Wondering about the most valuable brands in the world? If you have been paying attention, this year’s top entries should come as no surprise. Apple and Google, for the third straight year, remain the most valuable names, and they even increased their value compared with last year. Apple’s value jumped a remarkable 43 percent, and Google enjoyed a 12 percent increase. Other members of the top ten include Coca-Cola (3) and McDonald’s (9); Microsoft (4), IBM (5), Samsung (7), and GE (8); Toyota (9); and Amazon (10). To achieve these rankings, the author of the report, Interbrand, measures each brand’s financial performace, influence on consumer choice, and ability to charge a price premium. Furthermore, as Interbrand’s Global CEO explained, “Many of the brands in this year’s Top 100 are so intuititvely aligned with people’s priorities that they are able to seamlessly integrate into their everyday lives.”

Source: Marianne Wilson, Chain Store Age, October 6, 2015