What Colour Psychology Is Used in Food Marketing?

Colour psychology is used in every industry, from major brands to small businesses. Though your customers may not consciously consider it when choosing where to eat or shop, it does play a role in influencing their decisions. Every colour has symbolic meanings attached to it, and understanding the colour psychology of food can help you anticipate consumer reactions and incorporate the emotions you want to evoke into the base of your marketing plan.

Understanding Food Colour Psychology

Colour psychology tells us that each hue appeals to us differently. In the food industry, these colours are most likely to feelings of:

• Red: Energy, passion, urgency, appetite stimulation
• Orange: Value, appetite stimulation
• Yellow: Enthusiasm, youthfulness, uneasiness
• Green: Health, freshness, nature
• Blue: Calm, trust, security, appetite suppression
• Purple: Luxury, fruitiness
• Pink: Sweetness, feminity, calm
• Brown: Sweetness, nature, earthiness
• Black: Class, simplicity, luxury
• White: Neutrality, cleanliness, clarity

When it comes to food marketing, red is perhaps one of the most popular colour choices. It's favored by international brands like McDonald's, Kellogg's, and Coca-Cola. Depending on your brand and the image you want to convey, any colour can have its place in the food market.

How Colour Impacts Food Marketing Strategies

How can you use food colour psychology to market your brand? There are dozens of options, but you can start by integrating mindful colour choices into:

• Online marketing: If you want to appeal to the widest demographic, you should consider your strategy in online content like social media, emails, and blog posts. With so many ads and bright colours on the internet, you need an eye-catching display that evokes style and confidence in your brand with one glance.
• Event hosting: In-person and word-of-mouth marketing are crucial to building long-standing ties in your community. Host a seasonal or welcoming event that allows you to decorate your property in key colours so people associate those feelings with your brand every time they see them.
• Product packaging: Of course, you can't leave out the products themselves! Even a small logo on the product packaging leaves a mark that people will remember.

Perfect Your Food Colour Psychology With HunterLab

In the colour psychology of food, every shade counts. The right type of red and contrast with other colours can be the difference between a potential customer turning away or getting drawn in to learn more.

Find the ideal colour matches by shopping HunterLab's colour management solutions today.