Why?
Beacuse when mascots get more popular than brand it causes a problem. That’s why Coca Cola replaced the name of ZERO to 0 Sugar. Because zero was starting to turn into a brand. I’m personally still saying zero while ordering a sugar free coke.
Fast food is not the healthiest thing, but it's a popular food now. We all have our favorite place to go, starting from burgers and ending with pizza obviously.
But do you know why fast food chains have mascots? And why are they popular again?
It is hard to build a relationship with a grilled chicken without a story. That’s why brands create mascots: building relationships. We can determine the early days of brand building.
The list below explains 50 mascots and sorts according to popularities.
Ronald McDonald (McDonalds)
Ronald McDonald is the official mascot of McDonald's fast-food restaurant chain. He was created in 1963 by Willard Scott, an entertainer and one-time weatherman for WRC-TV in Washington, D.C. As his first appearance was as a walk-around character at the 1963 Chicago World's Fair, he is credited by some as the world's first costumed mascot.
Ronald McDonald is the famous red-haired clown of the McDonaldland characters. As their leader, he has spent over 50 years entertaining children across the globe. From television commercials featuring his stellar friends like Mayor McCheese, Grimace and The Fry Kids to providing a fun atmosphere in every McDonald's restaurant, Ronald continues to play an important role in making sure that kids have fun while learning about healthy food choices.
There are more than 10 mascots in that brand but in this post we just only featured the main one.
Siren (Starbucks)
Siren is a global symbol of the Starbucks brand, but she does not really exist. She’s more than just our logo and she represents more than just a beverage.
She has been a part of Starbucks since 1971. A mythological creature whose song lures sailors, who then become her prey, the siren has long been used in popular culture to represent temptation and danger—all themes with which Starbucks wished to imbue their product.
Chihuahua ( Taco Bell Mascot )
Gidget was an American dog actress and the longest-running Taco Bell mascot. Her first commercial aired in September 1997 and she starred in more than fifty commercials before her death in July 2009.
The paparazzi followed her everywhere, and everyone adored her. Her star power was undeniable. When Gidget passed away on July 21, 2009, she left behind a legacy of commercials that are as entertaining today as they were in 1997 when they first aired.
The advertising campaign for Taco Bell's new chihuahua featured the dog being told that he was not a taco (as suggested by the song "Yo Quiero Taco Bell"), but was actually a Chihuahua.
Chick-fil-a Mascot: A Cow
This mascot is not as famous as the brand itself. However, we still remember the brand when we see it. It's actually just a cow wearing a red jersey. He pretends to be one of the restaurant staff. The brand's slogan is written on the jersey.
Wendy's Mascot
Wendy's story was one of the ones that impressed me the most among other mascot stories. If you want a quick answer, founder Dave Thomas named one of his 5 daughters, Wendy, to the restaurant chain.
So the person you see on the logo is actually Wendy Thomas herself.
While working at KFC, Dave started thinking about his goal of opening a fast food chain. In fact, everyone who worked at KFC thought of this idea.
It is not only valid for KFC. Every employee working in an institution thinks that he or she will do better.
Thomas has accomplished this. He tried to name all 5 of his daughters in the restaurant, but Wendy was the one that sounded the best.
Kurger Bing 1960s–1980s & The Burger King (Present)
In the 60s, most brands were running mascot ads to communicate with younger consumers.
At that time, Burger King's mascot was Kurger Bing. Isn't it a great name? I wish that name was still used, but as in the ZERO example I mentioned above, the names that would precede the brand are no longer used in communications.
Then the charismatic The Burger King mascot we all know appeared. It has similar characteristics with Kurger Bing. The character, which appeared in 2004, is still used today.
Cuppy (Dunkin Donuts)
I'm sure it doesn't surprise any of you that Dunkin's mascot is in the shape of a cardboard coffee mug.
You may have seen it at coffee events, festivals, concerts or billboards. Some of you may even greet him. I can say that he is more humble and friendly than other mascots.
The Noid ( Dominos )
This red creature (I think it's cute but doesn't have a good past) was often used in Dominos commercials in the 90s.
Not just in advertisements. It was even possible to see Noid in video games.
Noid was born with Dominos' 30-minute delivery campaign. The year was 1986.
He is a character who gets very angry at this delivery horse. And advertisements are constantly trying to prevent this. Kind of an antihero.
Noid is a character who gets very angry at this delivery horse. And advertisements are constantly trying to prevent this. Kind of an antihero. It was completely removed in 1989, as it was thought to have had an impact in a kidnapping incident. But even though we don't know why, we're starting to see him again these days.
This showed that advertising is not for a standing audience, but for generations who are constantly on the move. That tragic event has been forgotten and Noid is back on the scene.
Panera Bread Mascot
As a result of my research, I could not find a mascot of this brand. But there are those who think that the mascot must be a T-rex. He even opened a thread on Change.org for this.
There are even 24 people who agree with him. The campaign was published in 2021, but I think it did not have the expected effect.
Pizza Hut Mascot
Pizza Hut does not use mascots nowadays. But that doesn't mean he never used it. PH joined this communication trend that started in the 60s.
A pizza maker in a black hat, bushy mustache and red tie points to the pizza hut, smiling. Since there is no recorded commercial with this character, the resources we have are limited to the media.
The company is known for its Italian-American cuisine menu, including pizza and pasta, as well as side dishes and desserts.
The first Pizza Hut restaurant opened in Wichita, Kansas in 1958. The idea for the restaurant came about when the brothers were struggling to find a way to pay for their mother’s medical bills. They decided to open a pizzeria after hearing about a successful pizzeria in New Haven, Connecticut.
The original Pizza Hut was a small building with a single room that had red-and-white checkered tablecloths and chairs. The restaurant soon became popular and began to expand. By 1959, there were seven Pizza Hut restaurants in the United States.
In 1962, the company franchisees its first location outside of the United States in Canada. The first international franchise opened in England in 1973. In 1986, Pizza Hut was acquired by Pepsico.
Today, Pizza Hut is the world’s largest pizza chain with more than 18,000 restaurants in over 100 countries.
Wrapper (Chipotle Mascot)
This mascot called Wrapper is actually a caricature of tortilla bread. Its main purpose is to promote the natural tortilla. As you know, preservative-free substances are now demanded by consumers.
That's what the Wrapper character tells about it.
The Chipotle restaurant chain is still young compared to the other chains in this blog post. It was established in 93. However, it has restaurants in more than 1500 locations. So we don't know yet how long it will use Wrapper.
Sonic Drive-In Mascot
The Sonic Drive-in brand loves huge things. Their mascot is also a huge sausage. He usually smiles and hands out coupons at events. It is possible to see this mascot in some branches, but not every branch has it.
If you see this air-filled hot dog on the freeway, you now know where you are. I suggest you stop by the restaurant to buy a smaller version.
Colonel Sanders (KFC Mascot)
Generally, the characters of restaurant chains are fiction. But this situation is a little different at KFC. Because KFC's mascot (also the bearded man in its logo) is its founder Colonel Sanders.
When KFC began to lose popularity in the 2010s, Colonel worked again. The brand did all its advertising communication through this mascot and KFC went back to its old days.
This grandfather with a white suit and a white beard is also the inventor of the delicious chicken recipe.
Oven Mitt (Arby’s)
Did you notice anything when you looked at Arby's logo? If you haven't noticed, check again.
Yes. There's an oven mitt in there.
Here arbys' mascot is also an oven glove. It's the tiny character that does everything to produce these delicious hamburgers. Although it is not used much these days, it is possible that you have seen it in old advertisements.
Little Caesars
The brand's logo, the brand's name and the mascot are all Caesar himself. This logo contains orange shades of colors.
Caesar is a historical character. A Roman emperor. So when we think of Caesar, do we think of the roman empire or pizza? The answer is very simple. Of course pizza!
This character is usually cheerful and constantly holding a pizza Or eat. I don't know if pizza was invented in the Roman period, but if Caesar is still spoken now, it is because this brand is the largest pizza restaurant chain in the world.
Little Caesars is one of the largest pizza chains in the world, with locations in numerous countries. The company was founded in 1959 and has since become a global phenomenon, known for its delicious pizza, breadsticks, and wings.
Little Caesars pizza is made with only the finest ingredients, including a special blend of mozzarella and Muenster cheeses, freshly-made dough, and a signature sauce that has been passed down through generations. The result is a pizza that is truly unique and irresistible.
In addition to pizza, Little Caesars also offers a variety of other menu items, including breadsticks, wings, and salads. No matter what you're in the mood for, Little Caesars has something for everyone.
The Dairy Queen Lips & Curly Cone
This brand, which has more than 6000 restaurants around the world, has had two different mascots over time. One of them is the lips that you all know. The second is an ice cream that chooses to use its cone as pants.
Both make sense.
Lips are the most important tool for eating ice cream. Unlike other forms of food, we don't need our teeth when we just eat ice cream.
The second mascot, Curly Cone, is an attention machine. If you see an ice cream with trousers on the road with your car, it will definitely interest you. Maybe there are ways to make the frozen cream look more interesting, but I like the way Dairy’s chose.
Jack Box (Jack in The BOX)
Let's be honest. Kids love clowns. Fast Food restaurants love kids too.
It's no coincidence then that we see clowns in the mascots of food chains.
Jack is a CEO with a ping pong head. He always wears suits and always has a bright idea.
Founded in the 1950s, this brand has put its mascot at the center of its advertising campaigns in the last 10 years. The character that has existed since its inception was not always as popular as it is today, but is now at the center of the Restaurant's success.
Is he the weird type? Yeah! Does it keep the brand popular? Yes, too.
Panda Express Mascot
Are you surprised that the panda expression in the mascot is a panda? It didn't surprise me. While the world is endangered, the branches of this restaurant are increasing day by day.
I hope they spend 5 percent of their income on the preservation of this breed.
Popeyes Mascot
Before I talk about Mascot, I want to tell you where this brand name came from. Do you have a guess?
Do some brainstorming. Let's take a guess. I'm waiting.
Yes, you guessed right. This brand got its name from the fictional character Popeye Doyle.
The restaurant chain, which takes the rights to the Popeye cartoon character and uses it in its advertisements, does not have a mascot today.
WhataBurger Mascot
Founded in the 1950s, the mascot of this company looks like Marvel characters. There is no official story, but when you look at the image above, you can notice at first that it resembles a superhero from the comics of that period.
Big Zaxby's Chicken
The Big Zaxby's Chicken mascot is designed to appeal to the taste of the younger generation with a fresh bold design. However, the classic features are still apparent and effective in marketing of their restaurant name or advertising campaign. The Big Zaxby's Chicken mascot is capable of appearances at sports events and other social gatherings.
Scoopie (Culver’s)
I feel like Scoopie looks so happy. Just driving through his ice cream scooper and seeing everyone smile. It must be such a fun job to scoop out the yummy cinnamon rolls, frozen custard, butterburgers, and fried cheese curds that everyone loves. He's such an inspiration.
Source: pinterest.com/pin/188095721908217323/
Happy Star ( Carl’s Jr )
Carl's Jr. and Hardee's, the fast-food chains known for provocative ads featuring bikini-clad models and inviting customers to "over-indulge," are getting a makeover.
The spots will feature the chains' first new brand campaign — two years in the making — that aims to give the 70-year old but still youthful Carl's Jr. a more contemporary feel while still appealing to younger diners who have demanded fresher ingredients and more transparency in their food.
Cuppy ( Bojangles )
This mascot is just a cardboard cup. They have hands and feet. Mostly cheerful. Nobody wants to see a sad paper cup anyway. It would probably be the saddest square of the restaurant industry.
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