The world’s most valuable brands have experienced record growth according to the Kantar BrandZTM Most Valuable Global Brands 2021 ranking, with the total worth reaching $7,1trn – equivalent to the combined GDP of France and Germany. The 42% increase; more than four times the study’s annual average percentage increase over the past 15 years, has been driven by confidence derived from vaccine availability, economic stimulus packages and improving GDP outlooks. US brands account for 56 of the top 100 brands, with Amazon and Apple leading the way – each now worth over $½trn.
Key trends highlighted in this year’s Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Global Brands study include:
Rank 2021 | Brand | Brand Value 2021 ($mil.) | "% Change 2021 vs 2020" |
1 | Amazon | $683,852 | 64% |
2 | Apple | $611,997 | 74% |
3 | Google | $457,998 | 42% |
4 | Microsoft | $410,271 | 26% |
5 | Tencent | $240,931 | 60% |
6 | Facebook | $226,744 | 54% |
7 | Alibaba | $196,912 | 29% |
8 | Visa | $191,285 | 2% |
9 | McDonald's | $154,921 | 20% |
10 | MasterCard | $112,876 | 4% |
Kantar BrandZ Top 10 Most Valuable Global Brands 2021
“2020-1 has been a record year for brand growth, and despite many facing a difficult year, our research has again proven that strong brands deliver superior shareholder returns, are more resilient and recover more quickly,” comments Nathalie Burdet, CMO of Kantar. “With global e-commerce growing from 12% to 15% of all sales in 2020, it has been a positive year for brands involved in that value chain – from the retailers through to the couriers like FedEx and UPS. However, we have also seen growth in industries where many were predicting challenges early in the pandemic. Apparel brands for example have collectively grown even more than media and entertainment brands in the ranking, and luxury brands, despite reduced travel and lockdowns globally, have refocused their energies and seen growth as a result.”
Reputation, especially for sustainable and ethical purposes, is increasingly a driver for brand growth. The luxury category saw 34% brand growth with, predominantly, French and Italian luxury companies such as LVMH investing in their corporate reputation through pandemic-related initiatives, sustainable transformation and support for social movements such as Black Lives Matter (BLM). Similarly, L’Oréal Paris successfully bucked the trend across beauty brands in the pandemic, securing brand growth by flexing its assets and driving female empowerment.
“This year’s results show that brand building remains critical to securing growth,” explains Burdet. “We track the stock market performance of our strongest brands and have seen these recover twice as fast as other key indices. Our analytics have uncovered that 70% of what makes a brand successful is executing four fundamentals well: providing superior experience across consistently branded touchpoints, a range of well-designed and functional products and services, convenience and exposure through great advertising. However, Covid-19 has emphasised consumer values such as trust and reliability. Those brands that are evolving their values, projecting leadership on these issues are demonstrating differentiation and standing out.”
Read the full report: The Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Global Brands 2021 ranking, report and extensive analysis are available now via www.kantar.com/brandz
About Kantar BrandZ: Kantar BrandZ is the global currency when assessing brand value, quantifying the contribution of brands to a business's financial performance. Kantar’s annual global and local brand valuation rankings combine rigorously analysed financial data, with extensive brand equity research. Since 1998, BrandZ has shared brand-building insights with business leaders based on interviews with four million consumers, for 18,000 brands in 51 markets. Discover more about Kantar BrandZ here.
About Kantar: Kantar is the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company. We have a complete, unique and rounded understanding of how people think, feel and act; globally and locally in over 90 markets. By combining the deep expertise of our people, our data resources and benchmarks, our innovative analytics and technology, we help our clients understand people and inspire growth.