September 21st 2024.
Have you ever come across these familiar brands while traveling abroad? It can be quite confusing when you're trying to find your favorite Burger King, only to realize that it's called something else in a different country. As Brits, we're so accustomed to the same old shops on our high street that we never even consider the possibility that they might have different names elsewhere.
It's not until we actually step into a store that feels strangely familiar, that we realize they're actually the same brand we're used to back home. Some of our beloved UK brands, like Burger King and TK Maxx, do exist in other countries, but with different names. This is due to various legal and logistical reasons, which may not seem very exciting, but are necessary for the brand's success.
For instance, did you know that Burger King is called Hungry Jack's in Australia? When the franchise tried to expand into Australia, they discovered that the name was already trademarked by a local restaurant in Adelaide. As a solution, they offered the franchisee a list of alternative names, one of which was Hungry Jack's. The name was chosen because it was still related to Burger King, as it was owned by their parent company, Pillsbury. Plus, the franchisee's name was also Jack, so it seemed like a perfect fit.
Similarly, TK Maxx is known as TJ Maxx in the USA. It was founded in Massachusetts by Bernard Cammarata, and its first international store opened in Bristol, UK in 1994. However, in order to avoid confusion with an unrelated British retail chain called T.J Hughes, the name had to be modified to TK Maxx. The company still uses the name TJ Maxx in the USA, as it is the correct one according to its place of origin.
Primark, another popular UK brand, also goes by a different name in Ireland - Penneys. This is because the company was originally founded as Penneys in Dublin in 1969. When they expanded into the UK in 1974, they had to change the name to Primark to avoid any legal issues with the American retailer J.C. Penney, who had the rights to use the name in the UK. However, the Irish continued to use the name Penneys, as it is a beloved part of their culture.
Even Pizza Express had to change its name in Ireland, where it goes by the name Milano. The reason behind this change is quite interesting - the first Pizza Express in Ireland opened on Dawson Street, the same street where the Lord Mayor lives. Apparently, the mayor thought the original name sounded too cheap and wanted it changed. In other countries where the brand name is not available, Pizza Express goes by the name Marzano or Pizza Marzano to differentiate between their restaurants that primarily serve pizza and those that offer a wider range of Italian food.
And it's not just retail stores that change names in different countries - even fast food chains like KFC have different names. In Quebec, Canada, KFC is known as PFK, which stands for Poulet Frit Kentucky. This is due to the Quebec French Language Charter, which states that business names must be in French. So, KFC changed its name to comply with this law.
Another interesting example is Nike, which is pronounced differently in the USA. While we may pronounce it as "nike" with a long "i" sound, the official pronunciation is "nai-key", as confirmed by the company's chairman, Phillip Knight. So, next time you're saying the brand's name, remember to add that extra syllable.
And let's not forget about Walkers, the beloved crisp brand that was originally founded in the UK by Henry Walker. In other countries, it goes by the name Lays, which was changed for marketing reasons. The name Walkers was difficult for non-native English speakers to say, so Lays made more sense for international markets.
Lastly, we have Lynx, or Axe as it's known in France, the USA, and Australia. This brand, popular among teenage boys, was originally launched in France under the name Lynx in 1983. However, when it entered the rest of Europe, it was renamed Axe due to trademark issues. In the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, the brand is still known as Lynx.
It's fascinating to see how the same brands we're so familiar with can have different names in other parts of the world. Next time you're traveling abroad, keep an eye out for these alternate names if you're in need of some home comforts. And who knows, maybe you'll have a story to share with us about your own experience with these brand name changes.
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