Have you ever wondered why some of your favorite businesses are red? Think about it…Target, Meijer, Mcdonalds, Wendys, KFC, Dairy Queen, Arbys, Panda Express, Chick-fil-a. The list can go on and on. This may seem like a big coincidence, However, many speculate that there is a reason behind this. Studies have shown that fast food industries such as those previously stated have red logos to draw in customers. 

There is no doubt that some of our senses can influence each other. According to SalesServices.com, “Yellow and orange are colors that make people feel hungry.” They also say, “The color red is associated with emotion and passion. So when one sees red combined with yellow and orange, they become passionately hungry.” On the opposite end of the color spectrum, blue is proven to not appeal to one’s appetite. In fact, the color blue is even used in weight loss programs as a weight loss suppressant. Sort of makes you wonder why there aren’t too many restaurants around with their main colors containing blue. 

Some believe that the reason most people do not associate blue with becoming hungry is because of the simple fact that not many natural foods are blue. The same can be said for those who enjoy more of a vegetarian diet plan. Vegetarians often associate nature related colors such as green to their appetite.   

Warm and bright colors naturally attract customers. Bright colors such as red and yellow can be psychologically processed through your blood pressure and raise your heart rate. Just like young children, the fun colors of many of your favorite restaurants will make you want their food. 

“I’ve always wondered why so many companies are red. I’ve heard of the idea that it’s for marketing reasons. I’ve just never looked into it.” senior Connor Whitaker says.

Fitday.com insists that the color red actually suppresses your appetite. “A scientific journal found that people ate less food when it was served on a red plate”. They believe that this is because people associate the color red with danger. They also say that subjects think of stopping when they visualize red (stop signs come into mind). 

What do you think? Do you believe that most restaurants use the color red as a marketing technique? Or is it just a coincidence? What colors make you hungry? “Now that I think about it, the color red does make me hungry, ” junior Jake Sawicki states.