Marc Cross Brands™ — London & Global
Building brands people care about — in Hospitality, F&B, and Lifestyle.
Strategy. Identity. Experience.
We help brands build standout, strategic identities that connect with people and drive growth.
We partner with ambitious, lifestyle-led businesses to transform great ideas into standout brands, earning loyalty, sparking growth and making a lasting impact.
Agency Expertise. Personal Partnerships.
I spent 15+ years as Creative Director of a London branding agency, leading projects across the UK, the Middle East and beyond. That experience taught me how to build brands that last and showed me how slow and costly big agencies can be.
Now I bring that expertise directly to founders. As both a seasoned brand strategist and a multidisciplinary designer, I shape brands from every angle, defining the big idea, crafting the story and bringing it to life with clarity and creativity.
Alongside me is a small, senior team who share the same hands-on approach. Together we deliver high-level expertise with the speed, focus and personal involvement that only comes from working closely, one-to-one with every client.
Recent Branding Projects:
Myra — Brand Identity for a Luxury Patisserie Chain in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Brand strategy, naming and visual identity for Myra, a luxury French-inspired patisserie in Jeddah and Riyadh, shaped to blend European craft with the tastes and expectations of a discerning Saudi audience.
Brand Strategy & Positioning / Brand Naming / Visual Identity
Hazal — Brand Identity for a High End Levantine Restaurant in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
A premium Saudi restaurant and shisha lounge reimagining Levantine cuisine through a refined, contemporary lens, blending rich Middle Eastern heritage with elevated dining and an immersive guest experience.
Visual Identity / Tone of Voice & Messaging / Brand Experience
KOA — Brand Creation & Visual Identity for Modern Fine-Dining Restaurant in Jeddah
A crafted visual identity for KOA, a modern fine-dining restaurant in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, inspired by its refined interiors, global influences and elevated, organic culinary experience.
Brand Strategy & Positioning / Visual Identity / Brand Messaging & Voice / Brand Experience
Burro Blanco — Brand Positioning & Visual Identity Refresh for QSR Franchise in Dubai & Abu Dhabi
A bold brand repositioning and visual identity refresh for this fast-growing QSR brand in the UAE, crafted to scale with story, style and franchise-ready clarity for rapid regional growth.
Brand Strategy & Positioning / Visual Identity / Brand Messaging & Voice / Global Franchise Expansion
HOSPITALITY, F&B, RETAIL, BEAUTY, WELLNESS, FASHION, TECH.
HOSPITALITY, F&B, RETAIL, BEAUTY, WELLNESS, FASHION, TECH.
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What We Offer — Holistic Branding Services
Brand Strategy & Positioning
We help uncover the essence of your brand, what it stands for, how it is positioned and why it matters. From mission and values to audience and competition, we define a clear foundation to guide your brand’s identity. Every strategy includes practical rollout planning, turning insight into action through launch ideas and long-term brand initiatives.
Brand Naming
Naming is one of the most defining decisions a brand can make. We work closely with founders and marketing leads to create names that are relevant, memorable and rooted in strategy, whether for a new brand, product or sub-brand.
Visual Identity Design
Whether we have already defined your strategy or you are starting fresh, we create distinctive visual identities that reflect who you are and where you are going. From custom logo design and visual language to full identity systems, every detail is grounded in insight and designed to help your brand connect and grow.
Brand Consultancy
Long-term, expert support to help your brand evolve with clarity and confidence. Marc Cross works as an embedded partner, offering one-to-one strategic insight, creative guidance and direction as your business grows, expands or enters new markets.
Website Design & Build
We design and build clean, high-performing websites that elevate your brand online. From UX to full development, every site is responsive, easy to manage and crafted to drive bookings, sales and engagement across all devices.
Social Media Management
We manage strategic, high-quality social content across Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Through monthly planning, photography, post creation and scheduling, we keep your brand consistent, polished and visible to the audiences who matter.
Our Approach
How we take you from big idea to brand impact.
1. Discover
We immerse ourselves in your world, exploring your vision, audience, culture, competitors, and ambition. Together we uncover the truths, tensions, and opportunities that will shape your brand and set the direction forward.
2. Define
We turn discovery into strategy, clarifying positioning, narrative, values, and tone of voice. This is where your big idea takes form, creating a clear framework that gives your brand focus, purpose, and room to grow.
3. Design
We bring the strategy to life, shaping the identity, storytelling, and brand experience that connect with audiences in meaningful ways. This is where the creative expression takes shape, establishing the tone, personality, and foundations for everything to follow.
4. Deliver
We equip you with the tools to activate your brand, from guidelines and toolkits to creative direction and rollout support. This ensures consistency, confidence, and impact across every touchpoint as your brand enters the world.
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Client Testimonials
I’ve worked with Marc and his team on multiple branding projects in both Dubai and London, often supporting clients as they prepare for expansion or move into franchising. What really sets him apart is his ability to turn complex business goals into clear, confident brand positioning. He combines strategic insight with creative thinking, shaping brand narratives that feel both commercially sound and visually engaging. Every project has gone above and beyond, and I always look forward to the next collaboration.
Charlie Mander - Co-Founder / Presman & Colard
Marc has been a key branding partner for me over the past six years, helping to develop hospitality brands like KOA, Myra, and most recently HAZAL. His approach is thoughtful and strategic, ensuring each brand is grounded in strong positioning and brought to life with clarity and creativity. From naming to identity design, he knows how to make a brand resonate in the Saudi market. His work has been instrumental in creating concepts that feel both authentic and commercially strong.
Amro Bagedo - Founder & CEO / KRAIV & KAB Holding
Working with Marc’s team on the rebrand for Global Academy International - a group of successful schools with a rich history, founded by my father - was a brilliant experience. They brought clarity to our thinking, helping reposition the brand with confidence while respecting its legacy. From our founding schools in Qatar to our expansion into Saudi Arabia via franchising, Marc’s insight, strategic focus, and collaborative approach made a lasting impact on the outcome.
Omar Al Sheikh - Vice Chairman / OWMNYA Holding
Branding Blog & Insights
Is Your Restaurant Brand Ready to Franchise?
Before expanding into new markets, your brand identity needs to be clear, consistent and franchise-ready. In this article, I share lessons from real F&B projects across the GCC — including Burro Blanco and Bread Ahead — and explain how strategy, storytelling and visual identity can help set your brand up for successful growth.
Launching a Restaurant in Dubai? Start With a Brand That Stands Out.
Dubai’s F&B scene is dynamic, competitive, and full of opportunity — but to succeed, your concept needs more than great food. This article breaks down the essential steps to building a standout restaurant brand, from defining your positioning and name to creating a compelling identity and tone of voice that connects with the right audience.
Brand Storytelling: The Secret to Customer Loyalty
In a world of endless choice, customers connect with stories — not just products. This article explores how thoughtful brand storytelling builds emotional loyalty, using real-world examples like Jebena Co. to show how a clear narrative can elevate your brand and inspire long-term customer engagement.
