Most Valuable Global Food Brands Ranked

LONDON -- Last year was challenging for food brands. Globally, many of the brands on convenience-store shelves struggled to stay ahead of emerging better-for-you trends, and the four leading brands actually lost value, according to a new study by consultancy Brand Finance.

Brands that play heavily in confectionary had the most difficulty as concerns around health ate into revenues, the study found. Kraft, Hershey’s, Mars and Nestle lost 4%, 10%, 14% and 17%, respectively, this year.

And the trend is global, with Chinese snack-food manufacturers Want Want and Master Kong dropping significantly, too.

Kellogg’s brand value dropped 3% with demand for cereal falling as consumers explore a variety of different breakfast options.

Every year, London-based Brand Finance values the brands of thousands of the world’s largest companies. The world’s 50 most valuable food brands are included in the Brand Finance Food 50. Click through to see the top 10 brands ...

Falling in line as the 10th most valuable global food brand, Lay's brand value is currently $38.7 billion. The maker of Lay's Potato Chips and Doritos is down overall from last year's $45.1 billion valuation.

Up this year over last year's $34.9 billion valuation, Wrigley currently has a brand value of $41.5 billion. Wrigley, soon to merge fully with Mars Chocolate to form Mars Wrigley Confectionery, manufactures a slew of c-store gum and candy brands such as Skittles and Starburst.

Unilever’s total portfolio value is $42.9 billion, more than double that of Kraft Heinz, which recently attempted a takeover of the Anglo-Dutch company. That said, the company's valuation is down over last year's $44.2 billion brand value. Unilever manufactures c-store brands such as Klondike, Good Humor and Lipton.

Asia’s growing taste for dairy bodes well for Yili, which is valued at $42.9 billion, compared with $42.1 billion last year. It is not well-known in the West, but thanks to marketing initiatives such as sponsorship of China’s Olympic team, it scores very highly on brand equity measures in China, its domestic market. Yili is now the world’s second most valuable (and the strongest) dairy brand. 

 Tyson's brand is on the rise, coming in at $49.2 billion in 2017, up over last year's $47 billion valuation. Besides countless chicken products, Tyson is also the parent company behind brands such as Ball Park, Jimmy Dean, Sara Lee, Hillshire and more. 

On its own, the Heinz brand scored a $52.9 billion valuation over its 2016 $44.2 billion brand value. Heinz and Kraft merged in 2015 and manufacture c-store products such as Oscar Mayer foodservice products, Crystal Light and Bagel Bites, among many others.

Normally paired under the official brand name Kraft Heinz, for the purposes of this study the two brands were valued separately for the global scale. Kraft was valued at $56.3 billion, down from its $58.6 billion valuation a year earlier.

Down from its 2016 $73.1 billion valuation, the Kellogg's brand is currently valued at $70.6 billion. Kellogg's manufactures c-store brands such as Special K and Keebler.

Danone is currently valued at $78.9 billion, compared with $80.9 billion last year. Danone manufactures c-store products such as Activia and Oikos brands.

Nestle is currently valued at $194.1 billion worldwide, down from its 2016 valuation of $233.9 billion. Among many others, Nestle is the manufacturer for c-store brands such as Coffee-Mate, Hostess and Stouffer's.