Walmart’s latest brand and logo update has left some social media users baffled.
On Jan. 13, the company announced in a press release on its website that it was launching a “comprehensive brand refresh” to show how Walmart and its brand have evolved since being founded in Bentonville, Arkansas, in 1951.
The press release said the wordmark was being altered to feature “a modern, custom font” that will make the corporation stand out from its competitors.
As for the symbol part of the logo — or the “spark,” as Walmart refers to it — it contains a color palette of True Blue and Spark Yellow that “leans on the retailer’s most recognizable tones and its heritage of blue, while ushering in new updates to keep the brand fresh.”
Essentially, the colors are slightly more vibrant while the lines on the spark are more rounded.
In a statement, William White, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Walmart U.S, said, in part, “This update, rooted in the legacy of our founder, Sam Walton, demonstrates our evolving capabilities and longstanding commitment to serve our customers of today and tomorrow. While the look and feel of our brand is more contemporary, our refreshed brand identity reflects Walmart’s enduring commitment to both Sam’s principles and serving our customers however they need us.”
Walmart has already updated its social media accounts to reflect the new logo and wordmark, leading to critical and confused reactions from users.
One shared the “before and after” images of the logo and said “I can’t believe someone got paid for this.”
Another tweeted, “Whoever designed this is laughing behind the scenes.”
A third X user joked that the update was the equivalent to “cutting off 1 cm of my hair and expecting people to notice.”
One poked fun at the new design by posting a screenshot from “The Office” of Jenna Fischer’s character Pam saying, “They’re the same picture.”
Journalist Sophie Vershbowreacted to Walmart’s news by sharing a screenshot of Brian Cox’s “Succession” character Logan Roy chastising, “You are not serious people.”
“This has to be some sort of inside joke between all of the large corporations,” one X user suggested.