I recently discovered Lyle’s Golden Syrup in my grocery store, no big deal you think, but if come from the UK and enjoy the odd bit of baking… as I do…  it was like finding liquid gold.

So why is this tin of Golden Syrup being featured on a blog about web and graphic design?

Take a look at the logo.

It is a dead lion with bees buzzing around it.  I think if I presented a client with a logo, featuring an animal  carcass,  to be used on a food product, in this day and age, I would get shot down in flames and become a laughing stock.  But this particular logo has endured the test of time. Not only has it remained virtually unchanged for over 100 years it has been  confirmed by The Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest brand.

 

The trademark was registered in 1904 by Lyle and the design is reference to a story in the Old Testament, in which Samson killed a lion, then saw that bees had formed a honeycomb in the lion’s carcass , “Out of the strong came forth sweetness”. Owner Abram Lyle was a highly religious man.

Long may they continue to use this amazing logo.