Vodafone is UK’s “most valuable brand”

In a league table of the world’s top brands, Vodafone’s $31bn brand has ranked fifth, surrounded by American companies.

Top of the brand league is Google, whose brand value of $44bn put it just ahead of Microsoft, which has a brand value of $43bn.

The ranking, published in the latest Brand Finance Global 500 report, shows that the only UK brand to make the top ten brands in terms of worth, is Vodafone. 2011 was a good year for Vodafone, seeing it move up from seventh place.

Apple, too, had a good year, moving up to eighth place from number 20 the previous year as it built on the success of its iPhone and iPad. In all, American companies claimed 13 spots out of the top 20, and 26 of the leading 500.

“Vodafone’s presence in the top ten is testament to the UK’s ability to grow and nurture great brands despite a tough economic climate,” says David Haigh, chief executive of Brand Finance, which publishes the report.

Top ten ranking of global brands:

1. Google ($44.3bn)
2. Microsoft ($42.8bn)
3. Walmart ($36.2bn)
4. IBM ($36.1bn)
5. Vodafone ($30.7bn)
6. Bank of America ($30.6bn)
7. GE ($30.5bn)
8. Apple ($29.5bn)
9. Wells Fargo ($28.9)
10. AT&T ($28.8bn)

The only other UK representatives in the top 25 are HSBC and retail giant Tesco. HSBC slipped out of the top ten, going from eighth to 11th place, while Tesco was also down, from 17th to 19th.

What does Britain need to take on the Americans? Check out our guide on how to build your brand, and our analysis of what your brand says about you.

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