CASE STUDY

Branded Messi Art Cups for Licensed Global Rollout

A major hospitality brand needed an officially licensed Lionel Messi art cup for use across its U.S. restaurant locations. The product had to meet strict food safety standards, feature high-impact branded visuals, and be delivered on a short timeline.

Sphere Resources developed and produced a fully certified, retail-quality item that was ready for fast shipping and multi-location rollout.

The Challenge

Multi Market Compliance

The cups needed to pass food safety and quality standards across several global regions, including FDA certification for the U.S., CE for Europe, and REACH testing. This required coordination with testing labs and suppliers to ensure full compliance before shipping.

Short Lead Time

The launch was tied to a high profile licensing deal with a fixed delivery schedule. From artwork approval to full production, the order needed to be completed in under 30 days.

Licensing and Branding Requirements

The design had to strictly follow brand guidelines for Lionel Messi, including IML printing, precise tagline placement, and full visibility of the phrase “WHERE MAGIC KICKS OFF” once the lid was attached.

The Solution

We helped the client move quickly from concept to production by locking in final specs early and preparing all files for IML printing. Our team worked closely with the factory throughout the process to ensure quality and consistency across the full order. Compliance testing was completed in parallel to avoid delays, with all certifications ready ahead of delivery.

Once the cups were produced, we collaborated with our warehousing partner to store the goods and ship them in batches according to the client’s rollout plan. This approach provided the client with flexibility without overloading individual locations, and it kept the project moving smoothly from start to finish.

The Objectives

Develop a licensed Messi art cup that meets international food safety standards and complies with all branding and artwork requirements.
Ensure accurate, high-quality production using IML printing, with consistent results across thousands of units.
Coordinate warehousing and fulfillment to support a smooth, multi-location rollout across the U.S. within a tight timeline.

The Results

Reliable Global Rollout

The licensed Messi art cups were successfully distributed to multiple restaurant locations across the U.S. Orders were packed and shipped in batches, reducing pressure on individual sites and allowing the client to launch on their own schedule.

There were no reported disruptions, and delivery stayed on track throughout the rollout.

Consistent Branding and Compliance

The final product met all branding, compliance, and safety requirements from the start, with visual details consistently preserved across every unit.

The client confidently proceeded with multiple repeat orders without requesting revisions, quality improvements, or artwork adjustments, confirming the production process met expectations immediately.

Flexible Fulfillment Support

By coordinating with a trusted warehousing partner, we helped the client manage fulfillment without overcommitting space or inventory at individual sites. This made it easier to respond to location-specific needs without delaying the broader campaign.

Messi Cup Production and Fulfillment Success

This project required close coordination across product design, compliance, printing, packaging, and fulfillment. By supporting each stage behind the scenes, we helped the client deliver a licensed, food-safe product to U.S. restaurant locations on time.

With our team managing testing, production, and delivery coordination, the client stayed focused on launch timing and customer experience. The rollout was smooth, the branding consistent, and the final product met expectations, leading to multiple repeat orders.