When you think about it, food logos are insanely powerful. First, they can elicit specific feelings or remind us of certain flavors. Food logos can also create a sense of comfort and familiarity, whether you’re navigating a grocery store or traveling to an unfamiliar place. (Seriously, if you’re hungry and driving in the middle of no-where U.S.A., you will be happy to see those golden arches twinkling in the distance. I’ve been there before.)
Yet, you might be surprised to learn some food logos have hidden, not-so-obvious meanings.
Typically, it’s easy to figure out why a brand chose their logo. For instance, Chili’s uses a chili pepper, while Pizza Hut has a little roof that looks like the physical restaurant. The text in the Burger King logo is nestled in a burger bun. Also, Domino’s Pizza incorporates domino-style dots.
But do you know why Nestlé uses birds? Or why the Pepsi logo is red, white, and blue?
If you’ve never thought about it, we don’t blame you. It’s easy to overlook logos when they were created long before you were born! However, we can’t help but geek out over the secret history and meaning of food logos, and something tells us you’re in the same boat.
Read on to learn about 11 hidden meanings behind popular food logos.
1. Baskin-Robbins
Baskin-Robbins was created by a pair of brothers-in-law named Burton “Burt” Baskin and Irvine “Irv” Robbins.
They had a mutual love for making and selling ice cream, but started out with separate businesses in the 1940s. In 1953, they joined forces and became Baskin-Robbins.
Their original name was Baskin-Robbins 31 Ice Cream. And if you look at the logo, you can find “31” in pink!
The “3” is part of the “B”, while the “1” is in the “R.” The number “31” was chosen to symbolize a different ice cream flavor for each day of the month. Some think the “31” represents how many flavors the company offers, but according to their website, they’ve created more than 1,000 flavors since 1945.
2. Toblerone
In the late 1800s, Jean Tobler owned a successful confectionery store in Bern, the capital of Switzerland.
He eventually opened a chocolate factory, and in 1908, his son Theodor Tobler created a triangular chocolate bar called Toblerone.
The symbol of Bern, Switzerland is also the bear — which is hiding in the Toblerone logo.
Look closely. Pretty cool, right? The Culture Trip shares that Bern’s relationship with bears has been thriving for centuries. Local legend says it all started in the 12th century, when the founder of Bern and Duke of Zähringen, Berchtold V, named the city after the first animal he met while hunting.
That animal, as you can guess, was a bear.
3. Subway
Considering Subway sells submarine sandwiches, the chain’s name makes sense.
Plus, the restaurant was created in Bridgeport, Connecticut, which is only an hour from the United States Navy submarine base in New London. (It’s said the term “sub” originated from the area, since the rolls look like submarines.)
But what about the “S” and “Y” in the Subway logo? They refer to the “entrance” and “exit” of a subway station.
These arrows symbolize the “on-the-go” nature of their sandwiches and service. And while the logo has changed several times since the restaurant’s inception in 1965, the arrows have always stuck around.
4. Taco Bell
Have you ever wondered why Taco Bell’s logo is a bell?
It has nothing to do with actual bells and everything to do with the founder’s name.
In 1962, Taco Bell was created by a man named Glen Bell.
Bell originally owned a hot dog and burger stand. However, he eventually “borrowed” a taco recipe from Mitla Café, a Mexican restaurant across the street. Today, Taco Bell has more than 7,000 locations across the country and sells much more than just tacos.
5. Tostitos
Alright, nacho lovers. You’re going to get a kick out of this one.
Tostitos, a Frito-Lay company that’s known for tortilla chips and dips, has incorporated their very own pair of nacho lovers into the logo.
Look at the two “T” and you’ll find two people dipping a tortilla chip into salsa, which is represented by the “I.”
Talk about accurate — and brilliant — marketing. The Tostitos logo literally features what they sell.
6. Twix
Here’s another product hiding in a logo.
Twix, which was first introduced in the United Kingdom, is known for its two-bar serving style in every package.
There’s also a pair of Twix bars hiding in the “I” of the Twix logo.
Much like Tostitos and Subway, it’s one those small details that’s easy to overlook. But once you notice the mini Twix bars, it’s difficult to un-see them.
7. Hershey’s Kisses
Hershey’s Kisses were first released in 1907.
During this time, many candy manufacturers actually made kisses, which was another name for a bite-sized piece of candy. These days, however, it’s difficult to think of anything but Hershey’s when you see that iconic chocolate drop.
There’s also a Kiss hiding in between the “K” and “I” of the logo.
You’ll have to tilt your head sideways, but it’s there. The “K” is curved in a way that creates the perfect top of a Hershey’s Kiss.
8. Nestlé
Nestlé, which was founded by Henri Nestlé, owns more than 2,000 brands.
Many of these brands are also household names, including Poland Spring, Nesquik, and Gerber. But have you noticed how their logo features a bird feeding two babies in a nest?
Nestlé means “little nest” in German, and the logo is a take on the Nestlé family coat of arms.
The original coat of arms includes just one bird in a nest. But since Henri Nestlé wanted people to associate the brand with his infant cereals, he created a logo with three baby birds in a nest in 1868. It was eventually pared down to two birds in 1988.
9. Pepsi
Pepsi, which was created in 1893, always had red in its logo.
It started as “Pepsi-Cola” in fancy red script. The font was re-designed several times over the next 50 years, becoming simpler and bolder with every makeover.
But in 1950, Pepsi added blue to elicit patriotic feelings during World War II. They also added a bottle cap.
The red, white, and blue color palette of Pepsi still lives on today. The soft drink company has also simplified the bottle cap into a circle logo, which is recognizable all on its own.
10. McDonald’s
The McDonald’s logo seems straight to the point.
The two golden arches create an “M,” which clearly stands for “McDonald’s.” Yet, in the 1960s, the fast food chain almost ditched the logo.
That is, until, a design consultant named Louis Cheskin convinced McDonald’s that the arches remind people of nourishing breasts.
According to Reader’s Digest, Cheskin was working off the “sex sells” theory. He believed the logo created a “maternal” vibe, which apparently influenced people to choose McDonald’s over home cooking.
While this concept wasn’t used to initially create the logo, it is why McDonald’s didn’t get rid of the golden arches in the 1960s.
11. Starbucks
Let’s be honest — mermaids and coffee aren’t a traditional pairing.
But thanks to Starbucks, there’s one green siren who will always remind people of pumpkin spice lattes, Frappuccinos, and everything in between.
According to Forbes, a mermaid was chosen to represent the adventurous nautical history of Seattle, the birthplace of Starbucks.
In the 1970s, Starbucks’s first logo was brown and featured a fierce-looking mermaid. Since then, it’s transformed into a simplified princess-style version in green. The company dropped the “Starbucks Coffee” from its logo in 2011, but it’s safe to say that people recognize it just the same.
