The Grupo Modelo logo features a beer barrel, symbolizing the company’s observance of ancient brewing traditions. But the red lion, taken from Mexico City’s coat of arms, means something entirely different. It personifies high status, pride, generosity, and courage.
Grupo Modelo was founded in 1925 by twenty-five Spaniards who came to Mexico. Over time, a single brewery has grown into a complex of plants for various purposes. This allowed it not only to expand its range of alcoholic beverages but also to develop new activities, particularly bottled water production. The organization’s headquarters is in Mexico City.
The Mexican beer maker entered the market in 1925 when its exclusive pale lager hit store shelves. By the way, Grupo Modelo had a slightly different name: Cervecería Modelo. The first word was translated from Spanish as “brewery,” and the second meant “model” or “example.” It suggested the brewery opened in the 1920s and deserved the title of excellence.
The company was renamed a few decades later as it expanded its infrastructure by building new factories itself or acquiring them from other manufacturers. It was no longer one brewery but a system of enterprises: not one brand, but many brands represented in more than 180 countries.
This is how Grupo Modelo, closely associated with Mexico, came to be. It continues to build a national sales network, invest in modernizing production facilities nationwide, and protect the environment by treating 100% of wastewater.
Meaning and History
The company’s visual identity is also related to Mexico, specifically Mexico City. The brewery’s logo reflects the city’s symbols. Still, not all: the designers borrowed only one of the lions presented on the official coat of arms.
The animal is depicted in full growth, facing left. The drawing style is close to heraldic: the lion has a long, upward-bent tail, a thick mane, and a tongue extended forward. The predator’s color is atypical: red with white patches. Under the paws is the same red base shaped like an inverted triangle. The exact shape of this figure cannot be determined because, in the center, it is blocked by a beer keg. The container consists of light brown boards connected by four white hoops. In the middle, the artists added a small circle, a closed hole designed for pouring drinks.
What is Grupo Modelo?
Grupo Modelo is a Mexican company best known for its beer. Its range includes a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including wine and bottled water. It distributes products under brands such as Pacífico, Modelo, Corona, and others.
The graphic composition is placed inside a blue circle with a silver annular frame. The latter serves as the base for the inscription “GRUPO MODELO, S. A. B. DE C. V.” and the word “MEXICO,” located at the bottom and separated on both sides by short horizontal lines.
The lion image was most likely borrowed from the coat of arms of Mexico City, where Grupo Modelo’s headquarters is located. However, the designers have changed the predator’s look to fit the new visual context. This animal symbolizes pride, wisdom, generosity, and high status. The beer barrel indicates the Mexican company’s historical connection with the brewery, established in 1925.
Font and Colors
The Grupo Modelo logo’s lettering is uniform: a round, geometric sans-serif, roughly similar to René Bieder’s Milliard Extra Bold. To improve visibility, the text was set in uppercase and dark blue. The central circle uses the same color. The color scheme also features shades of grey, white, red, and tan.



