ChatGPT answers, unedited

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Haugaard Creative Group Inc - 414 N Orleans St #508, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• Soulsight - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Dupuis Group - 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
• PKG Brand Design - 2045 W Grand Ave B-27332, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• Carrmichael Design - 515 N Noble St Apt 101, Chicago, IL 60642, United States

For a small food/CPG brand, with the requirement that one partner can cover branding → packaging → Shopify → product/packaging photography, I’d shortlist these Chicago options:

• ALX Creatives — River North, 420 W Huron St. Probably the closest match to your brief. They list branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce, photography, video, and design systems under one roof, and they specifically cite food/consumer work. This is the one I’d ask about first if you want a relatively small-brand-friendly agency rather than a big CPG consultancy.
• Dupuis Group — River North, 62 W Huron St. Very strong on food/CPG branding and packaging. Their associated Flashlight Studio is at the same address and specializes in food/beverage photography, including packaging imagery. Flashlight's portfolio specifically includes CPG packaging photography. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

Caveat: I'd confirm whether they build the Shopify store directly or bring in a development partner.

• Haugaard Creative Group Inc — River North, 414 N Orleans St. A more packaging/brand-design-oriented option, with a strong CPG/food focus. I'd consider them if the package and visual identity are the priority, then ask whether they handle Shopify and photography in-house or through partners.
• One Design Company — River North, 230 W Superior St. Stronger on brand + digital experience/web development and can extend branding into packaging. I'd put them on the list if the Shopify experience is particularly important, though they're less food-specialized than DuPuis.
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St. This is the opposite end of the spectrum: very strong Shopify/Shopify Plus capability, but I'd pair them with a food branding/photography specialist rather than expect them to be your complete creative partner.

The two I'd contact first

1. ALX Creatives if you want one relatively compact team to do everything—brand, Shopify, photography, content.

2. DuPuis + Flashlight if you're building a serious food/CPG brand and packaging is a major part of the launch. Their River North setup is unusually convenient for combining brand/packaging work with dedicated food photography. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

One other studio worth knowing about is SO Dsgn. It's not River North (1719 S. Clinton), but it's specifically focused on brand design + packaging, including premium foods, beverages, desserts/snacking, and specialty foods. SO Dsgn

If you tell me your food category (snacks, sauces, frozen, beverages, etc.) and rough budget—e.g. $10–25k vs. $25–50k vs. $50k+—I can narrow this to 3 agencies that are actually sized appropriately for you.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Haugaard Creative Group Inc - 414 N Orleans St #508, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Soulsight - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Flashlight Studio - 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Cultivate Brands - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 100-1066, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• PKG Brand Design - 2045 W Grand Ave B-27332, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• Carrmichael Design - 515 N Noble St Apt 101, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• Dupuis Group - 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654

Yes. For small food/CPG brands, I’d focus on agencies that can bridge brand identity → packaging → Shopify/e-commerce → product/food photography, rather than a pure branding shop.

Best River North fits

• ALX Creatives — 420 W Huron St, River North. This is probably the closest match to your whole brief: branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce, photography and content production are all listed capabilities. Their work also includes a food-brand example involving a Shopify store and photography.
• Dupuis Group — 62 W Huron St, River North. Stronger on food/CPG branding and packaging, with photography/content through its associated Flashlight Studio. Flashlight is specifically focused on food photography and packaging imagery and is at the same Huron Street address. Flashlight Studio
• Haugaard Creative Group Inc — 414 N Orleans St, River North. More of a packaging/brand-design specialist than a Shopify shop, but particularly relevant if the physical package is the centerpiece of the project. Its focus is CPG, including food, beverage and snacks.
• One Design Company — 230 W Superior St, River North. A broader strategic design/development studio with branding, digital experiences and packaging capabilities. I'd ask specifically whether they'd handle the Shopify implementation themselves or partner it out.

A couple just outside the exact River North target

• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle. Very strong Shopify/e-commerce capability and downtown location, but it's more of an e-commerce specialist than a food-brand/packaging studio. It could make sense paired with a packaging/brand shop.
• Soulsight — 110 N Wacker. Excellent CPG branding/packaging orientation, including food brands, but I'd view them as a brand/packaging partner, not the obvious Shopify-build choice. Soulsight
• The Food Group — Fulton Market rather than River North. Food/CPG-focused and has branding plus in-house photography/video, so it's worth considering if the food-category expertise matters more than being literally in River North.

One especially interesting photography option

Flashlight Studio is worth knowing about even if you don't use DuPuis for everything. It's specifically a food and beverage photography studio, with work for food packaging, digital and print campaigns. Flashlight Studio

For your particular brief, I'd start conversations with ALX and DuPuis/Flashlight. ALX looks closer to the “one team builds my brand + Shopify + content” model, while DuPuis/Flashlight looks stronger if sophisticated CPG branding, packaging and food photography are the priority. Those are different strengths, so I'd ask both for a proposed team and scope rather than assuming one handles everything in-house.

If you tell me roughly what kind of food product, number of SKUs, and your approximate branding + Shopify budget, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and pull together their relevant food-brand work and contact/portfolio links.

• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Haugaard Creative Group Inc - 414 N Orleans St #508, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Soulsight - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Stephen Hamilton Inc - 1520 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• David Raine Studios - 2918 N Kilbourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60641, United States
• Kaleidoscope - 700 N Sacramento Blvd Ste 265, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• PKG Brand Design - 2045 W Grand Ave B-27332, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Dupuis Group - 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
• Ryan Bringas | Chicago Food Photographer and Studio - 2147 S Lumber St Unit 500C, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• SO Dsgn - 1719 S Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60616, United States

If River North + small food/CPG brand + Shopify + packaging photography are the priorities, I’d look at a mix of full-service agencies and one-stop brand/packaging shops. A few stand out:

• Dupuis Group — River North, 62 W Huron St. Probably the closest match to your brief. They have a strong food/beverage and CPG background, do brand identity and packaging, and their associated Flashlight Studio is literally at the same River North address and specializes in food/product photography for packaging, digital and print. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

Caveat: I’d specifically ask whether they build Shopify in-house or partner with a Shopify developer.

• Haugaard Creative Group Inc — River North, 414 N Orleans St. More packaging/brand-design oriented than Shopify-development oriented. They specialize in CPG branding and packaging, particularly food and beverage. This could be a good fit if the brand + package side is the harder part and you can bring in a Shopify specialist.
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency — 20 N Wacker, just south of River North. Their Chicago operation combines brand/packaging design with photography/content capabilities and is particularly geared toward food, beverage and CPG. DePersico Creative

Caveat: feels more geared toward established CPG organizations than a very small founder-led brand.

• Soulsight — 110 N Wacker, downtown. Strong CPG branding, identity and packaging work, including emerging brands. Soulsight

Caveat: likely more substantial/strategic than you need if you're looking for a relatively lean Shopify launch.

• Path Creative — not River North, but worth considering if Shopify/web + food photography + packaging + branding all need to live under one roof. They explicitly describe themselves as a full-service Chicago creative studio doing website design/development, retail packaging, commercial food photography and video, with experience serving small-to-midsize food/CPG companies. Path Creative Path Creative

My shortlist for your particular brief

If this is a small food brand doing a rebrand + new packaging + Shopify store + a shoot for PDP/website/packaging, I'd contact DuPuis first, then Path Creative. DuPuis is the particularly interesting one because the River North location and food-photography capability line up unusually well with what you're asking for. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

If you want, I can also narrow this to 5 Chicago agencies that have actually done Shopify sites for small/emerging food brands, with approximate project size/budget and examples of their work.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Soulsight - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Kaleidoscope - 700 N Sacramento Blvd Ste 265, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Queue Brand Communications - 29 E Madison St #800, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Design B&B - 833 W Jackson Blvd Fl 7, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• PKG Brand Design - 2045 W Grand Ave B-27332, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States

Yes — there are a few Chicago shops that look like strong fits. For your exact brief (small food brand + branding + Shopify + packaging photography), I’d start with these:

1. ALX Creatives — strongest River North all-in-one fit

• 420 W Huron St, River North
• Explicitly lists branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce builds, photography, video, copywriting, and design systems.
• They also show a food/CPG example involving brand creation + Shopify + photography.
• This is probably the first call I'd make if you want one relatively nimble team rather than stitching together specialists.
• Dupuis Group — strongest strategic/CPG option near River North

• 62 W Huron St, essentially River North.
• More of a sophisticated brand/packaging/innovation agency than a Shopify shop.
• Their location is also home to Flashlight Studio, which specializes in food/beverage photography and packaging imagery. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio
• I'd consider this if the brand identity and packaging need to be excellent, with ecommerce handled as part of the broader engagement.
• Soulsight — excellent CPG branding, less obvious Shopify fit

• 110 N Wacker Dr, right downtown.
• Very strong on CPG strategy, brand identity, packaging, photography/art direction and food brands. Their portfolio includes major food brands and emerging brands. Soulsight Soulsight
• I would shortlist them if you're building something intended to become a serious retail CPG brand, but I'd specifically ask whether they'll own the Shopify build or partner on it.
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency — packaging + photography heavyweight

• 20 N Wacker Dr
• Particularly compelling for packaging and food/product photography; their Chicago operation combines packaging/brand design with photography and styling.
• Again, Shopify isn't the reason I'd hire them; I'd hire them for the physical brand and packaging, then potentially pair them with a Shopify specialist.
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — strongest Shopify specialist nearby

• 203 N LaSalle St, just east of River North.
• Shopify/Shopify Plus is their core competency.
• I'd pair them with a packaging/brand studio if ecommerce is going to be a major revenue channel.

My shortlist for you

If this is a small/emerging food brand, I'd contact ALX first. Their capability mix is unusually close to your whole wish list, and the River North location is a bonus.

If the packaging/brand is the centerpiece and Shopify is secondary, I'd talk to DuPuis/Flashlight and Soulsight.

One particularly useful thing about Flashlight: it's actually at 62 W Huron, and they explicitly specialize in food/beverage imagery for packaging, digital and print, so you wouldn't need to hunt for a separate food photographer. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

If you tell me what kind of food product (snacks, sauce, beverage, frozen, etc.) and roughly your budget ($10–25k / $25–50k / $50k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies that are genuinely appropriate for a small brand, rather than big CPG agencies that may be overkill.

Yes. I’d narrow this to a small handful, because the combination of brand strategy/identity + packaging + Shopify + food photography is more specialized than a normal branding shop.

My shortlist

• Best overall fit: ALX Creatives — This is the one I'd contact first for a small/emerging food brand. They're in River North and explicitly offer branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce builds, photography, video, and design systems. Their Phantom Chef work specifically combines consumer branding with a Shopify site and photography. That's unusually close to your entire brief.
• Best for packaging + food photography: Dupuis Group + Flashlight Studio — DuPuis is at 62 W Huron in River North, and its ecosystem includes Flashlight Studio, which is literally a River North food photography studio specializing in imagery for packaging, digital and print. Flashlight's portfolio includes CPG packaging photography and food styling. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

Caveat: I'd confirm that the Shopify build would be handled directly by the same team rather than an outside development partner.

• Best packaging/CPG specialist: Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency — Very strong if the packaging is the centerpiece. Their Chicago studio does packaging/brand design and has substantial food/product photography and styling capability. They're downtown rather than River North proper.

I'd pair this with a Shopify specialist if ecommerce is a major part of the project.

• Best if you want a broader food-marketing partner: The Food Group — Fulton Market, food-and-beverage focused, with branding, content, photography/video, digital and shopper marketing. More of a full-service food agency than a small Shopify-first studio, so I'd expect them to be a bigger engagement.
• Worth a conversation: One Design Company — Actually in River North at 230 W Superior. They're strong on brand strategy/design, digital experiences and packaging, but I don't see the same explicit food-photography/Shopify combination as ALX.

If this were my project

I'd rank them:

1. ALX Creatives — best chance of getting brand → packaging → photography → Shopify under one roof.

2. DuPuis + Flashlight Studio — strongest if you care about making the food/product imagery and packaging look exceptional, with Shopify confirmed separately.

3. Equator Design — strongest packaging/CPG pedigree, but potentially more agency than a small emerging brand needs.

One other useful distinction: Soulsight is excellent for serious CPG branding/packaging, but I'd consider it overkill for many small food brands; its positioning is much more oriented toward sophisticated CPG brand systems and larger portfolios. Soulsight Soulsight

If you tell me roughly your budget ($10–25k, $25–50k, $50k+) and what kind of food product it is, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare likely fit, Shopify capability, packaging, photography, and small-brand friendliness.

• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Soulsight - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• PKG Brand Design - 2045 W Grand Ave B-27332, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Haugaard Creative Group Inc - 414 N Orleans St #508, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Carrmichael Design - 515 N Noble St Apt 101, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• Kaleidoscope - 700 N Sacramento Blvd Ste 265, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Avenue3 Studios - 333 N Oakley Blvd Ste 106, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Seedhouse - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 303, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Dupuis Group - 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654

The strongest fits are:

• Dupuis Group — River North, 62 W Huron. Excellent food/CPG branding + packaging, with photography/content through its Flashlight Studio capability. Flashlight is specifically in River North and does packaging photography. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — River North, 203 N LaSalle. Strong Shopify/Shopify Plus build partner; I'd pair them with DuPuis/Flashlight for the brand and photography side.
• Soulsight — downtown, 110 N Wacker. Excellent CPG branding/packaging, though likely more substantial/strategic than a tiny startup needs. soulsight.com
• JB Chicago — River North, 435 N LaSalle. More generalist, but combines branding, web, and food/beverage experience.

My first call: DuPuis/Flashlight for brand + packaging + photography, and ask whether they can handle the Shopify build directly or recommend a preferred Shopify partner.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Soulsight - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Flashlight Studio - 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Haugaard Creative Group Inc - 414 N Orleans St #508, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Kaleidoscope - 700 N Sacramento Blvd Ste 265, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• PKG Brand Design - 2045 W Grand Ave B-27332, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Stephen Hamilton Inc - 1520 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Betty Chicago - 1 S Wacker Dr Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

Yes — but the “branding + Shopify + packaging photography” combination narrows the field quite a bit. For a small food/CPG brand, I’d shortlist these:

Best matches

• ALX Creatives — best overall fit if you want one nimble partner. They’re in River North at 420 W Huron and explicitly offer branding, web development, photography, and Shopify/e-commerce builds. They also have a strong food/beverage example: Hightail, where they rebuilt the Shopify experience for a sparkling beverage brand. Their ARMRA work combined branding, packaging, and e-commerce development. ALX Creatives ALX Creatives ALX Creatives

Caveat: their public photography offering is broader product/lifestyle photography rather than specifically “food packaging photography,” so I’d ask about tabletop/hero shots for your actual package.

• One Design Company — interesting River North option for brand + digital. They’re at 230 W Superior and explicitly work across branding, print/packaging, and e-commerce including Shopify.

Caveat: I don't see as strong evidence that food/packaging photography is an in-house specialty, so this may involve a photographer partner.

• Dupuis Group — probably the strongest food/CPG branding + packaging choice, and they're actually in River North at 62 W Huron. They grew up in food & beverage and combine brand strategy, identity, package design, photography and production. Their Pretzilla work, for example, included branding, packaging and hero product photography through their affiliated Flashlight Studio. DuPuis Group DuPuis Group

Caveat: I would not assume they are the Shopify builder. They're much more of a CPG branding/packaging specialist, so you may need a digital partner.

• Soulsight — excellent CPG branding/packaging, but likely more agency than you need. They're downtown at 110 N Wacker and specialize heavily in CPG brand strategy, identity, packaging, photography and art direction. Soulsight

Caveat: I wouldn't put them first for a small-brand Shopify build; they're better suited if you're looking for serious brand architecture/packaging work.

The photography wildcard

Flashlight Studio is particularly worth knowing about because it's literally in River North and specializes in food/beverage photography for packaging, digital and print. Their studio includes food styling and kitchen facilities, and they specifically show CPG packaging work. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

That's also the photography operation DuPuis says it built to make visual content part of brand strategy. DuPuis Group

My recommendation

If this is a small emerging food brand, I'd talk to ALX first because they're the closest match to your desired single-vendor setup: brand → Shopify → content/photography, and they have actual beverage/CPG Shopify work. ALX Creatives

If packaging and shelf presence are more important than having everything under one roof, I'd do DuPuis + Flashlight Studio, then bring in a Shopify specialist for the store.

One other option outside River North: Path Creative is worth a look because it explicitly combines website design/development, retail packaging, commercial food photography and video, and works with small-to-midsize food/CPG companies. Path Creative

If you tell me your rough budget ($10–25k, $25–50k, $50k+) and whether you're launching from scratch or already have packaging, I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually contact, with relevant food-brand examples and contact links.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Haugaard Creative Group Inc - 414 N Orleans St #508, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Flashlight Studio - 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Soulsight - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Queue Brand Communications - 29 E Madison St #800, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Alebrije Agency - 233 S Wacker Dr Ste 4400, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

Yes — there are a few Chicago shops that look particularly close to your “small food brand → branding → packaging → Shopify → photography” brief. I’d prioritize these:

Best fits

• ALX Creatives — River North, 420 W Huron St. This is probably the closest match to your entire wish list. They explicitly cover branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce builds, photography/video, and content, and their work includes a food/CPG example (Phantom Chef) involving brand creation, Shopify, marketing, and photography.

Best for: a smaller/emerging food brand that wants one relatively nimble team to handle the whole thing.

• Dupuis Group — River North, 62 W Huron St. Much stronger on CPG brand identity and packaging than on Shopify specifically. Their food/beverage positioning is very relevant, and they're at the same River North address as Flashlight Studio, which specializes in food/product photography for packaging and digital. Flashlight Studio

Best for: making the brand and package excellent, then potentially pairing them with a Shopify specialist.

• Haugaard Creative Group Inc — River North, 414 N Orleans St. This is a more specialized CPG/packaging design shop, with particular relevance to food, beverage, snacks and pantry products.

Best for: packaging-first food brands where shelf presence matters more than broad digital marketing.

• One Design Company — River North, 230 W Superior St. They combine branding, digital design/development and packaging, so they're worth considering if you want the brand system and ecommerce experience to feel like one coherent design language.

Caveat: I wouldn't put them ahead of ALX for food-specific photography/CPG experience.

One non–River North option I'd seriously consider

• Path Creative — Chicago-based, with a particularly nice combination of branding, website design/development, retail packaging, commercial food photography and video. They specifically say they work with small-to-midsize food/CPG brands and have an in-house studio. Path Creative Path Creative

This may actually be a better functional fit than some of the River North agencies if packaging photography + ecommerce are equally important.

For the photography piece

If you choose an agency that doesn't have the photography capability you want, I'd look at Flashlight Studio. It's literally in River North and specializes in food/beverage photography, including packaging photography, food styling and digital/print campaign imagery. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

Another excellent food-specific option is Lisamarie Cerny's studio, which does CPG packaging photography, food styling, video and stop motion, although the studio is in Avondale rather than River North. Lisamarie Cerny Photography

My shortlist for your brief

One thing I'd flag: Shopify + serious food packaging + professional food photography is an unusually specific combination. I'd be more inclined to choose a team based on portfolio/fit than insist that every capability be in-house. ALX is the one I would contact first, then Dupuis/Flashlight if the visual identity and packaging are the highest priority.

If you tell me roughly what kind of food brand (snacks, sauces, frozen, beverage, supplements, etc.) and your approximate budget, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and pull specific relevant case studies/portfolio examples.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Flashlight Studio - 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• JK Marketing Group JKMG - Website Design and Marketing - 448 N La Salle Dr Ste 10-125, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Soulsight - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Queue Brand Communications - 29 E Madison St #800, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• 1o8 - 231 S LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Web Action LLC - 350 N Orleans St #9000n, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Haugaard Creative Group Inc - 414 N Orleans St #508, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Third Street Partners Attention Agency, LLC - 401 N Michigan Ave #1200, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Yes — there are a few good fits, but the exact combination of branding + Shopify + food/CPG photography narrows the field quite a bit.

My shortlist

• ALX Creatives — best all-in-one River North fit. They’re at 420 W Huron and explicitly cover branding, Shopify/e-commerce builds, photography, video, and creative production. They also have a food/CPG example involving a consumer brand, Shopify, and photography. This is probably the first call I’d make for a small/emerging food brand that wants one nimble partner.
• Dupuis Group — best if the brand/packaging side is the priority. They’re literally at 62 W Huron in River North and specialize in design/innovation for consumer brands, including food & beverage. Their ecosystem also connects to Flashlight Studio for photography. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio I'd ask specifically whether they'll own the Shopify build or bring in a commerce partner.
• Flashlight Studio — excellent photography partner, not your Shopify agency. Also at 62 W Huron. They specialize in food/beverage photography specifically for packaging, digital and print, including CPG packaging shots and styled food imagery. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio This could pair very naturally with DuPuis or another branding/Shopify shop.
• One Design Company — strong River North brand + digital option. They're at 230 W Superior and do brand strategy/identity, web/digital, and packaging/print. I'd put them on the list if the brand needs to feel particularly polished rather than purely performance/e-commerce oriented. Their public positioning is less explicitly food/CPG + Shopify + photography than ALX, though.
• Path Creative — probably the most interesting food-specific full-service alternative, even though it's not River North. They explicitly combine website design/development, retail packaging, commercial food photography, video and digital marketing, and say they work extensively with small-to-midsize food/CPG companies. Path Creative Path Creative The Shopify piece isn't as clearly advertised, so I'd verify that before putting them ahead of ALX.

If River North is a hard requirement

I'd rank them:

1. ALX Creatives — best match for branding + Shopify + photography under one roof.
2. DuPuis Group + Flashlight Studio — best combination if you want a more sophisticated CPG brand/packaging approach and don't mind a two-team setup.
3. One Design Company — strong brand/digital shop, but I'd verify the food photography and Shopify depth.
4. JK Marketing Group — River North and does branding, photography/video and Shopify, but I'd consider it more of a generalist option. JK Marketing Group JKMG - Website Design and Marketing

One notable omission is Soulsight. Soulsight They're extremely strong for food/CPG branding and packaging and have photography/art-direction capabilities, but they're geared much more toward serious CPG brand strategy than a small brand looking for a relatively straightforward Shopify launch. Their work includes packaging, brand identity and photography for major consumer brands. Soulsight

If you tell me roughly what size the food brand is (e.g. pre-launch, <$1M revenue, $1–10M) and whether you need packaging design or just packaging photography, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare likely fit, location, capabilities, and budget tier.

Yes. I’d narrow it to a few agencies rather than looking for a generic Chicago web shop. For your combination of food/CPG branding + Shopify + packaging + photography, these stand out:

Best matches

1. ALX Creatives — River North
   • 420 W Huron St
   • Probably the closest match to your brief in one shop: branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce, photography, video, packaging/design systems and marketing.
   • They specifically show a Phantom Chef project involving consumer branding + Shopify + photography.
   • My pick if you want one relatively nimble team to handle the whole launch.

2. Dupuis Group — River North
   • 440 N Wells St
   • Stronger on food/CPG brand strategy, identity and packaging than on Shopify specifically.
   • Their associated Flashlight Studio is essentially the photography arm: it's in River North and specializes in food/beverage imagery for packaging, digital and print. www.flashlightstudio.com
   • Great option if brand/packaging quality is the priority, with ecommerce handled either internally or through a partner.

3. Haugaard Creative Group Inc — River North
   • 414 N Orleans St
   • More of a CPG/packaging specialist than a Shopify agency.
   • Worth talking to if the package/identity is the heart of the project and you can have them coordinate the ecommerce side.

4. Path Creative — Chicago
   • Not River North, but unusually close to your full brief. They explicitly offer branding + packaging + website design/development + commercial food photography, and say they work with small-to-midsize food, beverage and CPG brands. www.pathcreative.com
   • Their in-house studio is a major advantage because photography, creative direction and web assets can stay coordinated.
   • I'd put this high on the list if you're willing to go outside River North.

5. Praella — River North-ish / LaSalle
   • 203 N LaSalle St
   • This is the opposite specialization: very strong Shopify/Shopify Plus, but I'd pair them with a food/packaging creative rather than expect them to be your packaging-photo agency.
   • Good if the ecommerce build is sophisticated and likely to become a meaningful sales channel.

One wildcard I especially like for a small food brand

Carrmichael Design isn't in River North, but its food/CPG portfolio is unusually relevant: SuckerPunch Gourmet, KitchFix, Medlee Foods, Salpica and Frontera Foods are among the packaged-food work associated with the studio. entityturn0business13

My shortlist for you

If this were my project, I'd contact ALX first, DuPuis/Flashlight second, and Path Creative third. ALX is the most interesting one-stop fit; DuPuis/Flashlight is the strongest food-brand + packaging + photography combination; Path is the strongest integrated food/CPG production alternative.

One caveat: I wouldn't assume “Shopify” means they'll build the exact ecommerce experience you need. I'd ask each agency for 2–3 examples of small food/CPG brands where they did both the identity/packaging and the actual Shopify build, rather than just referring you to a web-development partner.

If you tell me roughly what kind of food product it is and your approximate budget ($10–25k, $25–50k, $50k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies that are actually appropriate for the size of your project.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Soulsight - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• PKG Brand Design - 2045 W Grand Ave B-27332, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Carrmichael Design - 515 N Noble St Apt 101, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• Haugaard Creative Group Inc - 414 N Orleans St #508, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Avenue3 Studios - 333 N Oakley Blvd Ste 106, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Seedhouse - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 303, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Kaleidoscope - 700 N Sacramento Blvd Ste 265, Chicago, IL 60612, United States

Yes — there are a few good fits, but the “branding + Shopify + food/CPG + packaging photography + River North” combination narrows the field considerably.

My shortlist

• ALX Creatives — strongest all-in-one fit

• River North: 420 W Huron St.
• Offers branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce builds, photography/video, content, and design systems.
• They specifically cite a food-related case involving a consumer brand, Shopify, photography and marketing.
• Best if: you're a small/emerging food brand and want one relatively nimble partner rather than a huge CPG agency.
• One Design Company — strongest River North brand + digital option

• River North: 230 W Superior St.
• Strong on brand strategy/identity, digital product/web development, and packaging.
• I'd ask specifically whether they'll build your Shopify store in-house and whether they'd manage food photography production or bring in a photographer.
• Best if: the brand/website experience matters as much as the packaging.
• Dupuis Group — strongest food/CPG + packaging fit

• River North: 62 W Huron St.
• Particularly relevant for food & beverage branding and packaging.
• Their Chicago operation is associated with content/photography capabilities through Flashlight Studio.
• Best if: packaging and food-brand strategy are the priority and you want sophisticated CPG expertise.
• Soulsight — excellent CPG branding, but probably bigger than you need

• Downtown: 110 N Wacker.
• Very strong on CPG brand strategy, identity, packaging, photography/art direction and brand systems. Soulsight
• Caveat: I'd expect them to be more of a strategic/branding partner than the obvious choice for a small-brand Shopify build.

One particularly interesting photography partner

Dupuis Group + Flashlight Studio is worth investigating because Flashlight Studio is literally at 62 W Huron, in River North. It specializes in food/beverage photography and creates imagery specifically for packaging, digital and print campaigns. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

So you could potentially get the brand/packaging relationship and the food photography capability essentially next door, while having the agency handle the broader brand work.

If Shopify is non-negotiable

I'd rank them:

1. ALX Creatives — most convincing one-stop small-brand fit
2. One Design Company — best River North design/digital option; verify Shopify production
3. Dupuis Group + Flashlight Studio — best food/packaging/photography combination, but verify who owns Shopify
4. Soulsight — best sophisticated CPG branding, least obviously suited to a small Shopify build

There's also Praella - eCommerce Agency at 203 N LaSalle if Shopify execution is the most important piece. They're a Shopify-focused agency, but I'd pair them with a food-branding/photography specialist rather than expect them to be your complete CPG creative partner.

One other non-River-North option worth knowing about is Path Creative: they explicitly combine branding, packaging, commercial food photography, website design/development and digital marketing, and say they work with small-to-midsize food/CPG brands. Path Creative

If this were my project, I'd contact ALX, Dupuis/Flashlight, and One Design first and ask each for a quote covering the same exact scope: brand identity → packaging → packaging/product photography → Shopify design/build → launch assets. That'll make the comparison much easier.

If you tell me roughly your product (snacks, sauce, beverage, frozen, etc.) and budget ($10–25k / $25–50k / $50k+), I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually interview and pull relevant food-brand case studies.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Queue Brand Communications - 29 E Madison St #800, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Alchemy Acupuncture & Herbs - 1630 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
• Mabbly - 640 N La Salle Dr #540, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Rule29 - 501 Hamilton St, Geneva, IL 60134
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• PKG Brand Design - 2045 W Grand Ave B-27332, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

Yes — there are a few good fits, but the combination of branding + Shopify + packaging + food photography narrows the field quite a bit.

My shortlist

• ALX Creatives — strongest River North fit.

This is probably the first one I’d call for a small/emerging food brand. They’re at 420 W Huron St in River North and list branding, web development, photography, Shopify/e-commerce, and content production. Their work includes Phantom Chef, where they built the consumer brand and Shopify store and handled photography/marketing.

• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency — strongest packaging/CPG specialist.

Their Chicago studio is downtown at 20 N Wacker, and they specifically combine packaging/brand design with food-product photography and styling. This is the one I'd investigate if the package itself is a major priority, although I'd confirm whether they handle Shopify directly or would partner for that piece.

• Queue Brand Communications — interesting food/CPG branding option.

Their Chicago office is at 29 E Madison, and they focus substantially on food, beverage, wellness and consumer brands, including branding, packaging and retail activation. I'd ask specifically about Shopify development and photography during the first call.

• Flashlight Studio — excellent River North photography complement.

They're actually at 62 W Huron St, right in River North, and specialize in food/beverage photography specifically for packaging, digital and print. Their portfolio includes CPG packaging photography and food styling. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio
flashlightstudio.com
If an agency has the branding/Shopify side but isn't strong at photography, this would be a very natural pairing.

• Path Creative — best “one team” alternative if River North isn't mandatory.

They're a Chicago creative studio with website design/development, retail packaging, commercial food photography and video, and explicitly say they work with small-to-midsize food, beverage and CPG brands. Path Creative

• InkRoast — worth a look if you're in coffee/food with a DTC model.

They explicitly combine Shopify, packaging, branding and marketing, with case studies showing those services together. Their positioning is particularly geared toward coffee and other product brands. Inkroast

Who I'd prioritize

If this were my shortlist for a small food brand, I'd start with:

1. ALX Creatives — best match to your River North + Shopify + branding + photography requirement.
2. Path Creative — best match to food/CPG + packaging + photography + web as one integrated engagement.
3. Equator — best if sophisticated packaging/CPG brand work is the centerpiece.
4. InkRoast — particularly compelling for coffee, packaged foods and DTC/subscription.
5. Flashlight Studio — add them if you want genuinely excellent food/packaging photography alongside whichever branding/web agency you choose.

One caveat: I wouldn't assume “Shopify” from a general agency's web-design capabilities. ALX and InkRoast explicitly advertise Shopify; for Equator, Queue, and some of the larger branding firms, I'd verify that Shopify development is actually handled in-house rather than outsourced.

If you tell me what kind of food product you have (snack, sauce, beverage, frozen, bakery, etc.) and roughly your budget ($10–25k, $25–50k, $50k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies that are genuinely appropriate for a small brand rather than big-agency CPG shops.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Haugaard Creative Group Inc - 414 N Orleans St #508, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• Soulsight - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Adrienne Weiss Corporation - 875 N Michigan Ave #2717, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Carrmichael Design - 515 N Noble St Apt 101, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• PKG Brand Design - 2045 W Grand Ave B-27332, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

Yes — there are a few Chicago shops that look unusually well matched to small/emerging food & CPG brands + branding + Shopify + packaging photography, and River North narrows the field nicely.

My shortlist

1. ALX Creatives — best overall fit

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+16466941034)

420 W Huron St, River North

This is the one I’d call first if you want one relatively small team to handle the whole thing. Their listed capabilities include branding, packaging, photography, web development, Shopify/e-commerce builds, copywriting, and content. ALX Creatives ALX Creatives

More importantly, they have an actual food-brand Shopify case study: Phantom Chef. ALX developed the brand, designed and launched the Shopify store, and produced photography to support the brand. ALX Creatives

Why I'd shortlist them:

• River North
• Branding → packaging → Shopify → photography under one roof
• Demonstrated food/DTC experience
• Seems more appropriate for a smaller emerging brand than a giant CPG agency

alxcreatives.com

2. Dupuis Group + Dupuis Group — best food/CPG creative

River North

This is probably the strongest option if brand identity and packaging are the really important pieces and you want exceptionally good food photography.

DuPuis is explicitly food/beverage-rooted and handles strategy, branding, package design, digital/social, photography and production. DuPuis Group Their work includes food brands such as Pretzilla, Chicas, Kemps, Walden Farms and Stacy's, with photography integrated into the packaging work. DuPuis Group DuPuis Group DuPuis Group DuPuis Group

The particularly nice part is Flashlight Studio: DuPuis actually built the photography studio because they wanted visual content to be part of brand strategy rather than an afterthought. Flashlight is at 62 W Huron in River North and specializes in food/beverage photography for packaging, digital and print. DuPuis Group Flashlight Studio

Caveat: I don't see Shopify development presented as a core DuPuis capability. I'd ask whether they'd build the Shopify site themselves or partner with a developer.

dupuisgroup.com
flashlightstudio.com

3. One Design Company — best brand + digital design option

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-602-3335)

230 W Superior, River North

This is a good fit if you want the website to feel like a proper brand experience, rather than hiring a Shopify developer who happens to do design.

They're a research/design/development studio doing branding, identity, packaging, website design and front/back-end development. Their food credentials are real: they developed the identity and packaging system for Chicago food company Wilder Fields, and their portfolio includes hospitality/food work. One Design Company One Design Company

Caveat: I couldn't verify from their current site that Shopify specifically is their platform, so I'd put them behind ALX for a Shopify-first brief.

onedesigncompany.com

4. Haugaard Creative Group Inc — packaging specialist worth knowing

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-661-0666)

414 N Orleans, River North

Haugaard is much more CPG/packaging-centric. They've done substantial food/snack work — for example, Big League Chew's pouch/tray system and subsequent digital/POS work. Haugaard

I'd consider them if your priority is “make this package look fantastic on a shelf” rather than “give me one agency for Shopify + content + everything.”

How I'd rank them for your brief

One non–River North option I'd keep in the mix

Path Creative is particularly interesting if you're willing to go outside River North. They're a Chicago full-service creative studio explicitly working with food, retail and CPG brands, and their services include website development, retail packaging, commercial food photography and video. They specifically say they work with small-to-midsize companies and emerging brands. Path Creative Path Creative

That combination is unusually close to your brief.

pathcreative.com

My first three calls would be ALX, DuPuis/Flashlight, and Path Creative. ALX is the cleanest single-vendor Shopify + brand + photography answer; DuPuis/Flashlight is the strongest food-brand/packaging/photography answer.

If you tell me roughly what kind of food product, SKU count, and budget (e.g. <$15k / $15–30k / $30k+), I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies that are realistically sized for the project rather than just impressive portfolios.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Flashlight Studio - 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Soulsight - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Haugaard Creative Group Inc - 414 N Orleans St #508, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• SIX4 Creative - Chicago, IL 60639
• Betty Chicago - 1 S Wacker Dr Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• PKG Brand Design - 2045 W Grand Ave B-27332, Chicago, IL 60612, United States

Yes — there’s one very strong fit in River North, plus a few others I’d consider depending on how much of the work you want under one roof.

My shortlist

• ALX Creatives — best overall fit

• River North: 420 W Huron St.
• Does branding, packaging, web development, Shopify/e-commerce builds, product/lifestyle photography, video, and content. ALX Creatives ALX Creatives
• They specifically show work for an emerging food/supplement brand, ARMRA, where branding, e-commerce, photography and digital were handled together. ALX Creatives
• This is the one I'd contact first if you're a small food/CPG brand wanting one relatively nimble partner rather than assembling an agency + Shopify developer + photographer.
• Dupuis Group — best for food/CPG brand + packaging

• River North: 62 W Huron St.
• Particularly interesting if the priority is brand strategy, identity, packaging and product innovation. Their work is heavily oriented toward CPG and food/beverage.
• They also have a relationship with Flashlight Studio for photography/motion production. Flashlight is literally in River North and specializes in food/beverage photography for packaging, digital and print. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio
• Caveat: I wouldn't choose Dupuis if having the same firm build your Shopify store is a hard requirement; I'd ask whether they handle that directly or through a partner.
• JB Chicago — worth a conversation

• River North: 435 N LaSalle St.
• Stronger on branding, package design, retail strategy and CPG/food & beverage than on the photography/Shopify side.
• I'd put them behind ALX for your particular brief because you're asking for a fairly integrated brand → packaging → photography → Shopify workflow.
• One Design Company — interesting River North generalist

• River North: 230 W Superior St.
• Does brand strategy/identity, print & packaging and digital product/web work.
• I'd investigate them if you want a more design-led agency, but I don't see as clean a public match to the food photography + Shopify + packaging combination as ALX.

The one I'd actually shortlist

ALX is the closest match to your exact ask. Their service list explicitly includes branding + packaging + photography + Shopify builds, and they're in River North. ALX Creatives ALX Creatives

If the food photography itself is especially important—e.g. you need beautiful hero shots that will actually go onto pouches, boxes, labels and the Shopify PDPs—I'd also talk to Flashlight Studio. They're at 62 W Huron, have a food-production studio/kitchen, and specifically produce packaging photography for food CPG brands. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

My ranking for your brief:

1. ALX — best one-stop option
2. Dupuis + Flashlight — potentially best food-brand creative combination
3. JB Chicago — strong CPG/packaging, less obviously one-stop
4. One Design Company — good broader design/digital option

If you tell me roughly what kind of food brand (snacks, sauces, frozen, beverage, etc.) and your approximate budget ($10–25k / $25–50k / $50k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and pull specific relevant food-brand case studies + estimated fit.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Flashlight Studio - 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Grace & Grit Studios - 15255 S 94th Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, United States
• Cushing & Co - 213 W Institute Pl Ste 200, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
• Haugaard Creative Group Inc - 414 N Orleans St #508, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• Soulsight - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Kaleidoscope - 700 N Sacramento Blvd Ste 265, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Stephen Hamilton Inc - 1520 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States

Yes — for a small food/CPG brand that needs branding + Shopify + packaging photography, I’d narrow the field quite a bit. The strongest River North-area fits I found are:

Best matches

• ALX Creatives — 420 W Huron St, River North

• Probably the closest match to your full brief.
• Their listed capabilities include branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce builds, photography, video, and design systems.
• They specifically cite consumer-goods/e-commerce work, including a project where they created a brand, built a Shopify site, and handled photography.
• Best for: a smaller emerging food brand that wants one relatively nimble partner rather than a giant agency.
• Dupuis Group — 62 W Huron St, River North

• Particularly interesting for food/CPG branding and packaging. They do strategy, identity, packaging and product innovation.
• They also identify Flashlight Studio as a photography/motion production partner. Flashlight is literally in River North and specializes in food/beverage photography for packaging, digital and print. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio
• Caveat: I don't see enough evidence that Dupuis itself handles Shopify builds, so I'd ask whether they manage that piece or bring in a development partner.
• One Design Company — 230 W Superior St, River North

• Stronger on brand strategy, identity, packaging and digital product/web development. They have actual food-brand packaging work, including Wilder Fields. One Design Company
• Caveat: I wouldn't put them ahead of ALX if Shopify specifically is non-negotiable; their positioning is broader digital design/development rather than explicitly Shopify-focused.

Worth considering even though they're not River North

• Path Creative — their Chicago location is at 1 E Erie, essentially the River North/Mag Mile edge.

• This may actually be the best overall capability match: branding, retail packaging, website development, digital marketing, and in-house commercial food photography/video. They explicitly say they work with food, beverage and CPG brands and small-to-midsize companies. Path Creative
• I'd specifically ask them whether your Shopify build would be done in-house and show them examples of their e-commerce work.
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St

• Very strong Shopify specialist and right around the River North/Loop boundary. They're a Shopify/Shopify Plus partner.
• I'd use them if Shopify is the hardest part of the project, but you'd likely need a separate branding/food-photography partner.
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency — downtown Chicago

• Excellent if packaging is a major part of the assignment. Their Chicago studio has an integrated photo studio and prep kitchen, and they combine packaging, brand design and photography/content.
• Probably more substantial/enterprise-oriented than what I'd choose for a tiny startup.

My shortlist for you

If this were my project, I'd contact these three first:

1. ALX Creatives — best apparent one-stop fit for small brand + Shopify + branding + photography, and it's right in River North.
2. Path Creative — strongest apparent combination of food/CPG + branding/packaging + in-house photography + web, with a River North-adjacent address.
3. Dupuis Group + Flashlight Studio — best if brand/packaging quality is the priority and you're comfortable with the Shopify piece being handled through a partner.

One important distinction: packaging photography isn't necessarily the same as ordinary product/e-commerce photography. For food, you want someone who can handle food styling, hero imagery, retouching, dielines/print requirements and images that actually work on a package. Flashlight, for example, explicitly shows CPG packaging work and food styling in its portfolio. Flashlight Studio

If you tell me roughly what kind of food product (snacks, sauce, frozen, beverage, etc.) and your ballpark budget (e.g. <$15k, $15–30k, $30k+), I can narrow this to 5 agencies with relevant food-brand examples and estimated fit.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Flashlight Studio - 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Carrmichael Design - 515 N Noble St Apt 101, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• Seedhouse - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 303, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• The Motion Agency - 325 N La Salle Dr Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Avenue3 Studios - 333 N Oakley Blvd Ste 106, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design B&B - 833 W Jackson Blvd Fl 7, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SO Dsgn - 1719 S Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• David Raine Studios - 2918 N Kilbourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60641, United States

Yes — there are a few Chicago shops that look like a strong fit, but the exact combination of food-branding + Shopify + packaging + photography is surprisingly uncommon under one roof.

My shortlist

1. ALX Creatives — strongest River North all-in-one fit

• 420 W Huron St, River North
• Branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce, photography, video, and packaging-related creative.
• They specifically have a consumer-goods case involving brand creation + Shopify + photography, which is close to what you're describing.
• Best fit if you want one relatively nimble agency rather than a big CPG consultancy.
• Dupuis Group — strongest food/CPG branding + packaging

• 440 N Wells St / River North
• Particularly strong on food & beverage CPG: brand strategy, identity, packaging, structural packaging, digital/social and innovation.
• Their relationship with nearby Flashlight Studio is interesting because it can solve the photography piece locally. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio
• I would ask them explicitly whether they'll own the Shopify build or bring in a commerce partner.
• Path Creative — best true full-service production option

• Chicago office at 1 E Erie St, essentially River North.
• They explicitly combine branding/identity, retail packaging, website design/development, commercial food photography and video. They also say they work with small-to-midsize food/CPG brands. Path Creative
• Very compelling if photography and content production are as important as the Shopify site.
• I'd verify that Shopify—not just general web development—is their preferred commerce platform.
• Dupuis Group + Flashlight Studio — best “food brand” pairing

• Flashlight is literally at 62 W Huron St in River North and specializes in food/beverage photography for packaging, digital and print. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio
• This could be a particularly good setup if you want serious packaging/brand work plus genuinely excellent food photography, with Shopify handled either by Dupuis or a commerce specialist.
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — Shopify specialist to consider as the commerce partner

• 203 N LaSalle, downtown.
• Much more Shopify/e-commerce-centric than food-brand-centric; they specialize in Shopify and Shopify Plus builds, migrations, integrations and optimization.
• I'd pair them with a branding/packaging shop if the Shopify experience needs to be particularly polished.

One I'd investigate despite not being River North

DePersico Creative is unusually aligned with food brands: branding, positioning, package/label design and in-house food photography with a test kitchen. They specifically say they work with startups as well as established CPG brands. They're headquartered outside Chicago, though, so they don't meet your River North preference. DePersico Creative DePersico Creative

If this were my project

For a small food brand launching/rebranding + packaging + Shopify + photography, I'd talk to these three first:

• ALX Creatives — best chance of getting everything handled by one nimble team.
• Dupuis Group — strongest brand/packaging thinking, particularly if you're trying to look like a serious CPG brand.
• Path Creative — strongest combination of branding, web, packaging and production under one roof.

And if packaging photography is a major priority, I'd specifically ask about using Flashlight Studio in River North; their studio is purpose-built around food photography and has a kitchen/food-styling capability. Flashlight Studio

If you tell me roughly what kind of food product it is (sauce, snack, frozen, beverage, etc.) and your approximate budget ($10–25k / $25–50k / $50k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare their relevant food work, Shopify capability, River North location, and likely fit for a small brand.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Flashlight Studio - 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Wuhoo Digital Group - 444 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• The Motion Agency - 325 N La Salle Dr Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Dupuis Group - 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
• SO Dsgn - 1719 S Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Cultivate Brands - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 100-1066, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Damen Jackson - 954 W Washington Blvd, Ste 750, Chicago, IL 60607
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design B&B - 833 W Jackson Blvd Fl 7, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Soulsight - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

Yes — there are a few Chicago shops that look particularly relevant for small food/CPG brands that need brand identity + packaging + Shopify/e-commerce + photography, and River North narrows the field nicely.

My shortlist

• ALX Creatives — River North, 420 W Huron St. This is probably the closest match to your entire brief. They list branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce builds, photography, video, and design systems, and their case work includes consumer goods/e-commerce.

Best for: a smaller emerging food brand that wants one relatively nimble team to take it from identity → Shopify → content.

• Dupuis Group — River North, 62 W Huron St. Much more CPG/food-specific: strategy, branding, packaging and product innovation. They also have a relationship with Flashlight Studio for food/packaging photography. Flashlight Studio

Best for: a food brand where packaging and brand positioning are the priority, with photography handled through the same creative ecosystem. I'd ask specifically whether they'll own the Shopify build or bring in a development partner.

• One Design Company — River North, 230 W Superior St. They combine brand strategy/identity, print & packaging, and digital design/development.

Best for: a polished brand system that needs to translate into a sophisticated e-commerce experience. I'd verify Shopify specifically before putting them at the top of the list.

• Wuhoo Digital Group — River North, 444 N Wabash Ave. They cover branding, web/e-commerce, photography, print and video, and appear to be a smaller multidisciplinary shop.

Best for: a more budget-conscious, all-in-one digital/creative engagement. I'd ask for recent food/CPG Shopify examples, since their positioning is broader than the others.

• The Motion Agency — River North, 325 N LaSalle Dr. They offer brand/packaging work plus websites, photography, retouching and multi-SKU packaging production.

Best for: a more established, integrated agency approach. Potentially more agency than you need if you're a very early-stage brand.

One especially interesting photography partner

Flashlight Studio is literally in River North and specializes in food/beverage photography, including packaging photography, food styling, digital and print campaigns. Their studio is at 62 W Huron. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

So Dupuis + Flashlight is an unusually logical pairing if you care about the actual food photography looking excellent rather than just needing generic product shots.

If River North isn't mandatory

I'd also put Path Creative on your call list. They're a Chicago creative studio specifically describing themselves as full-service across website design/development, retail packaging, commercial food photography, video and digital marketing, with experience serving small-to-midsize food/CPG companies. Path Creative

And Seedhouse is worth knowing if packaging/brand strategy is the hardest part. They're a Chicago boutique specializing in CPG brand identity, packaging, naming and strategy, particularly food and beverage. Seed House

Who I'd contact first

For your exact combination, I'd rank them:

1. ALX Creatives — strongest apparent Shopify + branding + photography + small-brand overlap.
2. Dupuis Group + Flashlight Studio — strongest food/CPG branding + packaging + serious food photography combination, and right in River North.
3. Path Creative — strongest all-in-one food + packaging + web + photography alternative if you're willing to leave River North.
4. One Design Company — strong brand/digital sophistication; confirm Shopify.
5. Wuhoo — worth getting a quote from if keeping the engagement lean matters.

One caveat: I wouldn't assume “web/e-commerce” means Shopify. ALX explicitly lists Shopify; the others should be asked whether they build Shopify themselves versus handing development to a partner.

If you tell me roughly your budget ($10–25k, $25–50k, $50k+) and what kind of food product it is, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and pull specific relevant food-brand case studies + contact/portfolio links.

Who I'd contact first

For your exact combination, I'd rank them:

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Flashlight Studio - 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Wuhoo Digital Group - 444 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• PKG Brand Design - 2045 W Grand Ave B-27332, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Carrmichael Design - 515 N Noble St Apt 101, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• The Motion Agency - 325 N La Salle Dr Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Seedhouse - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 303, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• SO Dsgn - 1719 S Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Colin McKenzie Creative - 727 Greenview Ave, Des Plaines, IL 60016, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Menus and Photos - Chicago, IL 60656

Yes. I’d narrow this down to a handful rather than a generic “Chicago branding agency” list. For a small food/CPG brand needing brand identity + packaging + Shopify + product/packaging photography, these look like the strongest fits:

My shortlist

1. ALX Creatives — best overall River North fit

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+16466941034)

420 W Huron St, River North

This is probably the first one I’d talk to. Their services line up unusually well with your whole brief: branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce, photography, video, copy, design systems and style guides. They also specifically cite a food-related project, Phantom Chef, involving a consumer brand, Shopify e-commerce and photography.

Why I like them: one relatively small team can potentially own the brand → site → content pipeline rather than coordinating three vendors.

2. Dupuis Group — best for serious food/CPG brand + packaging

Directions[Call](tel:+13129702893)

440 N Wells St / River North

Dupuis is much more CPG/brand/packaging-oriented. They do strategy, identity, packaging and product innovation, and their work includes food brands. They're also associated with Dupuis Group for photography/production.

The important caveat: I wouldn't assume Dupuis itself is the Shopify developer. I'd ask whether they build the Shopify store in-house or manage that portion with a partner.

3. Dupuis Group + Flashlight Studio — best River North brand + food photography combination

This is an interesting pairing because Flashlight is literally in River North and specializes in food/beverage photography, including packaging photography and content for digital/print campaigns. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

So if you're comfortable with a slightly more coordinated setup, this could be excellent:

Dupuis → brand/packaging strategy + design
Flashlight → food/product/packaging photography
Shopify → either Dupuis/partner or a dedicated Shopify developer

4. Wuhoo Digital Group — good smaller-team digital option

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-789-8650)

444 N Wabash Ave, River North

Wuhoo is worth a conversation if the Shopify/e-commerce side is particularly important. They combine branding, web/design, photography/video and digital marketing, and they're right in River North.

I'd rank them below ALX for a food-specific brief, though.

5. JB Chicago — River North + CPG/packaging

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+13124427223)

435 N LaSalle St

JB is another River North option with a CPG/retail orientation spanning branding, creative, package design and retail strategy.

I'd investigate them if your priority is getting the package/shelf presence really right, but I'd specifically ask about Shopify and food photography before putting them ahead of ALX.

One non–River North shop I'd seriously consider

Path Creative is probably the strongest capability match I found even though it isn't River North.

Their stated offering is almost exactly your checklist: website design/development, retail packaging, commercial food photography, video, digital marketing, and they specifically say they work with small-to-midsize food, beverage and CPG companies. Path Creative Path Creative

That's a very good profile for an emerging food brand that doesn't want a giant agency.

How I'd rank them for your project

My top 3 to contact

1. ALX Creatives — if you want one nimble team to do almost everything.

2. Path Creative — if you're willing to go outside River North for what may be the best all-around food-brand capability match.

3. Dupuis + Flashlight — if the brand and packaging are going to be a major investment and you want a more sophisticated CPG/packaging outcome.

One other thing: I wouldn't prioritize a pure Shopify agency for this. For a small food brand, the hard part is getting the brand, package, photography and online store to feel like one system. That's why ALX/Path are especially interesting.

If you tell me roughly what kind of food product you're launching (snacks, sauce, frozen, beverage, etc.) and your approximate budget ($10–25k, $25–50k, $50k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and pull their relevant food/CPG case studies, Shopify work, locations, and likely fit.

• Printable - 11 E Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654
• DS&P Digital Marketing & PR Agency - 332 S Michigan Ave #900, Chicago, IL 60604
• Chicago - Illinois
• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611
• Bright Ideas Company - 100 S State St, Chicago, IL 60603
• Cultivate Brands - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 100-1066, Chicago, IL 60602
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606
• SimplyBe. Agency - 1000 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
• PKG Brand Design - 2045 W Grand Ave B-27332, Chicago, IL 60612
• Multiple Inc. - 845 W Washington Blvd Fifth Floor, Chicago, IL 60607
• DesignScout - 1801 W Belle Plaine Ave #201, Chicago, IL 60613

Yes. I’d narrow this pretty aggressively because “branding + Shopify + packaging + food photography” is a more specific combination than a generic Chicago branding agency.

Best fits

• Printable — River North, 11 E Hubbard St. This is the most interesting geographically for you, although I’d verify the depth of their food/CPG branding and Shopify work before putting them at the top. Their River North location is a real plus if you want an in-person partner.
• SmallGood — Probably the closest type of partner to what you described. They have an actual case study for Keep It Savory Salt Co. where they handled purpose/branding, messaging, Shopify website, packaging and social strategy for a small Chicago food business. SmallGood 2020 I’d put them high on the list if you're a founder-led/small food brand rather than a large CPG company.
• Path Creative — One of the strongest all-in-one fits I found. They're Chicago-based and explicitly combine website design/development, retail packaging, commercial food photography, video and digital marketing, with experience serving small-to-midsize food, beverage and CPG companies. Path Creative The main caveat is that I don't see Shopify explicitly called out on their current site, so I'd ask whether they build Shopify natively or partner for the commerce portion.
• 1o8 Agency — Worth a serious conversation if you want a more growth/e-commerce-oriented partner. They specifically work with CPG and food + beverage, and their services span brand strategy, production, e-commerce/retail, social and performance marketing, including Shopify. Their Chicago office is at 231 S LaSalle, so it's Loop rather than River North. 1o8 Agency

If packaging/brand quality matters more than being one vendor

Soulsight is a very strong Chicago CPG branding/packaging shop. They do brand strategy, identity, packaging, photography/art direction and brand standards, with extensive food/consumer-brand experience. Soulsight But I'd treat them as the brand + packaging lead, then pair them with a Shopify specialist and photographer rather than expecting one team to do everything.

For photography specifically, Flashlight Studio is almost tailor-made for your brief and is actually in River North at 62 W Huron St. They specialize in food/beverage photography and motion, including imagery for packaging, digital and print campaigns. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio That could make a very good local pairing with a branding/e-commerce agency.

My shortlist for a small food brand

I'd contact these three first:

1. SmallGood — best evidence of small food brand + branding + Shopify + packaging.
2. Path Creative — strongest apparent one-stop combination of food/CPG + packaging + photography + web.
3. 1o8 — strongest if Shopify/DTC growth is particularly important.

And if River North is a hard requirement, I'd seriously consider a branding/Shopify agency + Flashlight Studio arrangement. Flashlight gives you unusually convenient access to a professional food-production studio right in River North.

If you tell me roughly what kind of food product you’re launching (snacks, sauce, beverage, frozen, supplements, etc.) and your approximate budget ($10–25k / $25–50k / $50k+), I can narrow this to 5 agencies with actual relevant food-brand case studies, estimated fit, location, and likely project cost.

And if River North is a hard requirement, I'd seriously consider a branding/Shopify agency + Flashlight Studio arrangement. Flashlight gives you unusually convenient access to a professional food-production studio right in River North.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Flashlight Studio - 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Freshmade - 426 S Military Trail, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
• Kingdom Branding - 8014 Lincoln Ave #1, Skokie, IL 60077, United States
• Alebrije Agency - 233 S Wacker Dr Ste 4400, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Dupuis Group - 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
• Wuhoo Digital Group - 444 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Carrmichael Design - 515 N Noble St Apt 101, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• theBrandley Branding Studio - 6805 Abbott Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141, United States
• 1o8 - 231 S LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• SailPointe Creative - 3030 Salt Creek Ln Unit 201, Arlington Heights, IL 60005, United States

Yes. I’d narrow this pretty aggressively, because “branding + Shopify + food/CPG + packaging photography” is a more specialized combination than a generic Chicago branding agency.

My shortlist

• ALX Creatives — strongest overall fit in River North

• 420 W Huron St, River North
• Explicitly offers branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce builds, photography/video, copywriting, and creative systems.
• They also have a food/CPG example: Phantom Chef, where they describe creating the consumer brand, Shopify site, marketing, and photography.
• This is probably the first agency I'd talk to if you want one relatively small team to own the whole thing rather than coordinating several specialists.
• Dupuis Group — strongest CPG/packaging pedigree

• 62 W Huron St, River North
• Very food/consumer-product oriented: brand strategy, identity, packaging, structural packaging, digital/social and innovation.
• They're more of a serious CPG branding/design shop than a typical small-business web agency. Their River North location is also associated with Flashlight Studio, which gives them a natural photography-production connection. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio
• Caveat: I'd specifically ask whether they will build the Shopify storefront themselves or partner that piece out.
• Flashlight Studio — best photography partner, and literally River North

• 62 W Huron St
• This is a food & beverage photography specialist, with packaging, digital and print work, food styling, motion, etc. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio
• Not the agency I'd hire for Shopify/branding by itself, but it's an unusually good fit if your priority is making the actual food/product photography look premium.
• Path Creative — best “one vendor does almost everything” alternative

• Chicago-based rather than specifically River North.
• They explicitly list website design/development, branding, retail packaging, commercial food photography/video, and digital marketing, and say they work with small-to-midsize food, beverage and CPG companies. Path Creative Path Creative
• I'd ask them specifically about Shopify rather than assuming every web build is Shopify.
• Visyn Studio — particularly interesting for a small emerging CPG

• They position themselves specifically as a full-service studio for small CPG brands, with product shoots plus websites built/maintained on Shopify, Webflow, WordPress, etc. They emphasize no giant retainers/minimums. Visyn Studio
• Their offer is unusually aligned with what you described, although I wouldn't choose them based on River North proximity.

If River North is a hard preference

I'd start with:

1. ALX Creatives → 2. DuPuis Group → 3. Flashlight Studio as the photography component.

The interesting possibility is actually ALX + Flashlight: ALX handles brand/e-commerce/Shopify and Flashlight handles the food/packaging shoot. They're both on/around W Huron, so you're not assembling a geographically scattered team.

If you want one shop with the fewest handoffs, I'd investigate ALX and Path Creative first. If packaging/shelf presence is the most important part of the project, I'd put DuPuis first.

One other agency worth knowing about is Soulsight: it's a major Chicago CPG branding/packaging shop with photography/art direction capability, but I'd consider it more appropriate if you're looking for a higher-end strategic CPG engagement rather than a lean small-brand Shopify build. Soulsight

If you tell me roughly what kind of food brand, your budget (e.g. $15–30k vs. $30–75k), and whether packaging design itself is needed or you already have it, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare their likely fit, Shopify capability, CPG experience, photography, and location.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Flashlight Studio - 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• 1o8 - 231 S LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• Carrmichael Design - 515 N Noble St Apt 101, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• The Motion Agency - 325 N La Salle Dr Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Seedhouse - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 303, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• Alebrije Agency - 233 S Wacker Dr Ste 4400, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SIX4 Creative - Chicago, IL 60639
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

Yes — there are a few Chicago options that look unusually well aligned with small food/CPG brands + branding + Shopify/e-commerce + packaging photography, and River North narrows it down nicely.

My shortlist

1. ALX Creatives — best all-in-one fit

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+16466941034)

420 W Huron St, River North

This is probably the first one I’d contact for your brief. Their capabilities span branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce, photography, video, copy, and creative direction, and they specifically cite food/consumer work. Their Phantom Chef case study combines consumer branding, a Shopify store, marketing, and photography.

Why I like it: You potentially get one relatively small team handling the brand identity, Shopify build, and visual content rather than coordinating three vendors.

2. Dupuis Group — best for serious food/CPG branding

Directions[Call](tel:+13129702893)

440 N Wells St, River North

DuPuis is much more CPG/food-brand focused than a typical web agency. They do brand strategy, identity, packaging, structural packaging, digital/social, etc., and have food/beverage experience. Their River North location is a major plus.

The interesting part for your photography requirement is that they're associated with Flashlight Studio, which is also in River North. Flashlight specializes specifically in food/beverage photography for packaging, digital and print, with an actual food-production studio. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

Caveat: I'd treat Shopify as something to explicitly ask about rather than assuming it's a core DuPuis capability. They may be better as the brand/packaging/creative lead, with Shopify handled by a digital partner.

3. One Design Company — best River North branding + digital option

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-602-3335)

230 W Superior St, River North

One Design is a strategic design/development agency that combines brand strategy, identity, packaging, and digital/product development.

I'd put them on the list if you care more about getting the brand system and Shopify experience right than having a deeply specialized food-production studio under one roof.

Photography: less obviously food-specific than DuPuis/Flashlight, so I'd ask whether they would art-direct the shoot and bring in a food photographer.

4. Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency — excellent packaging/food visual capability

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-291-0376)

20 N Wacker Dr

This is a strong CPG-oriented option: packaging + brand design + photography/content, with an integrated photo studio and prep kitchen specifically useful for food projects.

I'd consider them if packaging is a major part of the project. They're downtown rather than technically River North, though.

Potential weakness: Shopify isn't the obvious center of their offering, so I'd want to confirm whether they build Shopify themselves or partner for development.

5. Praella - eCommerce Agency — best Shopify specialist to pair with a branding shop

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-761-3218)

203 N LaSalle St

Praella is much more Shopify/e-commerce-first, including Shopify Plus.

If your priority is a genuinely excellent DTC Shopify store, I'd actually consider pairing Praella with a food branding/packaging specialist rather than asking one agency to be mediocre at all three things.

The wildcard: Flashlight Studio

Flashlight Studio is almost exactly where I'd want the photography portion handled.

They're literally in River North and specialize in food/beverage imagery, including packaging photography, food styling, motion, and digital/social imagery. Their portfolio includes CPG packaging work. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

So there's an interesting River North combination:

DuPuis → brand strategy + identity + packaging
Flashlight → food/product/packaging photography
Shopify specialist → e-commerce build

That could produce a stronger result than forcing one agency to do everything.

If I were choosing for a small food brand

I'd rank the approaches:

1. ALX Creatives — best shot at a genuinely one-stop branding + Shopify + photography engagement.
2. DuPuis + Flashlight — best if packaging/CPG brand quality is the priority.
3. One Design Company + food photographer — best boutique River North design/digital route.
4. Equator — best if packaging is especially important.
5. Praella + a branding/packaging specialist — best if Shopify/DTC performance is the most important piece.

One thing I'd specifically ask every agency: “Can you own the entire project from brand positioning → visual identity → packaging → food/product shoot → Shopify design/build, or would you subcontract any of those?” That's likely to expose the difference between a true integrated partner and an agency that just has those words on its services page.

If you tell me roughly what kind of food brand it is (snacks, sauces, frozen, beverage, etc.) and your approximate budget, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare likely fit, size, location, Shopify capability, food/CPG portfolio, and photography in a table.

One Design is a strategic design/development agency that combines brand strategy, identity, packaging, and digital/product development.

I'd put them on the list if you care more about getting the brand system and Shopify experience right than having a deeply specialized food-production studio under one roof.

Photography: less obviously food-specific than DuPuis/Flashlight, so I'd ask whether they would art-direct the shoot and bring in a food photographer.

4. Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency — excellent packaging/food visual capability

20 N Wacker Dr

This is a strong CPG-oriented option: packaging + brand design + photography/content, with an integrated photo studio and prep kitchen specifically useful for food projects.

I'd consider them if packaging is a major part of the project. They're downtown rather than technically River North, though.

Potential weakness: Shopify isn't the obvious center of their offering, so I'd want to confirm whether they build Shopify themselves or partner for development.

5. Praella - eCommerce Agency — best Shopify specialist to pair with a branding shop

203 N LaSalle St

Praella is much more Shopify/e-commerce-first, including Shopify Plus.

If your priority is a genuinely excellent DTC Shopify store, I'd actually consider pairing Praella with a food branding/packaging specialist rather than asking one agency to be mediocre at all three things.

The wildcard: Flashlight Studio

Flashlight Studio is almost exactly where I'd want the photography portion handled.

They're literally in River North and specialize in food/beverage imagery, including packaging photography, food styling, motion, and digital/social imagery. Their portfolio includes CPG packaging work. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

So there's an interesting River North combination:

DuPuis → brand strategy + identity + packaging
Flashlight → food/product/packaging photography
Shopify specialist → e-commerce build

That could produce a stronger result than forcing one agency to do everything.

If I were choosing for a small food brand

I'd rank the approaches:

1. ALX Creatives — best shot at a genuinely one-stop branding + Shopify + photography engagement.
2. DuPuis + Flashlight — best if packaging/CPG brand quality is the priority.
3. One Design Company + food photographer — best boutique River North design/digital route.
4. Equator — best if packaging is especially important.
5. Praella + a branding/packaging specialist — best if Shopify/DTC performance is the most important piece.

One thing I'd specifically ask every agency: “Can you own the entire project from brand positioning → visual identity → packaging → food/product shoot → Shopify design/build, or would you subcontract any of those?” That's likely to expose the difference between a true integrated partner and an agency that just has those words on its services page.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
• Flashlight Studio - 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Carrmichael Design - 515 N Noble St Apt 101, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• Seedhouse - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 303, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• The Motion Agency - 325 N La Salle Dr Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• Avenue3 Studios - 333 N Oakley Blvd Ste 106, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Soulsight - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SO Dsgn - 1719 S Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60616, United States

Yes. Based on your combination of brand identity + Shopify + packaging + food/product photography, I’d narrow the Chicago field pretty aggressively.

Best fits

1. ALX Creatives — River North

• 420 W Huron St, right in the neighborhood you prefer.
• Probably the closest match to your “one partner” brief: branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce builds, photography, video, and content.
• They specifically cite a food-related Shopify project, Phantom Chef, involving consumer branding, Shopify, marketing and photography.
• Best for: a small/emerging food brand that wants one nimble agency rather than a big CPG shop.
• Path Creative — River North / Near North Side

• Their Chicago address is 1 E Erie, and they explicitly work with small-to-midsize food, beverage and CPG brands.
• Services span branding, retail packaging, website design/development, commercial food photography and video. Path Creative Path Creative
• Best for: someone wanting branding → packaging → website → content handled as a connected project.
• Dupuis Group — River North

• 440 N Wells St, so this is another very strong geographic match.
• Much more CPG/packaging-oriented: strategy, branding, packaging, innovation and digital.
• They have an especially useful relationship with Flashlight Studio, at 62 W Huron, for food/beverage photography. Flashlight specifically does packaging, product and campaign food photography. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio
• Best for: a food product where packaging/shelf presence is a major priority. The photography may be coordinated rather than literally under one agency roof.
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — Downtown/River North-adjacent

• Strongest Shopify specialist of this group; their Chicago office is at 203 N LaSalle and they're a Shopify-focused e-commerce agency.
• But they're less compelling if you need the same partner to originate the brand identity and food photography.
• Best for: a sophisticated Shopify build where branding/packaging is already established.

One wildcard I'd seriously consider

Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency is downtown rather than River North, but it's unusually well aligned with food CPG. Their Chicago studio combines CPG brand/packaging work with photography and an integrated photo studio/prep kitchen. Palmer Creative Co.

They're probably more “serious CPG design agency” than “small startup Shopify shop,” though.

My shortlist for your specific brief

If this were my project, I'd talk to ALX and Path first, then Dupuis if the packaging/shelf strategy is particularly important.

One other thing: I would not automatically choose the agency that says “Shopify” most prominently. For a food brand, the difficult part is getting the identity, package, food photography and e-commerce experience to feel like one brand. Path and ALX look particularly interesting on that criterion. Path Creative Visyn Studio

If you tell me roughly what kind of food product it is (snacks, sauce, beverage, frozen, supplements, etc.) and your approximate budget, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and pull their relevant food-brand case studies + contact/website links.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• The Motion Agency - 325 N La Salle Dr Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Mabbly - 640 N La Salle Dr #540, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Dupuis Group - 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
• Knockout Design Group - 5547 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625, United States
• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Mekanism Chicago - 950 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Betty Chicago - 1 S Wacker Dr Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• Seedhouse - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 303, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Studio Malt - 1806 W Cuyler Ave #3h, Chicago, IL 60613, United States

Yes — there are a few Chicago shops that look unusually well matched to small food/CPG brands + branding + Shopify + packaging photography, and River North narrows it down nicely.

My shortlist

1. ALX Creatives — River North

• Best overall match for your exact brief.
• Based at 420 W Huron St.
• They explicitly list branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce builds, photography, video, and creative strategy.
• Their work includes Phantom Chef, where they describe building the consumer brand, Shopify site, marketing, and photography.
• This is the first one I'd contact if you're a small emerging food brand and want one team rather than coordinating an agency + photographer + developer.
• Dupuis Group + Flashlight Studio — River North

• Best if brand/packaging quality is the priority.
• DuPuis is at 62 W Huron St. and specializes in CPG/food/beverage strategy, branding, packaging, and innovation.
• They work alongside Flashlight Studio, also at 62 W Huron, whose specialty is food/beverage photography specifically for packaging, digital and print. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio
• The catch: I'd ask specifically whether they will own the Shopify build or bring in a development partner. They're much more obviously a CPG branding/packaging shop than a Shopify shop.
• The Motion Agency — River North

• At 325 N LaSalle Dr.
• Full-service agency with branding, packaging, websites, photography, retouching, video, and production under one roof.
• Good option if you want something more established/full-service, although I'd expect them to be a little less "scrappy emerging food brand" than ALX.
• Mabbly — River North

• At 640 N LaSalle Dr.
• Stronger on brand strategy + digital/web + marketing than food-specific packaging photography.
• I'd consider them if the Shopify site and growth strategy are more important than having a deeply food-specialized creative team.

One non–River North wildcard I'd seriously consider

Path Creative looks extremely aligned with the food brand part of your brief. They describe themselves as a Chicago full-service creative studio doing website design/development, retail packaging, commercial food photography and video, and specifically say they work with small-to-midsize food, beverage and CPG companies. Path Creative Path Creative

That's a pretty compelling combination, even though it's not the River North location you prefer.

If I were choosing

I'd approach them in this order:

ALX Creatives → Path Creative → DuPuis/Flashlight → The Motion Agency

The key distinction is that ALX seems closest to "small food brand that needs everything done", while DuPuis/Flashlight is stronger for sophisticated CPG branding + packaging + food photography.

One other useful option: Visyn Studio explicitly positions itself as a full-service studio for small CPG brands, with product shoots plus Shopify/website builds, and says it has no giant retainers or minimums. Visyn Studio I would put them on the outreach list even though they aren't River North.

If you tell me roughly your budget ($10k / $25k / $50k+) and whether you're launching one SKU or a whole line, I can narrow this to the 3 I'd actually take meetings with, including likely fit, strengths/weaknesses, and what I'd ask each one in the first call.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Flashlight Studio - 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• 1o8 - 231 S LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Food Supply IQ - 675 Lakeview Pkwy, Vernon Hills, IL 60061, United States
• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Mightybytes, Inc. - 1725 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• C2 Creative Studio - 308 S Jefferson St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• PKG Brand Design - 2045 W Grand Ave B-27332, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Avenue3 Studios - 333 N Oakley Blvd Ste 106, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• The Motion Agency - 325 N La Salle Dr Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

Yes. I’d narrow this to a few genuinely relevant Chicago shops, because “branding + Shopify + food/CPG + packaging photography” is a fairly specific combination.

Best fits

1. ALX Creatives — River North

My first call for your brief. They’re at 420 W Huron and explicitly offer branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce builds, photography, video, and performance marketing. Their work includes Phantom Chef, where they describe building the consumer brand, Shopify site, photography, and marketing together.

This is probably the closest match to “small food brand, one partner, from brand through Shopify and content.”

2. Dupuis Group — River North

Interesting if packaging/CPG branding is especially important. They're in River North and work across branding, packaging, structural design, digital/social, and emerging brands. Their packaging work includes food/CPG examples.

The photography piece is particularly convenient because Flashlight Studio is associated with the same River North location and specializes in food/beverage photography for packaging and digital. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

Caveat: I'd ask whether they'd handle the Shopify build directly or bring in a development partner.

3. Path Creative — Chicago

This one is worth a serious look if you're willing to go beyond River North. They specifically say they do website design/development, digital marketing, retail packaging, commercial food photography and video, and work with small-to-midsize food, beverage and CPG companies. Path Creative

That's an unusually good overlap with your requirements.

4. Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency — Downtown

More CPG/packaging-heavy than small-brand-growth-agency-heavy. Their Chicago studio combines brand strategy, packaging, photography/content, and has an integrated photo studio and prep kitchen.

I'd consider them if the packaging is a major part of the launch, but I'd want to verify Shopify capability and whether their typical engagement size makes sense for a small brand.

One I'd use as a photography partner

Flashlight Studio is very compelling for the photography portion. It's literally in River North and specializes in food/beverage imagery for packaging, digital and print campaigns. Their portfolio includes CPG packaging photography and flavor/product imagery. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

So if you found a branding/Shopify agency you loved that didn't shoot food, this would be my first photography pairing.

How I'd rank them for your exact brief

If this were my project, I'd contact ALX first, Path second, and Dupuis/Flashlight as the packaging-heavy alternative.

One thing I'd specifically ask each: “Can you take us from positioning/name/identity → packaging design → packaging/product photography → Shopify build → launch assets, with one creative lead?” That question should quickly expose who is actually capable of owning the whole thing versus assembling subcontractors.

If you want, I can also dig up 5–10 smaller/boutique Chicago agencies with actual food-brand case studies, prioritizing River North, West Loop, Fulton Market, and reasonable small-brand budgets.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Flashlight Studio - 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Dupuis Group - 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• The Motion Agency - 325 N La Salle Dr Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• JB Chicago - 435 N LaSalle St, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654
• Design B&B - 833 W Jackson Blvd Fl 7, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• 1o8 - 231 S LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Soulsight - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

For a small food brand that needs the whole stack — brand identity + Shopify store + packaging + product photography — and preferably River North, I’d look at a mix of integrated agencies and CPG specialists. A few that stand out:

Best fits (River North / nearby)

ALX Creatives

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+16466941034)

Best match if Shopify is a major requirement.

• River North / Near North Side location
• Branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce builds, photography, video, content systems
• More startup-friendly than a large CPG agency
• Good fit for a DTC food brand that needs packaging + online sales working together

Dupuis Group

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-337-2040)

Best for premium CPG branding and packaging.

• River North
• Strong in consumer packaged goods, food/beverage, innovation, identity, packaging
• More brand/packaging-led; you may pair them with a Shopify specialist if you need a highly customized store

Flashlight Studio

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-863-2052)

Best for food photography and packaging visuals.

• River North studio
• Specializes in food/beverage photography, motion, and imagery for packaging and digital campaigns
• Could be a production partner alongside a branding/Shopify agency

Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio### One Design Company

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-602-3335)

Good “single partner” option.

• River North
• Brand strategy, identity systems, packaging, and digital experiences
• Worth asking specifically about Shopify builds, since their strength is broader digital/product design

Strong Chicago food/CPG specialists (not strictly River North)

Soulsight

Best if packaging and shelf impact are the priority.

• Deep CPG/food/beverage experience
• Brand strategy, identity, packaging, photography/art direction
• Likely a stronger fit for a packaged food brand going into retail than a simple Shopify-first startup

Soulsight### Path Creative

Best if you want fewer vendors.

• Branding, packaging, website/e-commerce, photography, video
• Food/beverage and CPG experience
• Positions itself as handling strategy through production

Path Creative### The Food Group

Best for food-specific marketing depth.

• Food/beverage focused
• Branding, campaigns, content production, photography/video
• More marketing-heavy than Shopify-build-heavy

My shortlist for a small food brand

If I were narrowing it to 3 calls:

1. ALX Creatives — if you need Shopify + brand + content in one relationship.
2. Dupuis Group + Flashlight Studio — if you want a more premium CPG package and photography outcome. Flashlight Studio
3. Path Creative — if you want a single team covering brand, packaging, website, and content. Path Creative

A useful question to ask any of them: “Can you take us from positioning → identity → packaging production files → Shopify build → launch photography/content, or do you hand off parts of that?” That will quickly separate true end-to-end partners from agencies that only do one piece.

• ALX Creatives - 420 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
• Dupuis Group - 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Kuzma& - 430 W Erie St #505, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Fresh Design Studio - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza Suit 1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Flashlight Studio - 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Potluck Creative - 325 N Hoyne Ave c404, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Alebrije Agency - 233 S Wacker Dr Ste 4400, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Avenue3 Studios - 333 N Oakley Blvd Ste 106, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• DesignScout - 1801 W Belle Plaine Ave #201, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• SO Dsgn - 1719 S Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• The Food Group - 1114 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Studio Malt - 1806 W Cuyler Ave #3h, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• The Motion Agency - 325 N La Salle Dr Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

Yes. I’d narrow this to a handful rather than a generic list of Chicago web agencies. For a small food/CPG brand, you want the overlap of brand strategy + packaging + Shopify + actual food photography.

Best matches

1. ALX Creatives — River North, 420 W Huron St

• Probably the closest match to your full brief.
• Does branding, web development, Shopify/e-commerce, photography, video and content.
• Their work includes consumer-goods/e-commerce brands, including a case where they built a brand and Shopify store and handled photography.
• Best for: an emerging food brand that wants one relatively nimble team to take it from identity → Shopify → content.
• This would be my first call.
• Dupuis Group — River North, 62 W Huron St

• Much stronger on CPG brand strategy, identity and packaging than a typical Shopify shop.
• They specifically work with food/beverage brands and emerging CPG companies.
• They collaborate with Dupuis Group / Flashlight Studio-type production capabilities for photography and motion.
• Caveat: I'd ask whether they'll actually own/build the Shopify implementation or bring in a development partner.
• Best for: if the packaging/brand system is the most important piece and Shopify is the next layer.
• Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency — Downtown Chicago

• Excellent fit if you're serious about food packaging: brand strategy, packaging, CPG design and an integrated photo studio/prep kitchen.
• More sophisticated/CPG-agency territory than a typical small-business branding studio.
• Caveat: Shopify isn't their obvious core competency, so I'd expect a partner for the commerce build.
• Kuzma& — River North, 430 W Erie St

• Full-service creative agency with a strong CPG/food & beverage orientation.
• Worth talking to if you want a more traditional agency relationship covering brand, creative and retail-facing work.
• Caveat: Shopify isn't as clearly established in their offering as it is for ALX.
• Fresh Design Studio — Merchandise Mart

• Stronger on Shopify/e-commerce + brand identity.
• Their offering explicitly includes Shopify/WooCommerce development, branding and digital creative.
• Caveat: I wouldn't pick them over ALX if high-end food photography/packaging photography is a major requirement.

The photography wildcard

If the agency you choose doesn't have the photography quality you want, Flashlight Studio is unusually convenient because it's literally in River North and specializes in food/beverage photography for packaging, digital and print. They have a food-production studio/kitchen and extensive CPG packaging work. Flashlight Studio Flashlight Studio

That's actually an attractive pairing with Dupuis: brand + packaging with Dupuis, photography with Flashlight, Shopify with a commerce partner.

Another strong food-photography option is Lisamarie Cerny, whose Chicago studio does CPG packaging photography, food styling, video and stop motion—but she's in Avondale rather than River North. Lisamarie Cerny Photography

My shortlist for your specific brief

If it were my project, I'd interview ALX, Dupuis, and Kuzma& first. ALX looks like the best one-stop solution; Dupuis looks strongest if the brand/packaging needs to feel genuinely CPG-caliber.

One other interesting option: Potluck Creative is outside River North but has a strong food-production/content orientation, including photography + video + food styling + packaging photography.

If you tell me roughly what kind of food product (snacks, sauce, frozen, beverage, bakery, etc.) and your approximate branding + Shopify budget, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and show you the most relevant food-brand work from each.

Yes — there are a few Chicago options that look unusually well matched to small food/CPG brands needing brand strategy + packaging + Shopify + photography, and River North narrows the field considerably.

My shortlist

1. DuPuis Group — probably the most interesting River North lead

DuPuis Group is actually in River North at 62 W Huron and specializes in CPG, food and beverage. Their capabilities cover strategy, branding, packaging, structural packaging, digital/social and product innovation. www.flashlightstudio.com

The particularly interesting part for your brief is the relationship with Flashlight Studio, which is at the same 62 W Huron address. Flashlight specializes in food/beverage photography specifically for packaging, digital and print, including CPG product photography. www.flashlightstudio.comwww.flashlightstudio.com

So I'd ask DuPuis directly:

“Can you take a small food brand from positioning/identity through packaging, Shopify, and a coordinated food/product shoot, or would you recommend a Shopify development partner?”

That's probably the closest match to your River North + food + packaging criteria.

2. Path Creative — strongest “one vendor” option

Path Creative is less geographically convenient, but the service combination is unusually on-point. They explicitly list website design/development, retail packaging, commercial food photography and video, and say they work with emerging and small-to-midsize food/CPG brands. www.pathcreative.com

Their Chicago office is at 1 E Erie, Suite 525-5044, so despite the studio being elsewhere, they're actually quite close to River North. www.pathcreative.com

For a founder who doesn't want to manage three separate vendors, I'd put them very high on the list.

3. Flashlight Studio — use them for the photography piece

Flashlight Studio is literally in River North at 62 W Huron and is highly specialized in food/beverage imagery. They do packaging photography, product photography, food styling, motion and campaign imagery. www.flashlightstudio.comwww.flashlightstudio.com

I'd consider them especially if your priority is getting really good CPG imagery rather than generic ecommerce product shots. Their portfolio includes packaging work for snack/food products and flavor-focused imagery. www.flashlightstudio.comwww.flashlightstudio.com

They'd pair particularly naturally with DuPuis.

4. Praella — if Shopify is the hardest requirement

Praella - eCommerce Agency is downtown at 203 N LaSalle and is much more Shopify-centric. They handle Shopify/Shopify Plus builds, migrations, custom functionality, integrations and CRO.

I wouldn't hire them as the sole branding partner, though. I'd use them if you have a strong packaging/brand designer already—or pair them with a CPG branding shop.

My ranking for your exact brief

If you want one team:
Path Creative

If River North is important:
DuPuis Group + Flashlight Studio

If packaging/brand strategy is the most important piece:
DuPuis Group

If Shopify complexity is the most important piece:
Praella

If photography needs to look genuinely premium:
Flashlight Studio

One caveat: I found much stronger public evidence for Shopify + branding + food photography separately than for a single River North agency explicitly advertising all four under one roof. So I wouldn't assume DuPuis does the Shopify build themselves without confirming it.

If you tell me roughly what kind of food brand (snacks, sauce, frozen, beverage, supplements, etc.) and your ballpark budget ($10–25k / $25–50k / $50k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare their relevant food-brand work, Shopify capability, location, and likely fit.

Yes. I’d narrow it to 3–4 agencies, because the combination of food/CPG branding + Shopify + packaging + actual food photography is surprisingly specific.

Best matches

1. Path Creative — strongest all-in-one fit

This is probably the first one I’d call for a small/emerging food brand. They explicitly work with food, beverage and CPG brands and offer branding, packaging, Shopify/e-commerce development, commercial food photography and video under one roof. Their Chicago office is at 1 E Erie St., Suite 525-5044, so it's right in River North. www.pathcreative.com

They specifically say they build Shopify stores, and their studio can handle food/product shoots with a commercial kitchen, food stylists and prop room. www.pathcreative.com

Path Creative

Why I'd shortlist them: You could plausibly give them the whole brief—brand identity → packaging → product/food shoot → Shopify site—without coordinating three vendors.

2. DuPuis Group + Flashlight Studio — strongest branding/packaging option

This is the more CPG-branding-heavy choice. DuPuis is at 440 N Wells St. / 62 W Huron St. in River North and specializes in food & beverage, brand strategy, identity, package design, structural packaging and digital. Their realization capabilities include photography through their affiliated Flashlight Studio. www.dupuisgroup.com

Flashlight is particularly compelling for the photography piece: it's a River North food/beverage studio with food styling and a kitchen, and specifically produces imagery for packaging, digital and print. www.flashlightstudio.com

DuPuis Group

Caveat: I don't see Shopify development listed as a core DuPuis capability, so I'd ask whether they build the Shopify storefront themselves or partner that piece out.

3. One Design Company — good River North brand + digital option

They're literally in River North at 230 W Superior St. and combine branding/strategy, identity, website design and front/back-end development. Their portfolio includes food-adjacent work such as Two Lights Oysters, Proof Pizza and Hopewell Brewing. www.onedesigncompany.com

One Design Company

Caveat: I don't see Shopify or food photography explicitly advertised, so I'd rank them below Path for your particular brief.

4. Equator Design — packaging/food photography specialist

Not River North—the Chicago studio is at 20 N Wacker—but this is worth knowing about if packaging quality is especially important. Their Chicago operation focuses heavily on CPG packaging/brand design and has an integrated photo studio and prep kitchen, with photography extending beyond simple pack shots.

My ranking for your brief

I'd start with Path Creative. They seem unusually close to your exact requirements and are actually in River North. If the brand work needs to feel more sophisticated/CPG-agency-level, I'd talk to DuPuis + Flashlight as the second conversation.

If you tell me what kind of food brand it is (snacks, sauce, frozen, beverage, supplements, etc.) and roughly your budget, I can narrow this to 5 agencies with relevant food-brand case studies and likely project-size fit.

Yes. I’d narrow this pretty aggressively, because “branding + Shopify + food/CPG packaging + photography” is a more specific combination than it sounds.

Best Chicago fits

1. DuPuis Group — River North

440 N Wells St / 62 W Huron St area. This is probably the strongest food/CPG-first option. They do brand strategy, identity, packaging, structural packaging, digital/social, and product innovation, and they’re accustomed to emerging consumer brands. They also have a close relationship with Flashlight Studio for photography. www.flashlightstudio.com

Caveat: I would confirm that they will actually build the Shopify store themselves rather than hand it off to a specialist.

2. Path Creative — Chicago

This is the most compelling one-stop-shop I found. They explicitly combine branding/identity, packaging, website design/development, photography and video, with specific experience in food, beverage and CPG. Their own site describes them as serving small-to-midsize companies and emerging brands. www.pathcreative.com

Best if: you want one team responsible for the brand, packaging, ecommerce site and content rather than coordinating several vendors.

Location downside: not River North.

3. The Motion Agency — River North

At 325 N LaSalle, this is another interesting integrated option. They handle branding/marketing, photography and retouching, packaging execution and 3D rendering.

Best if: you're looking for a somewhat more established/full-service agency rather than a tiny boutique studio.

Caveat: I'd specifically ask for examples of Shopify builds for small food/CPG brands before putting them on the shortlist.

4. Praella — downtown Chicago

This is the Shopify specialist I'd consider if ecommerce is particularly important. They're heavily focused on Shopify/Shopify Plus.

I'd pair them with a branding/packaging studio rather than expect them to be your food-brand creative agency.

The photography wildcard

Flashlight Studio is exactly where I'd look for the photography component. They're at 62 W Huron St in River North, specialize in food/beverage photography, and explicitly produce imagery for packaging, digital and print campaigns. www.flashlightstudio.com

The particularly nice setup is that DuPuis + Flashlight are already connected, so you potentially get a River North branding/packaging relationship plus a dedicated food-production studio without having to source a photographer from scratch. www.flashlightstudio.com

One I'd put on the “serious food brand” list

Soulsight is Chicago-based and very strong on CPG branding/packaging. Their portfolio includes brand strategy, identity, packaging and photography for major consumer brands. www.soulsight.com

But I'd consider them more of a sophisticated CPG branding/packaging agency than a small-brand Shopify shop, so they may be overkill depending on your budget.

My shortlist for your brief

If this were my project, I'd contact DuPuis, Path Creative, and The Motion Agency first. I'd ask each for a proposal covering brand strategy → identity → packaging → packaging/product photography → Shopify design/build → launch assets, and specifically ask whether those pieces are handled internally or by partners.

One useful detail: if you're a genuinely small/new food brand, I'd tell them your SKU count, approximate budget, whether you're already selling, and whether the Shopify store is primarily DTC or also intended to support retail. That will quickly separate the agencies that are actually set up for emerging CPG brands from the ones accustomed to $100k+ corporate engagements.

Yes. I’d narrow the Chicago list pretty aggressively based on your combination of small food/CPG brand + branding + Shopify + packaging + photography, rather than looking at generic branding agencies.

Best fits

1. Path Creative — River North

Probably the strongest one-stop fit. They’re at 1 E Erie, explicitly work with emerging/small-to-midsize food, beverage and CPG brands, and cover branding, packaging, website development, and commercial food/product photography. Their in-house studio has a commercial kitchen and they handle photography, video, styling and retouching. www.pathcreative.com

Why I’d call them: They can plausibly take you from “we need a brand” → packaging → ecommerce → product/food shoot without coordinating four vendors.

2. SmallGood — Chicago

This one is particularly interesting for a small/emerging food brand. They have an actual case study for Keep It Savory Salt Co. where they handled purpose/positioning, branding, packaging, Shopify website and social strategy. www.wearesmallgood.com

Caveat: I would ask specifically whether they handle the photography themselves or bring in a food photographer.

3. Studio Fulchi — Chicago

Shopify's own partner directory shows them doing brand strategy/identity, packaging, photography and web, including a full branding/packaging/photo/web engagement. www.shopify.com

Best for: a smaller, design-led engagement where you want the brand and ecommerce experience to feel tightly integrated.

If River North is especially important

Flashlight Studio is worth knowing even though I wouldn't treat it as your primary branding/Shopify agency. It's literally in River North at 62 W. Huron, and specializes in food/beverage photography for packaging, digital and print, with food styling and a kitchen-equipped studio. www.flashlightstudio.com

So a very good local pairing could be Path Creative + Flashlight Studio if you want an agency handling brand/Shopify while having an especially strong food photographer right nearby.

Also worth a look

• Soulsight — excellent CPG branding/packaging pedigree and photography, including major food/beverage brands, but I'd expect it to be more substantial/premium than what a small emerging brand necessarily needs. www.soulsight.com
• Seedhouse — Chicago boutique specializing in CPG brand identity and packaging across food/beverage; strong option if packaging/brand strategy is the priority, though I'd verify the Shopify and photography pieces. www.seed-house.com
• Neat Digital — Shopify-focused Chicago shop that explicitly targets food/beverage brands, but I'd pair them with a branding/packaging specialist rather than make them the sole creative partner. neat.digital

My shortlist for you: Path Creative → SmallGood → Studio Fulchi, in that order. Path is the closest match to “I want one Chicago partner to make the whole thing happen.”

If you tell me roughly what kind of food brand it is (snacks, sauce, beverage, frozen, supplements, etc.) and your rough budget ($10–25k / $25–50k / $50k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare their actual relevant food-brand work, Shopify capability, location, and likely fit.

Yes — there are a few Chicago shops that look unusually well aligned with small/emerging food brands + branding + Shopify/e-commerce + packaging + photography. River North narrows the list considerably.

My shortlist

1. Best overall fit: Dupuis Group

This is the one I'd investigate first if River North + food/CPG expertise is important.

Dupuis Group is at 440 N Wells St. in River North and specializes in consumer packaged goods, including food and beverage. Their work spans brand strategy, identity, packaging and digital/social execution. www.flashlightstudio.com

The particularly nice wrinkle is that Flashlight Studio, a food/beverage photography studio at 62 W Huron St., is associated with the same River North ecosystem/address. Flashlight specifically does packaging, food, beverage and branded-content photography, so you could potentially get the brand/packaging work and the actual food photography closely coordinated. www.flashlightstudio.com

Caveat: I wouldn't choose Dupuis specifically because you need a hardcore Shopify developer. I'd ask whether they would build Shopify themselves or bring in a development partner.

2. Best if Shopify is the most important piece: Praella

Praella - eCommerce Agency is at 203 N LaSalle, very close to River North, and is much more explicitly an e-commerce/Shopify specialist. It's a Shopify-focused agency rather than primarily a food-branding agency.

So I'd consider a Praella + food photographer/brand designer combination if the Shopify store is going to be a major revenue channel.

3. Best “one creative partner” alternative: C2 Creative Studio

C2 Creative Studio is in the West Loop rather than River North. They're a smaller, more nimble studio doing brand strategy, identity, packaging, UI/UX and website development, along with creative production and photography. That makes them interesting if you don't want to deal with a giant agency.

I'd specifically ask them whether they have a Shopify developer in-house and whether they've launched CPG/DTC food stores.

4. Best packaging + photography specialist: Equator

Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency is downtown at 20 N Wacker. They're much more CPG/packaging-centric than Shopify-centric, but the Chicago studio reportedly has an integrated photo studio and prep kitchen, and their photography extends beyond basic pack shots into campaign/social/retail imagery.

If your project is basically:

brand strategy → visual identity → packaging → food/product shoot → e-commerce assets

they're worth talking to. I'd just expect to confirm the Shopify portion separately.

5. The sleeper option: Path Creative

Path Creative isn't River North, but it may actually be the closest match to your complete brief. They explicitly combine branding/packaging, Shopify website development, commercial food photography/video and digital marketing under one roof. They also say they work with small-to-midsize food, beverage and CPG brands. www.pathcreative.com

Their Chicago address is 1 E Erie, which is actually right around the River North area, despite some directory/location classifications. Their stated platform experience includes Shopify, and their food work includes brands such as Garrett Popcorn and Tyson. www.pathcreative.com

I'd put Path Creative near the top of your outreach list.

If this were my project

I'd contact three agencies first:

1. Path Creative — best apparent all-in-one match.
2. Dupuis Group + Flashlight Studio — best River North + serious CPG/food branding combination.
3. Praella — best Shopify/e-commerce specialist, particularly if the store is strategically important.

And I'd ask each one for a single fixed-scope proposal covering:

Brand strategy + identity → packaging design → food/product photography → Shopify design/build → launch assets

That wording will quickly reveal who can genuinely own the whole project versus who is going to subcontract half of it.

If you tell me roughly what kind of food product it is (snacks, sauce, beverage, frozen, supplement, etc.) and your approximate budget, I can narrow this to 3–5 agencies that are genuinely appropriate for a small brand rather than big-CPG agencies likely to be overkill.

Absolutely—I can narrow this to Chicago agencies that do brand strategy/identity + Shopify builds + packaging/product photography, with a preference for River North.

I need your location confirmation before I search local businesses. You can share it or pick a nearby area:

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For a small food brand, I’d look less at general web shops and more at CPG/food branding studios that can carry the brand from strategy → packaging → product photography → Shopify/DTC launch. River North has a few strong fits, plus a couple nearby downtown options worth considering.

Best River North / near-River North fits

Dupuis Group — River North
440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
Best fit if packaging is the centerpiece. They specialize in CPG/food/beverage branding, including positioning, identity, packaging, and innovation work. They also have a relationship with food photography specialists through their Chicago creative network.
Good for: emerging packaged foods, grocery ambitions, premium shelf positioning.
Ask them: “Can you own the Shopify build or recommend a developer partner?”

Equator Design / Packaging Design Agency — downtown Chicago
20 N Wacker Dr Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60606
A strong CPG packaging/design shop with photography and content capabilities, including food-related production workflows.
Good for: brands where packaging and retail readiness matter more than a purely digital-first build.

The Motion Agency — River North
325 N La Salle Dr Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60654
Full-service agency with brand design, packaging, photography/retouching, and digital capabilities.
Good for: food brands that need a broader marketing partner, not just a Shopify freelancer.

Smaller / more startup-friendly options

Plan B - The Agency Alternative for the AI Economy® — River North
10 W Hubbard St #5W, Chicago, IL 60654
A boutique-ish full-service creative agency in River North with branding, creative production, and digital execution.
Good for: founder-led brands that want a hands-on agency relationship.

Wuhoo Digital Group — River North
444 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
More digital-focused; offers branding, websites, photography, and marketing support.
Good for: smaller budgets where Shopify is a major piece of the engagement.

Photography specialists to pair with a branding/Shopify agency

Flashlight Studio
A River North food photography studio specializing in food/beverage imagery for packaging, digital, and print campaigns. www.flashlightstudio.com
Good for: hero product shots, packaging imagery, recipe/lifestyle content.

If Shopify is the hardest requirement

A lot of branding agencies don’t build Shopify deeply in-house. For a food startup, I’d shortlist:

1. Dupuis Group + Shopify developer partner (best brand/packaging thinking)
2. The Motion Agency (closest “one roof” solution)
3. Plan B (smaller/flexible creative partner)
4. Brand studio + Flashlight Studio + Shopify specialist (often the highest-quality route)

When reaching out, I’d ask for three specific examples:

• a food/CPG brand they launched from scratch
• a Shopify store they designed and built
• packaging photography they produced, not just lifestyle marketing photos

That will quickly separate true food-brand partners from generic branding agencies.

For a small food/CPG brand that needs brand identity + packaging + Shopify build + product photography, I’d shortlist agencies that understand both shelf presence and DTC conversion. River North is a good filter, but the strongest matches are a mix of River North and nearby downtown studios.

Best fits (especially for emerging food brands)

Dupuis Group — River North

Dupuis Group
Web
Address: 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
Phone: +1 312-337-2040
Best overall fit if packaging is the centerpiece.

• Brand strategy + identity
• Packaging design and innovation
• CPG / food & beverage experience
• Digital brand systems
• They’re connected with Flashlight Studio for food photography/content production.

Good for: snack brands, pantry products, beverages, refrigerated/frozen products wanting a premium retail look.

The Motion Agency — River North

The Motion Agency
Web
Address: 325 N La Salle Dr Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
Phone: +1 312-565-0044
Best if you want a larger full-service partner.

• Brand identity
• Packaging systems
• Website/e-commerce support
• Photography, retouching, video, production capabilities

Good for: brands planning campaigns, retail expansion, Amazon/Shopify growth, or needing more marketing horsepower.

One Design Company — River North

One Design Company
Web
Address: 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
Phone: +1 312-602-3335
Best for a smaller, design-led brand build.

• Brand strategy
• Visual identity
• Packaging
• Digital products/web experiences

Good for: founder-led brands that want a thoughtful identity system before scaling.

Praella — downtown Chicago

Praella - eCommerce Agency
Web
Address: 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
Phone: +1 312-761-3218
Best Shopify specialist.

• Shopify / Shopify Plus builds
• Ecommerce strategy
• Conversion-focused development

I’d pair them with a branding/packaging studio rather than use them alone if you need the full food-brand identity.

Strong food photography/content specialists

Flashlight Studio — River North

Flashlight Studio
Web
Address: 62 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
Phone: +1 312-863-2052
Best River North option for packaging photography.

• Food and beverage photography
• Packaging imagery
• Motion/video
• Studio production

They specifically position their work around food/beverage visuals for packaging, digital, and print campaigns. www.flashlightstudio.com

Other Chicago food-brand specialists worth considering

Soulsight

More enterprise-leaning, but excellent if you want sophisticated CPG positioning:

• Brand strategy
• Packaging
• Photography/art direction
• Consumer packaged goods expertise www.soulsight.com

Path Creative

A good “one roof” option:

• Branding
• Packaging
• Website/ecommerce
• Commercial food photography/video www.pathcreative.com

My shortlist for a small food brand specifically:

1. Dupuis Group + Flashlight Studio → strongest River North food/packaging combo
2. The Motion Agency → if you want branding through launch campaign
3. One Design Company → if you want a boutique brand-first approach
4. Praella + a packaging studio → if Shopify performance is the priority

When reaching out, I’d ask each one:

• “Have you launched food CPG brands on Shopify?”
• “Can you handle nutrition panel/packaging production files?”
• “Do you shoot packaging hero images and PDP/e-commerce photography?”
• “Can you manage Shopify theme customization, subscriptions, and email/SMS integrations?”

That will quickly separate true food-brand partners from general branding shops.

Yes. I’d narrow this to a handful of Chicago shops that can actually connect brand → packaging → ecommerce → photography, rather than a generic branding agency plus separate web developer.

Best fits

1. DuPuis Group — strongest River North fit
62 W Huron St, River North. This is probably the first call I’d make for a small food/CPG brand. They specialize in CPG, food and beverage, with brand strategy, identity, packaging and innovation. Their River North operation is also closely connected to Flashlight Studio, a food/packaging photography studio at the same address. www.dupuisgroup.comwww.onedesigncompany.com
Caveat: I don't see Shopify development positioned as a core in-house service, so I'd specifically ask whether they handle the Shopify build or bring in a development partner.

2. One Design Company — best River North brand + digital combination
230 W Superior St, River North. They do brand strategy/identity, packaging, web design and full-stack development, and explicitly list Shopify ecommerce integration. www.onedesigncompany.com
This is particularly interesting if you want the brand and Shopify experience to feel like one design system, rather than hiring a packaging agency and Shopify agency independently. Photography isn't their standout specialty, though, so I'd expect to pair them with a food photographer.

3. Path Creative — probably the best all-in-one small/midsize option
They have a Chicago office at 1 E Erie, plus a serious in-house production studio. Their services cover branding, packaging, website/ecommerce development, Shopify, commercial food/product photography and video. They explicitly say they work with emerging and small-to-midsize food/CPG brands. www.pathcreative.com
The downside: their studio is near O'Hare rather than River North, although the listed Chicago office is in River North.

4. The Motion Agency — good if you want a more substantial integrated agency
325 N LaSalle, River North. They offer branding/strategy, creative/content, web development, and production, and have food/CPG experience including Blue Diamond Almonds and Northern Illinois Food Bank. themotionagency.com
I'd put them below the first three for a small food brand simply because they feel more like a mid-sized integrated agency.

For the photography piece specifically

Flashlight Studio is unusually well matched to what you're describing. It's literally in River North at 62 W Huron, specializes in food/beverage photography, and does imagery specifically for packaging, digital and print. Their portfolio includes CPG packaging photography and food styling. www.flashlightstudio.com

That makes the DuPuis + Flashlight combination especially compelling if your packaging/brand work is the priority.

My shortlist

If this were my project, I'd talk to DuPuis, One Design, and Path Creative first. DuPuis is the strongest for food-brand/packaging thinking, One Design for brand + Shopify, and Path for the most convincing single-vendor brand + Shopify + food photography package. www.onedesigncompany.com

If you tell me roughly what kind of food product (snack, sauce, beverage, frozen, supplement-adjacent, etc.) and your approximate branding + Shopify budget, I can narrow these to 2–3 and look for relevant food-brand case studies and likely project fit.

For a small food brand, I’d prioritize agencies that understand CPG branding + packaging + ecommerce conversion, not just “pretty websites.” River North is actually a strong area for this. These are the ones I’d shortlist:

For packaging photography specifically, I’d also look at pairing (or asking an agency to bring in) a food specialist:

• Flashlight Studio — River North food/beverage photography studio; they specifically work on packaging, digital, and print campaigns. www.flashlightstudio.com
• Lisamarie Cerny — specializes in CPG food photography, packaging imagery, and production. www.lisamariecerny.com

My likely shortlist for a small packaged food brand launching or refreshing on Shopify:

1. Dupuis Group + Flashlight Studio → strongest River North food-branding combination.
2. Path Creative → best “single vendor handles everything” option.
3. One Design Company + a food photographer partner → good boutique digital/brand balance.
4. Praella → if Shopify complexity is the biggest challenge.

When you contact them, I’d ask specifically: “Can you take us from positioning → identity → packaging system → product photography → Shopify launch?” That wording will quickly separate true CPG partners from general web agencies.

Yes. For your exact combination—brand strategy/identity + Shopify + packaging + food/product photography, with River North preferred—I’d narrow the field pretty aggressively.

My shortlist

1. Dupuis Group — River North
   • Best overall fit for food/CPG branding.
   • At 62 W Huron St., they’re right in River North.
   • Strong on brand strategy, identity, packaging, structural design, and photography/retouching. Their portfolio includes food brands such as Andrew & Everett. www.dupuisgroup.com
   • They also work with Flashlight Studio, a food-photography studio at the same River North address, which is particularly useful for packaging/product shots. www.dupuisgroup.comwww.flashlightstudio.com
   • Caveat: I couldn't verify a strong public Shopify-build offering, so I'd ask whether they handle the Shopify implementation themselves or bring in a development partner.

2. The Motion Agency — River North
   • Best River North option if the website/e-commerce side is important.
   • They're at 325 N. LaSalle, and explicitly offer branding/strategy, creative/content, web design/development, and production. themotionagency.com
   • Their capabilities include packaging, photography, retouching and multi-SKU production according to the local business listing.
   • Caveat: they're a substantially larger agency, so I'd check whether a small emerging food brand is the kind of account they actively want.

3. Wuhoo Digital Group — River North
   • At 444 N. Wabash, so this is another genuinely convenient River North option.
   • They specialize in e-commerce/web development and work with retailers, e-commerce businesses and restaurant groups; they also offer branding/design. wuhoodigitalgroup.com
   • Best if Shopify is the priority.
   • Weak spot: I don't see the same depth of food packaging/CPG photography expertise as DuPuis or Path.

4. Path Creative — River North
   • This is probably the most compelling all-in-one practical option, despite being a little less "CPG branding boutique."
   • Their Chicago office is 1 E Erie, and they explicitly offer branding, packaging, website/e-commerce development, food/product photography and content production. www.pathcreative.com
   • Crucially, they explicitly mention WordPress-to-Shopify migrations and Shopify stores, and offer photography/content packages alongside web builds. www.pathcreative.com
   • They also have an in-house studio with a commercial kitchen and food-styling capability, which makes packaging photography much easier to coordinate. www.dupuisgroup.comwww.dupuisgroup.comthemotionagency.comwuhoodigitalgroup.comwww.pathcreative.com
   • For a small food brand, this may actually be my first call.

If packaging is the really important part

Equator Design is worth considering. They're at 20 N. Wacker, just outside River North, and are heavily focused on CPG packaging/brand design with an integrated photo studio and prep kitchen.

Likewise, Soulsight is excellent for serious food/CPG brand and packaging work, but I'd expect them to skew more toward substantial branding engagements than a scrappy Shopify build. Their portfolio includes packaging, photography and major food/beverage brands. www.soulsight.com

How I'd rank them for your brief

\*via their close relationship with Flashlight Studio.

My first three calls would be Path Creative, DuPuis, and Motion. If you're an early-stage food brand with a relatively modest budget, I'd start with Path; if you're trying to build a really distinctive shelf brand and packaging is the centerpiece, I'd start with DuPuis.

One especially interesting wrinkle: Flashlight Studio is literally at 62 W Huron with DuPuis and specializes in food/beverage photography for packaging, digital and print, so the DuPuis + Flashlight combination could be unusually seamless for a food brand. www.flashlightstudio.com

Path Creative · DuPuis Group · The Motion Agency · Wuhoo Digital Group · Flashlight Studio

Yes — there are a few Chicago shops that look unusually well matched to small food/CPG brands that need the whole chain: brand → packaging → Shopify → photography.

My shortlist

1. DuPuis Group — probably my first call

Dupuis Group
Web
Address: 62 W Huron St #2A, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
Phone: +1 312-337-2040

They're at 62 W Huron in River North, and their core offering is almost exactly the front half of what you're describing: strategy, brand positioning, identity, packaging, structural design, digital/social and production. Their realization team also includes photography, retouching, 3D renders and mechanicals. www.dupuisgroup.com

The particularly nice part is Flashlight Studio, their associated food/product photography operation. It's also in River North, at 62 W Huron, with a food-production studio and explicit experience creating photography for packaging, digital and print. www.flashlightstudio.com

Caveat: I wouldn't hire DuPuis specifically because you expect them to be a Shopify-development specialist. I'd ask whether they'll own the Shopify build or partner with a developer.

DuPuis Group · Flashlight Studio

2. Fresh Design Studio — strongest River North Shopify option

Fresh Design Studio
Web
Address: 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza Suit 1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
Phone: +1 312-880-9337

They're at 1 E Erie in River North and explicitly offer Shopify and WooCommerce storefront development, alongside custom web design and branding/creative. www.freshdesignstudio.com

This is the one I'd investigate if your project is something like:

"We're launching a food brand, need the identity and packaging cleaned up, then need a polished DTC Shopify site that actually sells."

They appear more digitally/e-commerce oriented than DuPuis. Their Shopify work is also substantive enough that they have apps in the Shopify App Store. www.freshdesignstudio.com

Caveat: their food/CPG photography credentials aren't nearly as compelling as DuPuis/Flashlight or Path Creative, so I'd specifically ask whether photography is done in-house or through a preferred production partner.

Fresh Design Studio

3. Path Creative — strongest "one vendor does everything" candidate

Path Creative
Web
Phone: +1 708-334-4572

This is probably the most complete functional match I found. Path explicitly lists:

• branding/identity
• retail packaging
• website design/development
• e-commerce
• commercial food photography
• video
• 3D renders
• digital marketing

They specifically say they work with food, beverage, retail and CPG, including emerging brands and small-to-midsize companies. www.pathcreative.com

The downside for your preference is location: their main studio is near O'Hare rather than River North.

If River North is a preference rather than a hard requirement, I'd put them very high on the list.

Path Creative

4. Roundabout Brand Studio — intriguing small-brand specialist

This one is not River North — they're a small, largely remote studio in Ravenswood — but they're worth talking to if you want a more boutique branding relationship.

They specialize in brand identity, packaging and web design, and their client profile skews heavily toward food & beverage and small businesses. themanifest.comclutch.co

More importantly, there's an unusually relevant real-world example: they worked with Aged & Infused on branding, packaging, website, photography creative direction and retail branding. The client reported the resulting packaging helped the brand get picked up by major retailers. clutch.co

So I'd consider them if you're looking for small, senior, hands-on rather than a larger agency.

Roundabout Brand Studio

If it were my project

I'd contact three:

1. DuPuis + Flashlight — if the brand/packaging and food photography need to be exceptional.
2. Fresh Design Studio — if Shopify/DTC is the most important part of the build.
3. Path Creative — if you want one team to genuinely own the entire brand/content/web ecosystem.

One thing I'd ask all three explicitly is: "Can you take us from positioning and visual identity through packaging artwork, a Shopify 2.0 build, and a food/product shoot, with one creative director responsible for keeping everything consistent?"

That question will quickly separate the agencies that technically offer all those services from the ones that can actually run the project as one integrated food-brand launch.

Yes — I found a few Chicago options, and River North narrows the field nicely.

Best overall fit: Dupuis Group

Dupuis Group
Address: 440 N Wells St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: +13129702893
440 N Wells St / 62 W Huron St, River North

This is probably the closest match to what you're describing on the brand/CPG side. DuPuis specializes in food & beverage and consumer brands, with brand strategy, identity, packaging, digital/social, photography, retouching, 3D renders and production all under its umbrella. www.dupuisgroup.com

The particularly useful wrinkle: DuPuis is closely associated with Flashlight Studio, also at 62 W Huron, which specializes in food/beverage photography and specifically produces imagery for packaging, digital and print. www.flashlightstudio.com

Caveat: I couldn't verify that DuPuis itself does Shopify development. I'd ask whether they handle the Shopify build internally or have a preferred development partner.

Best "everything under one roof": Path Creative

DesignScout
Web
Address: 1801 W Belle Plaine Ave #201, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
Phone: +1 773-270-2724
1 E Erie St, River North

This one is unusually close to your complete brief. Path says it handles:

• branding & identity
• packaging/labels
• website and e-commerce development
• Shopify builds
• commercial food/product photography
• video/content production

They explicitly mention Shopify builds/migrations, and they work with small-to-midsize and emerging food/CPG brands. www.pathcreative.com

Their food photography setup is substantial, too: commercial kitchen, food stylists, prop room and studio production. www.dupuisgroup.comwww.pathcreative.comthemotionagency.com

For your brief, I'd put Path Creative at #1 if you want one vendor rather than coordinating specialists.

Best if brand + packaging is the priority: Soulsight

Soulsight
Web
Address: 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
Phone: +1 312-982-2400
Chicago / Wacker area

Soulsight is much more of a serious CPG branding and packaging agency. Its portfolio includes food/beverage brands and work spanning identity, packaging and photography. www.soulsight.com

I'd consider them if you're launching a food brand where shelf presence and packaging strategy matter more than having the agency itself build Shopify. They're likely a more substantial agency engagement than a typical small-brand web shop.

Another River North possibility: The Motion Agency

The Motion Agency
Web
Address: 325 N La Salle Dr Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
Phone: +1 312-565-0044
325 N LaSalle Dr, River North

Motion is a full-service agency with branding/strategy, creative/content, web design/development, photography/production and packaging capabilities. themotionagency.com

I'd put them behind Path and DuPuis for a small food startup, though. They look better suited to a somewhat larger integrated marketing engagement.

My shortlist

If I were choosing for a small packaged-food brand, I'd talk to Path first and DuPuis second. Path looks like the cleaner single-vendor solution; DuPuis/Flashlight looks stronger if you want the branding and packaging to be particularly sophisticated.

One thing I'd specifically ask each: “Can you take us from positioning → identity → packaging → packaging/product photography → Shopify design/build without handing the project to multiple unrelated vendors?” That's the real differentiator here.