As you may (or may not) have noticed, our mascot is a fox. His name is Foxee.

We thought we’d take this opportunity to officially introduce you to Foxee, explain our rationale behind the choice and call out some of our other favorite famous foxes throughout history.

What are the key characteristics of a fox?

First, let’s address the elephant in the room. As a sweeping generalization, the fox is often associated with the figure of the trickster (which we obviously don’t relate to). But, there happens to be a good reason behind it. This is where the old saying “clever as a fox” comes in. Foxes are known to be cunning. They can see their way through deception and are quick to find their way out of any tricky situation. They’re resourceful, perceptive, adaptive, smart and quick on their feet (literally).

Many people also believe that as a spirit animal, the fox is a great guide to help you problem solve and find your way around obstacles. You can never put a fox in a box (ode to Dr. Seuss) because they’ll find their way out. Now let’s see what this has to do with Foodee and our mascot.

Hello Foxee

Cuteness aside, Foxee is sleek, smart and savvy. He’s always one step ahead of the game and is quick to adapt to whatever environment, challenge, or situation in front of him. He’s fast-moving, resourceful and adaptable. Basically, he’s the master of all problem solvers. Foxee constantly develops his mental sharpness—from his power of deduction to observational skills—during daily routine and strategic tasks.

Sounds a bit like we’re talking about a startup, doesn’t it? You can probably understand why we chose the fox from our grassroots beginnings back in 2011. We were hustling problem solvers then and we haven’t changed a bit. As our company expands into more than ten markets across North America, we’re as clever and quick as ever.

But there’s still two key traits of the fox that we haven’t discussed: wisdom and transformation. Many cultures associate the fox with other all-seeing animals, such as the wise old owl. They watch carefully before making a strategic, yet swift move. They see all the angles too. Similar to the owl, foxes are adaptable in any environment and can shapeshift according to what’s needed at that moment. Like the wise and transformative fox, the team at Foodee adapts with and learns from our challenges and moves forward all the wiser.

Our famous foxes throughout history

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 1943

In this famous novella, the fox asks the young prince to tame him and in the end they learn the true meaning of friendship. “He was only a fox, like a hundred thousand other foxes,” said the Little Prince in the story. “But I have made him my friend, and now he is unique in all the world.”

Fox In Socks by Dr. Seuss, 1965

Dr. Seuss’ infamous Mr. Fox, or Mr. Knox, is a very quick fox who loves to play games. He’s a trickster at heart, but he’s a tongue-twisting, fun-loving clever one at that. “Fox in socks, our game is done, sir. Thank you for a lot of fun, sir.”

The Fox and the Hound by Daniel P. Mannix, 1967/1981

While the message behind the novel and (later) Disney film is a sad but important one to tell about the impact of humans on wild animals, there’s a strong undercurrent of friendship and overcoming challenges and differences. We love that the fox in this story has the courage to solve problems that are seemingly larger than the little character himself.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl, 1970 & 2009

Mr. Fox and his friends in this Roald Dahl novel and Wes Anderson film are literally fantastic. They band together to fight against bad corporations taking over their homes and life, and show us what can happen when you’re driven, quick-thinking and ambitious. These characters have grit and are very creative in their problem-solving skills.

Disney’s Robin Hood, 1973

Disney’s Robin Hood is a carefree fox who acts quickly when in a pinch. He does, however, steal from the rich to help feed the poor. When Little John asks Robin if they’re good guys or bad guys because they’re “robbing from the rich,” Robin replies, “Rob?! That’s a notty word. We never rob, we just borrow a bit from those who can afford it.” But what we do appreciate about Robin, is his care for those who need help.

What the fox reminds us

For us, the fox reminds us to think outside of the box. To be different and think more creatively when problem-solving, but also be ready to adapt. He encourages us to call upon all of our resources to accomplish a mission.