The Cencora logo reflects growth, movement, and transformation. Its form and style convey how the effort put into a process translates into meaningful results. Just as the emblem symbolizes development, the company plays a key role in distributing pharmaceuticals and helping millions get the necessary medicines.
Cencora: Brand overview
Cencora, formerly known as AmerisourceBergen, traces its history back to the establishment of AmeriSource Health Corporation in 1985. Yet, its roots extend even further to the Lucien Brunswig Drug Company, founded in 1871 in Louisville, Kentucky, which later became part of Bergen Brunswig. Meanwhile, the Drug Supply Company, founded in 1907, grew steadily before being acquired by Alco Standard Corporation, and ultimately became AmeriSource. Another turning point came when Bergen Drug Company and Lucien Brunswig merged to form Bergen Brunswig Corporation. AmeriSource and Bergen Brunswig merged in a major $7 billion deal, creating AmerisourceBergen, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical distributors. Expanding into specialty pharmaceuticals, the company acquired Bellco Health and entered a significant partnership with Walgreens Boots Alliance. Its growth continued through key acquisitions such as MWI Veterinary Supply and PharMEDium Healthcare Holdings, further strengthening its positions in veterinary and hospital outsourcing markets. Acquiring H.D. Smith further solidified its leadership in U.S. pharmaceutical distribution, and purchasing Alliance Healthcare significantly expanded its European presence. In 2023, the company underwent a defining transformation, rebranding as Cencora to reflect its evolution into a global provider of healthcare solutions. By 2024, Cencora will continue its international expansion, prioritizing specialty pharmaceuticals and digital healthcare solutions while investing heavily in technology infrastructure to better serve its global clients.
Meaning and History
What is Cencora?
It is one of North America’s largest distributors of medicines and medical products, ensuring an uninterrupted supply of medicines to pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics. Thanks to a huge network of warehouses and logistics centers, a significant portion of all drugs used in the country pass through it. In addition to conventional distribution, the company supplies complex biologic drugs and treatments for rare diseases. It also provides consulting services to pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers, helping to improve patient access to the medicines they need and optimizing the industry.
2001 – 2021
The AmerisourceBergen logo combines strictness, modernity, and visual clarity, aligning with the company’s business focus.
Above the name is a symbol, a blue square with curved lines on its left side. These lines fan out toward the left and upward. Within the symbol, there is an implied sense of growth suitable for a company that supplies essential medications.
The company name is written in a clean, straightforward, and strict sans-serif typeface resembling Helvetica. This font ensures readability without overwhelming the viewer with details. The text uses mixed case: the initial “A” and the “B” in “Bergen” are uppercase, while the remaining letters are lowercase. Letter spacing is moderate, making the text appear reliable.
Two colors dominate the design: rich blue and strict black. The symbol is blue, while the black text conveys a sense of formality and seriousness.
The company expresses its work philosophy through this logo: professionalism, forward momentum, and responsibility in supplying medications to numerous medical institutions and patients. The blue square wing serves as a symbol of care, support, and protection.
2021 – 2023
The updated AmerisourceBergen logo removed the previous symbol, leaving only the text to highlight a new phase in the company’s development, which distributes pharmaceuticals and medical products to the American market. Instead of the familiar blue square with an abstract design, the organization’s name takes center stage.
The name is written horizontally without spaces between its two parts, Amerisource and Bergen merged into a single unit. The sans-serif typeface looks contemporary and strict, emphasizing the company’s status in the medical field. The highlights of the new logo are unique details in specific letters: the crossbar of the “A” is neatly cut on the right, forming a small open angle, while the “B” has a rounded shape with a small gap in the middle of its left crossbar. The remaining letters feature smooth lines, creating a unified, compact composition.
The logo’s color changed to a deep, dark purple hue, replacing the black and blue of the old emblem. Purple adds seriousness and authority to the brand, aligning with the company’s image as a daily supplier of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to thousands of hospitals and pharmacies.
2023 – today
The Cencora logo marks a new chapter for the company previously known as AmerisourceBergen. The change in name and logo coincides with a brand refresh.
The name “cencora” is written as one continuous word in lowercase letters. The logo contains no additional symbols, decorative elements, or separators; its impact relies solely on the font’s form and style.
The typeface is soft and fluid, sans-serif, with smooth, rounded letters that convey unity and trust. The internal lines of the letter “e” are partially simplified, giving it an unconventional appearance. The letter “r” has a shortened upper part. The moderate thickness of the lines ensures easy readability.
Choosing dark purple logically continues the company’s history, emphasizing its seriousness and professionalism. Transitioning to the new name highlights the brand’s readiness to move forward while preserving the reliability and confidence inherent in its core business: the daily distribution of essential medications and medical supplies.