Marmite
Love it or hate it, you can’t ignore Marmite. The savoury spread was first produced commercially in the UK in 1902. The label carries a depiction of a ‘marmite’, or French earthenware cooking pot from which the product derives its name. The familiar bulbous jar has been a constant since the 1920s. As far as a popular food and drink brand is concerned, this is right up there.
Cadbury
If you are looking for an ever-popular food and drink brand then Cadburys is right up there. The second-largest confectionary brand in the world (after Wrigley) was established in Birmingham in 1824, but its well-known script logo, based on the signature of William Cadbury, didn’t appear until 1921, when it was used to emblazon the sides of the company’s transport fleet.
Lyle’s
Company founder Abram Lyle was very religious and used a story from the Bible for the creation of his trademark, which depicts the carcass of a lion killed by Samson and later used as a hive for honeybees. The accompanying motto reads: ‘Out of the strong came forth sweetness.’
HP Sauce
The original recipe for HP Sauce was invented in 1899 by Frederick Gibson Garton, a grocer from Nottingham. Garton sold this for £150 to Edwin Samson Moore, who subsequently called the sauce ‘HP’ because it was rumoured to be a popular condiment among politicians frequenting the Houses of Parliament. HP Sauce is high up on the list as an iconic food and drink brand.
OXO
Oxo’s high profile advertising campaigns have made its logo one of the more recognisable food and drink brands in Britain. It even sponsored the 1908 Olympic Games held in London, supplying athletes with its ‘fortifying’ meat extract drink, while during the First World War soldiers were given Oxo cubes as part of their ration kits.
What other food and drink brands do you think are iconic? We’d love to know your thoughts.
Article originally written as part of Nuance & Fathom’s portfolio.