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The Ketchup and Mustard Theory – Fast Food Restaurant Logos

Charlie B. Johnson Comments  10

Have you ever noticed that all the logos for major fast food chains are in red, yellow or both colors? Yeah, I tried to figure out if there is any hidden symbolism or fast food psychology and discovered it had something to do with the psychology of colors and graphic design more than anything did.

In graphic design color classes, they define that yellow is supposed to be associated with quickness and speed while red is supposed to stimulate appetite. Color has direct physiological effects on the brain. Red increases pulse, blood pressure, and respiration while yellow is the easiest colors that can be seen from the longest distance.

So, what are we waiting for, let’s see how many fast food restaurants have their logos in the strong, attention getting contrast of red and yellow or any of the two colors.

Pizza Hut - Pull The fun out of your pizza:
Pizza-Hut- Logo

Popeye’s Restaurant - Love that chicken from Popeyes:
Popeyes-Restaurant-Logo

Burger King - Have it your way:
Burger-King-Logo

Bojangles - Flavor without fire:
Bojangles-Restaurant-Logo

In-n-Out - Quality you can taste:
In-and-Out-Restaurant

Mc Donalds - I’m Lovin It:
Mc-Donald-Logo

Wendy’s - Old Fashioned Hamburgers:
Wendy's-Logo

KFC - Finger lickin good:
KFC-Logo

Sonic - America’s Drive In:
Sonic-Restaurant-Logo

Burger Chef - It’s All here:
Burger-Chef-Logo

However, many people still don’t agree to this theory of merging bright red and yellow for restaurants because they think these colors are not pleasant and relaxing, so those who choose to sit down to eat won’t stay long. What do you say…Does these colors really affect your appetite and tempt you to eat more?

Do write in to prove your point and let me know if I missed any of the restaurant logo in red and yellow.

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10 Responses to “The Ketchup and Mustard Theory – Fast Food Restaurant Logos”

David Airey | August 18th, 2008 at 9:47 am

Don’t forget about Bobby’s Burger Palace logo, linked to through my name.

Berger | August 18th, 2008 at 1:24 pm

don’t forget fuddruckers…i’m sure there are others…
http://www.bitetv.ca/blog/archives/Fuddruckers-logo.jpg

David | August 18th, 2008 at 5:33 pm

Warm colors — red, orange, yellow — are said to stimulate appetite, while cool colors tend to suppress it. That’s a major reason why restaurants often go with them.

Warm colors also tend to excite or agitate (why it’s recommended that baby rooms are not painted yellow). But for a restaurant that’s looking to turn tables and get people in and out, that effect can be helpful.

Christian | August 19th, 2008 at 3:38 pm

in Mexico, fast food restaurants have uncomfortable chairs so you eat fast and get a pain in the back so you dont stay for so long…

Sam | February 9th, 2009 at 2:02 pm

You forogt Sonic.

mom | February 10th, 2009 at 5:42 pm

rememer to eat your red and yellow vegies too my dears.

Michael | May 7th, 2009 at 5:43 pm

don’t forget the biohazard logo.

Fran | July 13th, 2009 at 9:01 pm

Why stop with fastfood, how about something more upscale like steak houses:
Outback - Red and yellow
Long Horn - Red, and yellow
Black Angus - Red, black, and white
Lone Star - Red, black, and gray
Morton’s - goldish yellow, black, and white

They seem to have the formula too.

Restaurant Consultant | October 6th, 2009 at 10:36 pm

Psychology of colors in fast food is all about being catchy and an eye grabber. We haven’t tested it for subliminal appetite builder.

Colors of eCommerce « Infinite User: a human factors and technology weblog | October 21st, 2009 at 11:43 pm

[...] Remember the first time you noticed that the biggest fast food chain restaurants all had red and yellow in their logos? If you’re at all like me (which you probably aren’t..) the excitement of this discovery was [...]

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