Design agency Robot-Food has been appointed to Thorntons' design roster less than a year after it started trading.

The Yorkshire-based agency is the first external design agency the chocolate and confectionery producer has used in over four years.

"We have a talented and creative team of designers in-house at Thorntons who are leading the new look of the packaging in-store and into supermarkets," said head of design at Thorntons Vanessa Christian.

"We are calling on the assistance of a couple of packaging design agencies to help speed through the changes faster, so our designers have time to sleep."

Robot-Food has already completed six concept visuals for a product refreshment of one of Thornton's key brands, but was not able to disclose for which specific line.

"Due to our experience, we are aiming high, only targeting key independent Yorkshire brands along with well known national companies," said Robot-Food director Simon Forster.

"We are already in talks with some major brands regarding re-branding work and recognition by Thorntons will only help us."

Mike Shaw and Simon Forster started Robot-Food in January 2009 after working in packaging design and marketing of sports fashion, respectively.

Thorntons' in-house design team has designed new Metropolitan and Continental City boxes.