Chapman’s is a Canadian ice cream brand founded in 1973 by David and Penny Chapman in Markdale, Ontario. The company, which bills itself as Canada’s largest independent ice cream producer, has long used a logo featuring two animated children, a design that roughly represents the founders’ son Ashley and daughter Frances. [1]
Design and History
The Chapman’s logo has been a consistent element of the brand’s packaging for decades. The mark features two cartoon kids enjoying ice cream, a design that has become closely associated with the company across Canada. [1]
In 2023, to celebrate Chapman’s 50th anniversary, the company introduced a significant packaging refresh for its flagship line of two-litre ice cream bricks. The core product line was rebranded under a new name, Markdale Creamery, and the packaging incorporated an image of the original creamery building in Markdale where the Chapmans began making ice cream in 1973. [2] [3]
The new design continued to feature the familiar Chapman’s logo and cartoon kids, while the product line name changed to Markdale Creamery. [4] According to Lesya Chapman, marketing manager, the previous packaging design was over 20 years old, and the company felt it was time for a refresh that tied the new design to its heritage. [5] All original flavours were transitioned to the new Markdale Creamery design by the end of 2023. [5]
Meaning and Symbolism
The two animated children in the Chapman’s logo roughly represent Ashley Chapman and his sister Frances, the children of the company’s founders. [1] The 2023 Markdale Creamery packaging design was intended to pay homage to the company’s roots, using the image of the original creamery building in Markdale, Ontario, where David and Penny Chapman began making their original ice cream in 1973. [6] The new product line name was chosen to honour the small village of Markdale, reflecting the importance of community to the Chapman’s brand. [5]
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