For every company it is important that their logo is memorable and associated with quality products and services. What to say about large corporations that hold leading positions in the international market. However, large corporations in the field of visual identity face great difficulties, as it is important for them to create not only the perfect corporate logo, but also impeccable emblems for each of the brands present in the company’s portfolio.
Every company wants the logo of its brands to be recognized from the first moments, carried a clear message to the consumer and was not just a beautiful icon, but a symbol with meaning. And today we bring to your attention a selection of the largest international corporations that own the most famous brands that we encounter on a daily basis. Let’s take a look at who has managed to reflect this in their logos the best.
Kraft Heinz is one of the largest food manufacturing companies in the world, and its logo is familiar not only to those who are interested in the global economy, but also to most people on the planet, because the blue inscription “Kraft” in a red geometric frame accompanies the emblems of many grocery products that can be found in almost every supermarket. This logo is an ode to simplicity and classicism, with the minimalistic design ideas depicted in a patriotic and powerful color palette and looking super readable and strong.
The Coca-Cola Company logo is recognizable without exaggeration all over the world. It is hard to find a person who would not be familiar with this logo: rounded white letters on a red background, folding words that have become an integral part of the lives of millions of people. The first Coca-Cola logo was created by Frank Robinson in 1885, but the first iteration of the logo we’re used to was introduced in 1893. Today, it is not just an emblem, but a drawing that represents a generation and a very significant milestone in the history of modern marketing and visual identity design.
PepsiCo is one of the leaders in the number of changes in its logo and the brightest example of an actively developing company, reflecting each of its progress not only in products and policies, but also in visual identity. The company’s famous global logo — a red-and-blue circle separated by a white wavy stripe – was significantly digitalized in 2008 and turned into a real graphical icon that looks cool on any surface and in any context. In this badge even the traditional red, blue and white color palette looks like somewhat super trendy and progressive.
Nestlé was one of the first Swiss manufacturers to create a logo for its company. The coat of arms of the company founder’s own family, Henri Nestlé, was taken as a basis. It depicts a lone bird sitting in a nest. It was a reference to the name Nestle, which means “nest” in German. To this day, this touching and extremely cute logo is a symbol of care and comfort, a brand that has a treat for every member of the family. Of course, the Nestle logo has undergone several modifications throughout the years, but the main idea and elements remained there.
In the mid-1980s, Procter&Gamble, in the midst of intensive development, was drowning in a sea of rumors about belonging to Masonic sects and even satanic movements. Their first logo was an emblem of a month, a man’s face and stars in the sky. And in fact, everything is quite prosaic: the moon symbol was just very popular at the time, and the stars appeared because the movers marked boxes of products with them during transportation. Today everything is much more simple: the elegant abbreviation in a smooth and pleasant shade of blue leaves no space for perverted imagination.
In fact, looking closely at this logo, you realize that every detail of the multifaceted Unilever logo carries a hidden meaning. A heart is a symbol of love and care, a bird – freedom from everyday troubles, a flower – tenderness and touching. This logo appeared only in 2004 after Lever Brothers Bangladesh Ltd, founded in 1964, changed its name to the current one – Unilever Bangladesh. Perhaps it was the East Asian culture’s attraction to natural elements that became the basis for the beautifully stylized letter “U”.
In 2023, Johnson & Johnson, founded in 1886, updated its logo for the first time in its history. Previously, it was a stylization of the signature of the company’s co-founder, James Wood Johnson, which was most often seen in red on a white background. Now the Johnson & Johnson logo is a reflection of the company’s commitment to innovation, expressed in a more modern font and a brighter shade of red. As a reminder, the Old Johnson & Johnson logo dates back to 1887, and it was one of the oldest corporate logos in history.
In the early 20th Century, Will Kellog accidentally invented Corn Flakes. The soaked cornmeal formed not only lumps but also flakes. After toasting them, Will discovered that the flakes became crispy, airy and very tasty. Kellogg patented his invention and in 1906 founded a business called the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company. The company’s first logo appeared that same year, but the familiar insignia was not introduced until 1916. Throughout the years, the red cursive lettering was only slightly modified.
The visual identity of the Mars Inc. is super simple and laconic, which leaves a lot of space for the Colorful and creative logos of the company’s sub-brands. The main thing here is the color — bright and intense shade of blue — which represents the professional sides of the company, and its stability and reputation on the international market, and the geometry of the uppercase sans-serif lettering, with the sharpened peaks of the “M” standing for continuous progress and willingness of the corporation to grow, develop and check new market segments.