with insight rather than instinct. Many early stage founders find that defining their positioning sharpens their direction and opens the door to new opportunities, partners and investment conversations.
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Yes. I have worked with clients across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, the US, Asia, Africa and Australia. While much of my focus is on the UK and the Gulf, I am open to collaborating with brands anywhere in the world. Remote strategy projects are well established in how I work, with clear communication and delivery wherever you are based.
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On completion you receive a fully presented brand strategy document, designed to act as your internal brand foundation going forward. It is built to guide your team confidently, whether or not you choose to continue working together. If you would like ongoing support, I also offer brand consultancy on a retained or ad hoc basis to help refine positioning, evolve messaging or guide implementation over time.
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Yes. I offer ongoing brand consultancy to make sure your strategy is applied consistently and evolves with the business. Whether you need help adapting your messaging, refining your positioning or aligning internal teams, I am on hand to provide continued strategic guidance as your brand grows.
Explore related branding services
From defining your positioning to creating your visual identity, website and launch strategy, I help founders build brands that are clear, distinctive and built for growth.
Restaurant brand strategy • Hospitality brand strategy • Hotel brand positioning
• Food & beverage branding • Coffee shop branding • Bakery branding • Brand positioning
• Brand naming • Brand messaging • Brand storytelling • Franchise brand strategy
• Startup brand strategy • Brand identity strategy • Customer experience strategy