British Airways tops 'superbrand' poll for third year
Airline's reputation is flying high, but tech giants fall and the BBC crashes out of the top 20
British Airways remains the brand that resonates most strongly with a British public largely unmoved by the rise of the US technology giants.
For the third year running, International Consolidated Airline Group's flagship carrier topped a "superbrand" list compiled by the Centre for Brand Analysis, which is based on interviews with 2,500 consumers. The compilers, says The Guardian, whittle down 1,600 brands to a long-list that is then voted on by the public, who are asked to rate each name on "quality, reliability and distinction".
The top 20 shows persistent popularity for many traditional brands and stability at the top of the chart, with BA retaining its crown and Swiss watch-maker Rolex holding on to second place. Danish toy-maker Lego came in third while so-called "heritage" brands Heinz, Jaguar and Marks & Spencer all re-entered the top 20.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In contrast, tech behemoths slipped down the list despite their near-constant presence in the voters' everyday lives. From second and third respectively in 2013, Apple and Microsoft have fallen, now being placed seventh and 20th, while the likes of Google and Amazon came in at 16th and 19th.
"The rejection of the new for trusted, traditional brands continues to defy expectation that some challengers, such as technology enabled or social-based brands, would break through," said Stephen Cheliotis, the chief executive of the Centre for Brand Analysis. "In fact, the reverse is true, with conservatism evident among the British public after years of crisis."
Not all established brands did well, however. The BBC, which the Daily Telegraph notes has been in the top five for eight of the past nine years, fell out of the top 20 altogether this year. Reports speculate it may have been adversely affected by criticism over its coverage of the Scottish referendum and debates over its licence-fee model that remains unpopular with many.
Elsewhere, Cadbury failed to make the top 20 for the second year running, amid ongoing criticism over its tax affairs and complaints about some of its decisions, such as its change of recipe for the Creme Egg.
Boots, BMW and Fairy all also fell out of the top echelons of the chart.
The top 20 in full:
1. British Airways
2. Rolex
3. Lego
4. Dyson
5. Gillette
6. Mercedes-Benz
7. Apple
8. Jaguar
9. Kellogg's
10. Andrex
11. Nike
12. Heinz
13. Coca-Cola
14. John Lewis
15. Haagen-Dazs
16. Google
17. Virgin Atlantic
18. Marks & Spencer
19. Amazon
20. Microsoft
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Spanish cop, 20 million euros and 13 tonnes of cocaine
In the Spotlight Óscar Sánchez Gil, Chief Inspector of Spain's Economic and Tax Crimes Unit, has been arrested for drug trafficking
By The Week UK Published
-
5 hilarious cartoons about the rise and fall of Matt Gaetz
Cartoons Artists take on age brackets, backbiting, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The future of X
Talking Point Trump's ascendancy is reviving the platform's coffers, whether or not a merger is on the cards
By The Week UK Published
-
Labour shortages: the ‘most urgent problem’ facing the UK economy right now
Speed Read Britain is currently in the grip of an ‘employment crisis’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Will the energy war hurt Europe more than Russia?
Speed Read European Commission proposes a total ban on Russian oil
By The Week Staff Published
-
Will Elon Musk manage to take over Twitter?
Speed Read The world’s richest man has launched a hostile takeover bid worth $43bn
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Shoppers urged not to buy into dodgy Black Friday deals
Speed Read Consumer watchdog says better prices can be had on most of the so-called bargain offers
By The Week Staff Published
-
Ryanair: readying for departure from London
Speed Read Plans to delist Ryanair from the London Stock Exchange could spell ‘another blow’ to the ‘dwindling’ London market
By The Week Staff Published
-
Out of fashion: Asos ‘curse’ has struck again
Speed Read Share price tumbles following the departure of CEO Nick Beighton
By The Week Staff Published
-
Universal Music’s blockbuster listing: don’t stop me now…
Speed Read Investors are betting heavily that the ‘boom in music streaming’, which has transformed Universal’s fortunes, ‘still has a long way to go’
By The Week Staff Published
-
EasyJet/Wizz: battle for air supremacy
Speed Read ‘Wizz’s cheeky takeover bid will have come as a blow to the corporate ego’
By The Week Staff Published