When Beloved Brands Lose Their Shine: What Consumers Can Learn

We all have our favourites, brands we grew up with, products that feel like part of the family kitchen, and names we instinctively trust when dining out. 

But sometimes, even the most familiar food and drink brands stumble, and when they do, it reminds us how fragile reputation really is.

Take Aunt Jemima, for instance. Its pancake mixes and syrups were staples for many, but the brand carried with it outdated racial imagery. 

In 2021, the familiar face disappeared, and the name changed to Pearl Milling Company. 

For some shoppers, it was a welcome and overdue update. For others, it felt like losing a piece of nostalgia. 

Either way, it showed how branding choices can make or break consumer trust. Even some members of the African American community were upset by what they saw as erasing a real, historical character from their history.

Budweiser, long known as “the King of Beers,” also found itself in hot water. A simple influencer partnership turned into a national controversy, sparking boycotts and a drop in sales. For beer drinkers, it was a reminder that marketing doesn’t just sell a product, it signals what a company stands for, and that can affect whether you keep buying or look elsewhere.

And then there’s Cracker Barrel, the American restaurant chain that built its image on hearty portions of scratch cooked foods and Southern comfort. 

When it added plant-based options to its menu, many applauded the move. 

But some long-time diners felt betrayed, accusing the brand of abandoning tradition. What was meant as an inclusive step instead divided opinion.

For consumers, these stories matter because they affect choice. The brands we love aren’t just about flavour, they’re about values, trust, and the way they fit into our lives. When a brand makes a misstep, it forces us to think: do we still want to support them?

The lesson for food and drink fans is simple: the companies behind our favourite products are constantly walking a tightrope between tradition and change. Sometimes they get it right, sometimes not. But in the end, it’s our response, whether we stay loyal or switch, that decides the brand’s future.