THEN AND NOW: 35 photos that show how famous fast-food company logos have changed over time

Meredith Cash,Erin McDowellJun 2, 2020, 03:39 IST

Popeyes recently changed its logo.NYC Russ/Shutterstock/Popeyes

Companies like McDonald's, Starbucks, and KFC have some of the most well-known logos in the world.
However, the original versions of their logos would be unrecognizable today.
McDonald's first logo, for example, featured a winking cartoon chef called Speedee.
Starbucks' original logo features a more detailed drawing of its iconic siren.

Some of today's most recognizable logos in the fast-food industry looked remarkably different when they were first introduced.

McDonald's first logo, for example, featured a winking cartoon chef called Speedee, a predecessor to the fast-food chain's current mascot, Ronald McDonald.

Meanwhile, Starbucks' original logo featured a topless siren, a two-tailed mythical creature similar to a mermaid, and competitor Dunkin' chose to shed the "Donuts" portion of its name and, with it, its old logo.

Below, see how the logos of 10 major fast-food companies have evolved over time.

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Long before Ronald McDonald became the face of McDonald's, the fast-food brand used a cartoon chef named Speedee for branding.

A photo of the logo McDonald's used in 1955. Tim Boyle/Getty Images

McDonald's burgers once came wrapped with a Speedee decal on the front.

Speedee decals on McDonald's burgers. Tim Boyle/Getty Images

McDonald's scrapped the Speedee logo for the first form of its iconic golden arches in 1961.

McDonald's first logo. AP Images

Seven years later, the McDonald's logo began to further resemble its current form.

A 1999 McDonald's restaurant sign. Philippe WANG/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Today, McDonald's main logo is a sleek, stand-alone rendition of the classic Golden Arches.

McDonald's modern logo. 8th.creator / Shutterstock

But you can still find relics of McDonald's past at some locations.

McDonald's sign in Downey, California. tishomir/Shutterstock

Founded in 1972, Popeyes wasn't always called Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

Popeyes restaurant in 2000. Ken Lubas/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

In 2008, Popeyes changed its brand to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

Popeyes' old logo. Popeyes

In 2020, Popeyes simplified its logo yet again amid tremendous sales and worldwide expansion to China.

Popeyes' new logo. Popeyes

Taco Bell's original location used block-style lettering to showcase the restaurant's name.

Taco Bell's original location in Downey, California. Taco Bell

Between 1984 and 1994, Taco Bell rocked a colorful logo with a straight variation of its classic bell.

Taco Bell's logo from 1984 to 1994. Quade/ullstein bild via Getty Images

Taco Bell once again updated its logo in 1995.

Taco Bell logo from 1995 to 2016. Kim Kulish/Corbis via Getty Images

The most recent iteration of Taco Bell's logo is the simplest yet.

Taco Bell's logo as of 2016. George Sheldon/Shutterstock

Burger King's original logo features a king with a lopsided crown seated atop a hamburger and holding a giant soda. In 1969, the company simplified its logo to look like a burger.

Burger King logo. Alain BUU/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Burger King's original logo features a king with a lopsided crown seated atop a hamburger and holding a giant soda. In 1969, the company simplified its logo to look like a burger.

A slight change in 1994 came with a cleaner font and darker, slightly larger burger buns.

Burger King logo in 1994. Ralf Lutter/ullstein bild/Getty Images

Five years later, in 1999, Burger King introduced its current logo, which tilted the burger on its side, shrunk the burger buns, and incorporated a blue swirl mark around the outside.

Burger King's current logo. 8th.creator/Shutterstock

Five years later, in 1999, Burger King introduced its current logo, which tilted the burger on its side, shrunk the burger buns, and incorporated a blue swirl mark around the outside.

Kentucky Fried Chicken's original logo was a black-and-white drawing of Colonel Sanders.

Kentucky Fried Chicken's original logo. Pearce/Fairfax Media via Getty Images and Reveille/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

In the early 1990s, the brand added a pop of color to its logo.

Kentucky Fried Chicken's logo in the early 1990s. Serge Attal/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

Later, KFC dropped its slashed, red and white design and instead opted for a close-up of Sanders.

KFC's logo in the early 2000s. Tim Boyle/Getty Images

The fast-food chain updated its logo once again in the mid-2000s, placing Sanders against a red background.

KFC's most recent logo upgrade. AP Photo/Brian Bohannon

When Starbucks first opened in 1971, the brand boasted a very different logo from the one we're all familiar with today.

Starbucks' original logo. AP Photo/John Froschauer

In the late 1980s, Starbucks introduced green to its logo. Today, green is the brand's signature color.

The second rendition of Starbucks' logo. Joel W. Rogers/Getty Images

The coffee brand made a slight logo change in 1992.

Starbucks' logo from 1992 through 2011. Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

In 2011, Starbucks unveiled its most recent logo update.

Starbucks' logo as of 2011. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Subway was founded in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1965 when nuclear physicist Dr. Peter Buck invested $1,000 into a sandwich shop as a way for college freshman Fred DeLuca to pay for his tuition.

Subway's logo from 1968 to 1982. Chris Livingston/Getty Images

Subway was founded in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1965 when nuclear physicist Dr. Peter Buck invested $1,000 into a sandwich shop as a way for college freshman Fred DeLuca to pay for his tuition.

From 1982 to 2016, the brand adjusted its logo to have a slanted font.

Subway's logo from 1982 to 2016. Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images

And in 2016, the sandwich chain updated its logo once more.

Subway's logo as of 2016. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Domino's original logo featured a pizza box with a red domino and the restaurant's name.

Domino's original logo. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The pizza chain simplified its logo to a single-tile domino in 2012.

Domino's most recent logo. Francis Dean/Corbis via Getty Images

Dunkin' Donuts' logo has changed considerably since the company was first founded in 1950.

A 1950s-era Dunkin' Donuts logo. AP Photo/Steven Senne

Many iterations later, in the early 2000s, Dunkin' Donuts settled on its pink and orange color palette.

Dunkin' Donuts logo in the early 2000s. Mario Tama/Getty Images

The coffee and confectionery chain modernized the coffee cup in its logo in 2007.

Dunkin' Donuts' updated logo. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Dunkin' dropped the "Donuts" from its name in September 2018.

Dunkin's most recent logos. Boofoto/Shutterstock

For almost the entire duration of Wendy's existence, the burger chain's logo has been some iteration of curved, block letters and a cartoon of Melinda Lou "Wendy" Thomas, daughter of Wendy's founder Dave Thomas and the namesake of the brand.

An old Wendy's logo. Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock

For almost the entire duration of Wendy's existence, the burger chain's logo has been some iteration of curved, block letters and a cartoon of Melinda Lou "Wendy" Thomas, daughter of Wendy's founder Dave Thomas and the namesake of the brand.

The fast-food restaurant's new logo, which launched in 2013, gave Wendy a fresh look.

Wendy's most recent logo. Tada Images/Shutterstock

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THEN AND NOW: 35 photos that show how famous fast-food company logos have changed over time

Long before Ronald McDonald became the face of McDonald's, the fast-food brand used a cartoon chef named Speedee for branding.

McDonald's burgers once came wrapped with a Speedee decal on the front.

McDonald's scrapped the Speedee logo for the first form of its iconic golden arches in 1961.

Seven years later, the McDonald's logo began to further resemble its current form.

Today, McDonald's main logo is a sleek, stand-alone rendition of the classic Golden Arches.

But you can still find relics of McDonald's past at some locations.

Founded in 1972, Popeyes wasn't always called Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

In 2008, Popeyes changed its brand to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

In 2020, Popeyes simplified its logo yet again amid tremendous sales and worldwide expansion to China.

Taco Bell's original location used block-style lettering to showcase the restaurant's name.

Between 1984 and 1994, Taco Bell rocked a colorful logo with a straight variation of its classic bell.

Taco Bell once again updated its logo in 1995.

The most recent iteration of Taco Bell's logo is the simplest yet.

Burger King's original logo features a king with a lopsided crown seated atop a hamburger and holding a giant soda. In 1969, the company simplified its logo to look like a burger.

A slight change in 1994 came with a cleaner font and darker, slightly larger burger buns.

Five years later, in 1999, Burger King introduced its current logo, which tilted the burger on its side, shrunk the burger buns, and incorporated a blue swirl mark around the outside.

Kentucky Fried Chicken's original logo was a black-and-white drawing of Colonel Sanders.

In the early 1990s, the brand added a pop of color to its logo.

Later, KFC dropped its slashed, red and white design and instead opted for a close-up of Sanders.

The fast-food chain updated its logo once again in the mid-2000s, placing Sanders against a red background.

When Starbucks first opened in 1971, the brand boasted a very different logo from the one we're all familiar with today.

In the late 1980s, Starbucks introduced green to its logo. Today, green is the brand's signature color.

The coffee brand made a slight logo change in 1992.

In 2011, Starbucks unveiled its most recent logo update.

Subway was founded in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1965 when nuclear physicist Dr. Peter Buck invested $1,000 into a sandwich shop as a way for college freshman Fred DeLuca to pay for his tuition.

From 1982 to 2016, the brand adjusted its logo to have a slanted font.

And in 2016, the sandwich chain updated its logo once more.

Domino's original logo featured a pizza box with a red domino and the restaurant's name.

The pizza chain simplified its logo to a single-tile domino in 2012.

Dunkin' Donuts' logo has changed considerably since the company was first founded in 1950.

Many iterations later, in the early 2000s, Dunkin' Donuts settled on its pink and orange color palette.

The coffee and confectionery chain modernized the coffee cup in its logo in 2007.

Dunkin' dropped the "Donuts" from its name in September 2018.

For almost the entire duration of Wendy's existence, the burger chain's logo has been some iteration of curved, block letters and a cartoon of Melinda Lou "Wendy" Thomas, daughter of Wendy's founder Dave Thomas and the namesake of the brand.

The fast-food restaurant's new logo, which launched in 2013, gave Wendy a fresh look.