Milky Way is a brand of the chocolate bar, manufactured by Mars since 1924. The bar is known for its tender and light taste and got its name because of the white nougat filling.
Meaning and history: worldwide version
Despite all the updates, the visual brand identity has always been based on a combination of white with various shades of blue. The star theme inspired by the “astronomical” interpretation of the brand’s name has been prominent.
1972
One of the older packages featured the words “Milky Way” in white over the dark blue background containing multiple “stars.” The glyphs were elongated, with rounded ends.
There were no serifs. The letters looked casual as if they had been written by hand, although there were no links between them.
1989
The type grew somewhat plumper and curvier. It was now dark blue on the white background. A red comet appeared below, with four tiny stars on its tail.
2001
The dot above the “i” was replaced by two drops, a brown one and a white one, symbolizing the chocolate and milk.
The tail of the comet was colored in various colors but lost the small stars. A dark blue ellipse became the background for the white words.
2007
In the European version, the number of drops above the “i” grew larger, while the red star moved higher.
Australian/Asian version: since 2007
The overall look of the package is pretty much the same. Yet, the ellipse in the background has a softer border formed by white steam. The red star has preserved a pronounced red tail. There are only two drops above the “i.”
US version: since 2001
The American version of the Milky Way logo features a more “natural” or even “rural” palette. Here, the package is dominated by brown. The letters are green, with rectangular ends. The white trim supports the “milk” theme.