Calgary agency ZGM has acquired award-winning brand and design studio Dossier, a move that adds to its packaging and brand design capabilities while growing its Western Canada footprint.
It is the fifth acquisition in just over a decade for ZGM as it looks to grow its full-service offering. The agency, which has produced work for clients including the Government of Alberta and the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, now has 125 employees across offices in Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver.
The acquisition is part of its goal to grow in the packaged goods industry. Dossier has a 30-year track record in food and beverage, where it has conceived, designed, launched and rebranded brands including The Little Potato Company, Mike’s Hard Lemonade and Naked Grape.
“We look forward to bringing the Dossier team’s passion and talent to our growing roster, and adding the company’s product innovation, packaging and brand design experience to our services,” said ZGM president Dan King in a release.
The new entity will be known as Dossier | ZGM, and granted access to ZGM’s marketing and communications capabilities, including support from its technology consultancy and software development company, Paper Leaf. The 12-person office will continue to operate separately in Vancouver.
“Over the past 36 years, Dossier has made a number of strides to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients on their unique journeys to success,” said Dossier’s co-founder and creative director Don Chisholm. “By joining the ZGM group, we have made another significant stride to strengthen the depth of our service offerings and to continue to build success for our clients.”
Dossier co-founder and business director Ronna Chisholm said the deal makes sense for both companies, and represents a “natural step forward for our goal of driving social impact and providing young designers and business professionals a unique internship opportunity for meaningful work.”
(Main photo, from left): Dan King, partner and president of ZGM Modern Marketing Partners (ZGM); Ric Williams, ZGM partner and managing director of Edmonton; Don Chisholm,co-founder and creative director, Dossier; Rob Fairhead, ZGM partner and chief strategy officer; Peter Bishop, ZGM partner and director of conversion; Mario Amantea, ZGM partner and chief operating officer; Ronna Chisholm, co-founder and business director, Dossier
