Eataly is an Italian marketplace and restaurant brand founded by Oscar Farinetti, whose name combines the English words “EAT” and “ITALY.”[1] The first Eataly location opened in January 2007 in a former Carpano vermouth factory in Turin.[2]
Design and History
The Eataly logo consists of a partial circle open on one end, with the word “EATALY” placed inside one part of the circle.[3] An international trademark registration describes the mark as a “circular device defined by a bold line on empty background, the right portion of which is missing, containing the wording EATALY, part of the applicant’s style written in fanciful capital letters in bold and shaded, placed in a half-circle on the left side.”[4]
According to Eataly’s own official fun facts page, the open circle in the logo represents a pot.[5] The same page notes that founder Oscar Farinetti’s original name for the concept was “Eat Italy” before settling on Eataly.[5]
An early version of the logo included the Italian baseline “alti cibi,” a phrase tied to the launch slogan “alti cibi a prezzi sostenibili” (high foods at sustainable prices).[6]
Meaning and Symbolism
Beyond the official explanation that the open circle represents a pot, no additional documented symbolism for the mark has been published by Eataly or its trademark filings. The brand name itself is a portmanteau of “EAT” and “ITALY,” reflecting the company’s stated mission of making high-quality Italian food and drink accessible.[1]
Typography and Design
Trademark records describe the wordmark as “fanciful capital letters in bold and shaded,”[4] though the specific typeface used has not been publicly identified by Eataly or its trademark registrations. The mark has been registered without a claim to any specific color, indicating the logo is used in multiple color treatments.[3]
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