Kit Kat Logo

Kit Kat LogoKit Kat Logo PNG

The joy that wafer sticks’ flavor brings is unparalleled, as it provides a positive mood and relaxation. The Kit Kat logo encapsulates this concept in the brand’s colorful design. Its style is carefree and fun. Even the “K” letters convey the shape of the confectionery item: they are maximally elongated. They have a paired structure of legs, which also plays into the marketing strategy.

Kit Kat: Brand overview

Kit Kat is a popular brand of chocolate wafers that hit the market in 1935. It originally belonged to the British company Rowntree’s. The rights to its use are divided between the Swiss multinational corporation Nestlé and the American confectioner The Hershey Company.

Meaning and History

Kit Kat Logo History

One reason for Kit Kat’s phenomenal success is its memorable, contrasting logo. As a powerful marketing tool, it is present on all product packaging. The logo’s design has been updated several times, but the fundamental graphic principles have remained unchanged.

What is Kit Kat?

Kit Kat is a confectionery brand that includes milk chocolate and crispy wafers. It is owned by the Swiss company Nestle, which acquired it in 1989. The brand of chocolate bars appeared much earlier – in 1935. It was founded by the British firm Rowntree’s.

1935 – 1937

Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp Logo 1935-1937

The first chocolate wafers were released under the brand Rowntree’s Chocolate Crisp. This name was used instead of a logo on a bright red wrapper.

1937 – 1945

Rowntree's Kit Kat Chocolate Crisp Logo 1937-1945

In 1937, the brand was renamed Kit Kat Chocolate Crisp. The words “Kit Kat” were placed inside a yellow oval.

1945 – 1947

Rowntree's Kit Kat Logo 1945-1947

From 1945 to 1947, the wrapper was blue, as only dark chocolate was used due to ingredient shortages. This was related to the aftermath of World War II. The oval around the inscription disappeared. The letters became serifed.

1947 – 1988

Rowntree's Kit Kat Logo 1947-1988

The brand returned to the 1937 design but removed the phrase “Chocolate Crisp.”

1988 – 1995

Nestlé Kit Kat Logo 1988-1995

In 1988, Nestlé purchased Rowntree’s, and with it, the Kit Kat brand. After this, it changed the corporate style of its chocolate and wafer products. The wrapper became bright red. It featured white inscriptions “Nestlé” (at the top) and “Kit Kat” (inside a white ellipse with a double contour).

1995 – 2004

Nestlé Kit Kat Logo 1995-2004

The word “Nestlé” was reduced in size and moved to the top left corner.

2004 – 2017

Nestlé Kit Kat Logo 2004-2017

To make the logo more noticeable, designers used shadows. This graphic technique gives the drawing a three-dimensional effect. Developers also placed “Nestlé” in an elongated red heart shape. Another change concerned the placement of the ellipse – now, its right side is slightly raised along with the “Kit Kat” inscription.

2017 – today

Nestlé Kit Kat Logo 2017-present

In 2017, a version of the logo featuring a chocolate wafer bar broken in half appeared.

Kit Kat: Interesting Facts

Kit Kat, the chocolate wafer bar we all know, has a pretty cool story and has become special in the world of sweets. Let’s dive into some fun facts about Kit Kat:

  1. How It Started: Kit Kat was first introduced in the UK in 1935, made by Rowntree’s of York, now part of Nestlé. It was first called “Rowntree’s Chocolate Crisp” but changed to “Kit Kat Chocolate Crisp” two years later and then just “Kit Kat.”
  2. Famous Slogan: Since 1957, Kit Kat has used the slogan “Have a break, have a Kit Kat,” encouraging people to take a little break with a Kit Kat bar. The idea of taking a “break” has become a big part of what Kit Kat is all about.
  3. Different in the USA: While Nestlé makes Kit Kats in most places, Hershey’s makes it in the United States. This started from an agreement made in 1970, which is why Kit Kat might taste a bit different in the US.
  4. Kit Kat in Japan: Japan loves Kit Kat and has created over 300 flavors, from green tea to wasabi. Kit Kats are popular gifts because “Kitto Katsu” sounds like a Japanese phrase that means good luck.
  5. Space Kit Kat: In 2008, a Kit Kat bar was tied to a helium balloon for a science project and went to space. It floated 18 miles high, making it the first chocolate bar to reach near space.
  6. Using Good Cocoa: Nestlé promises to use cocoa that’s gotten in a way that’s okay for the planet and good for the farmers, aiming to make all Kit Kats with this kind of cocoa.
  7. Make Your Kit Kat: In some places like Japan and Australia, there are special Kit Kat stores called Chocolatory, where you can make Kit Kats with flavors and toppings you can’t find in regular stores.
  8. A Huge Kit Kat: For its 75th birthday in 2010, Kit Kat fans in the UK made the world’s biggest Kit Kat, weighing over 5,440 kg (about 12,000 lbs), setting a world record.
  9. Eco-Friendly Wrapping: In Japan, Kit Kat tried out paper wrappers that you can turn into origami. This is part of using less plastic and being nicer to the environment.
  10. Kit Kat and Pop Culture: Kit Kat has been involved in many fun collaborations, like making special bars with Hello Kitty in Japan, which shows how much it’s part of the culture.

From starting in the UK to becoming a favorite treat worldwide, with lots of flavors and creative ideas, Kit Kat has a special spot in the world of chocolate lovers.

Font and Colors

Kit Kat Emblem

Nestlé and The Hershey Company have different Kit Kat logos. Hershey’s version features the brand name in white letters with black outlines on a red background. The font is similar to the Kit Kat font by Dennis Ludlow.

The Nestlé logo contains more original elements. The “Kit Kat” inscription is inside a slanted oval with a double frame. The style of the inscription is reminiscent of a modified Gill Sans font developed by Arthur Eric Rowton Gill.

In terms of color palette, the graphic sign has a lot in common with Oxo, Virgin, and Coca-Cola – they also use a combination of white and red colors. This combination of shades is advantageous from a marketing perspective, as it creates a winning contrast.

Kit Kat color codes

Pigment RedHex color:#ec2227
RGB:236 34 39
CMYK:0 86 83 7
Pantone:PMS Bright Red C

FAQ

What does the KitKat logo mean?

The chocolate bar depicted on the logo symbolizes the crunch, as it’s broken in half. The word Nestle in the red heart indicates who owns the confectionery brand. And the textual sign in the center reflects the brand’s name. As is known, the phrase Kit Kat is formed from the name of Christopher Catling, owner of a club where society’s elite gathered in the 18th century.

What is the symbol of Kit Kat?

The symbol of this confectionery brand is the red inscription “kitkat” inside a white ellipse. Both elements are slightly raised and positioned diagonally. The letters resemble chocolate bars thanks to their voluminous construction.

Why is the Kit Kat logo different from others?

The fact is that the Kit Kat brand is owned by the Swiss corporation Nestle, but it is also used (under license) by the American company Hershey, which produces chocolate bars for the US market. The KitKat logo from Hershey doesn’t have the classic design: it features the brand name in black and white letters on a red background.

What does the Kit Kat logo symbolize?

The Kit Kat logo symbolizes the high quality of the product. Artists intentionally depicted not a whole chocolate bar but one broken in half to better show its layers. The crumbs flying in all directions indicate that crispy wafers are used in the confectionery item. It’s no wonder that crunch is believed to increase appetite. In turn, the red and white palette of the emblem means nothing: it was chosen merely to attract attention.

What does the KitKat logo mean?

Designers who created the KitKat logo did not imbue it with philosophical meaning. They drew a broken bar so that the layers of wafers, filling, and chocolate were visible. This is a clever marketing trick designed to stimulate appetite. The scattered crumbs signify the product’s crispiness, and the heart with the inscription “Nestle” represents the manufacturer’s love (as Nestle owns the KitKat brand) for the confectionery industry and its customers.

What is the symbol of KitKat?

All KitKat packages feature the symbol of this brand – a red inscription inside the same red oval ring. The white background creates a contrast that makes the logo more noticeable. The brand name is executed in a unique font and slightly raised on the right side. Both “K” letters consist of long and straight strokes, reminiscent of the shape and 3D design of chocolate bars. Below is a photograph of an actual KitKat chocolate bar broken in half.

Why do Kit Kat logos differ from each other?

KitKat has several different logos. The Swiss brand owned by Nestlé uses the classic version with a red oval and chocolate bar. Hershey Company licensed this brand for selling confections in the United States. Its icon contains the word “KitKat” in white on a red rectangle background. Specifically for Australia in 2020, an emblem was created in the form of a recycling symbol. Candies with such designs were sold in a limited edition.

When did Kit Kat change its logo?

The KitKat logo was changed in 2017. Then, designers added to the inscription an image of a bar broken into two parts. The red color became darker, and the letter outlines widened and acquired an orange hue. This helped enhance the 3D effect. The oval frame gained clearer outlines and now connects the two “K” letters. In 2020, a new KitKat emblem briefly appeared in Australia – three brown arrows forming a waste recycling symbol.

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