Is Michelin Star Related to Michelin Man?

The Michelin Man, better known as the mascot for Michelin tires, has been around since 1898 and is one of the most recognizable figures in the world. But is he related to Michelin Stars?

The answer is yes and no. While there is no direct connection between the Michelin Man and Michelin stars, it’s not a complete coincidence either.

The Michelin Stars were first introduced in 1926 by the Guide Michelin as a way to rate restaurants in France. It quickly became an international symbol of excellence and was adopted by other countries in Europe, with the three-star system being one of the most recognized rankings for quality food.

The story behind why these two symbols are related goes back to when André Michelin and his brother Édouard created their tire company. The two brothers wanted to create a mascot that would represent their brand and eventually settled on a figure with a large, round head and arms made out of tires. This character became known as Bibendum, or “the man made of tires”—which happens to be the same name used for the Michelin Man today.

So while there isn’t an actual link between Bibendum and Michelin Stars, it’s easy to see how people might make that connection given that both symbols are associated with quality and excellence—two values that have been at the core of Michelin since its founding.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, while there is no direct link between the Michelin Man (Bibendum) and Michelin Stars, both symbols represent quality and excellence which have been at the core of what makes up the company since its founding.