Expert explains why most fast food chains have red and yellow branding
Topics: Food and Drink, McDonalds, Burger King, TikTok
Dominic Smithers
Featured Image Credit: SUNG KUK KIM/Alamy/Roland Magnusson/Alamy
Topics: Food and Drink, McDonalds, Burger King, TikTok
Have you ever wondered why some of the world's biggest fast-food chains have the same coloured branding?
Whether it's McDonald's, KFC, Burger King or Pizza Hut, they all share a similar style of logo. But why?
Well, there's apparently a very simple explanation.
And here it is:
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Like any successful business, Maccies and KFC can't rely solely on the tasty nature of their meaty wares to keep people coming back. They have to get into people's heads.
One way of doing this is through the colour of their branding.
TikToker @vincent.ttcoach says the colours have a huge impact on our mind and bodies, grabbing our attention and making us hungry.
He says the colour red increases our heart rates, while yellow really stands out and is seen more easily.
According to Karen Haller, who runs a behavioural design company, big brands use vibrant colours to influence people into engaging with them.
Writing on her website, she said: "Looking at the positive psychology qualities of red and yellow in relation to the fast food industry, red triggers stimulation, appetite, hunger, it attracts attention. Yellow triggers the feelings of happiness and friendliness.
"When you combine red and yellow it’s about speed, quickness. In, eat and out again.
"Yellow is also the most visible colour in daylight, which is why the McDonald’s M can be seen from a far distance.
"The language of colour is communicated quicker to the brain than words or shapes as they work directly on our feelings and emotions."
In recent years, though, Maccies hasn't stopped at red and yellow.
In a bid to appeal to more environmentally conscious consumers, Haller says, the chain has altered its branding in some areas.
She added: "You may have noticed that McDonalds are changing a lot of their store colours to green. Notice the different feeling this gives.
"Green elicits the feelings of nature, natural and environmentally friendly. It’s no longer about rushing in for a quick bite to eat. You can relax, get comfortable, linger over a coffee (almost dare I say, a bit like Starbucks)."
Now, if that wasn't a big enough bombshell for you on this fine Wednesday afternoon, the hits just keep coming.
McDonald's fans recently expressed their utter disbelief after finding out what goes into the restaurant's Sweet 'n' Sour dip.
The nugget of information was shared by TikToker Evan-May Gillott (@evs_kii).
In a video that's been viewed nearly 350,000 times, she said: "Sweet 'n' Sour sauce, McDonald's – am I the only one who didn't know what fruit it's made of? Have a guess..."
Drum roll please.... "It's f***ing apricot... it's apricot," she says, stunned. You and me both.
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