13 Once-Famous Brands That Were Bought and Rebranded
This article shows 13 famous brands that were bought and rebranded.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
Many brands have changed after being bought by new owners. This list shares 13 well-known brands that went through big changes. Their logos, names, or looks were updated. Some are very different from how they started.
1. McDonald’s (Bought by Franchise Investors)
McDonald on Wikimedia Commons
McDonald’s started as a small burger place. After investors acquired it, they created the iconic golden arches logo that everyone knows today. This change helped transform McDonald’s into one of the world’s largest fast food chains.
2. Amazon (Jeff Bezos Buyout)
Amazon.com, Inc. on Wikimedia Commons
Amazon started as an online bookstore. When Jeff Bezos took full control, the logo changed to a smile with an arrow, indicating that they sell everything from A to Z. This simple logo made Amazon easy to recognize as it grew.
3. Coca-Cola (Mergers Reshaped It)
The Coca-Cola Company on Wikimedia Commons
Coca-Cola’s famous script logo stayed the same for years, but small changes made it cleaner and brighter. Different companies helped shape how it looked. Today, it still keeps its classic red color and smooth white letters.
4. Pepsi (Post-Layoff Brand Shake-up)
™/®PepsiCo, Inc. on Wikimedia Commons
Pepsi changed its logo many times to stay modern. Following significant changes within the company, it adopted a soft, round logo resembling a smiling face. This made Pepsi feel more friendly and fresh.
5. Shell (Oil Expansion & Rebrand)
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
Shell used to have a simple black-and-white logo of a seashell. As it grew, the company added bright red and yellow colors. The new logo made gas stations easy to spot from far away.
6. Nike (From Blue Ribbon Sports Buyout)
Nike, Inc. on Wikimedia Commons
Nike started as Blue Ribbon Sports. After it changed owners, they created the famous swoosh logo. The swoosh became one of the most famous symbols in sports and fashion.
7. Apple (Post-Jobs Reacquisition)
Original: Rob Janoff on Wikimedia Commons
Apple once had a very detailed logo. When Steve Jobs came back, he made it simple with just a shiny apple with a bite taken out. This clean design matched Apple’s focus on simple and sleek products.
8. Starbucks (Enter Howard Schultz)
Marco Paköeningrat on Wikimedia Commons
Starbucks started as a small coffee shop. After Howard Schultz took over, the logo changed to focus only on the siren without any words. This helped Starbucks become a worldwide coffee brand.
9. IBM (Big Blue’s Rebrand Era)
IBM on Wikimedia Commons
IBM’s first logo was complicated and old-fashioned. Over time, they made it simple with blue stripes. The clean look showed IBM’s move into modern technology and trusted business services.
10. Adidas (Post-Dassler Acquisition)
Adidas on Wikimedia Commons
Adidas once had a more detailed logo. After the company changed, it switched to the three-stripe and trefoil design. The stripes became a strong symbol for sports and casual wear everywhere.
11. Microsoft Word (After Microsoft Buyout)
MICROSOFT on Wikimedia Commons
Microsoft Word started with a plain text logo. As Microsoft grew, they made the Word icon simpler and easier to recognize. Today’s logo shows a clean “W” that fits the modern style of Microsoft products.
12. BMW (Following Financial Restructuring)
BMW on Wikimedia Commons
BMW’s round logo has stayed mostly the same, but it has been cleaned up over the years. The colors are sharper, and extra details were removed. It still shows BMW’s strong history in cars and engineering.
13. Google (Post-Founders’ Leadership Shift)
Google INC on Wikimedia Commons
Google’s logo had fancy letters at first. After changes in leadership, it switched to simple, plain letters. The new look is clean, easy to read, and works well on all screens.