Global 500 report names Budweiser as world’s most valuable beer brand

European beer brands Heineken, Amstel and Stella Artois have all dropped down the list of the world’s most valuable beer brands at the expense of Budweiser, Corona and Foster’s, according to the annual BrandFinance® Global 500 survey of the world’s 500 most valuable brands published this week by Brand Finance plc, one of the world’s leading brand valuation consultancies.

Iconic American beer brand Budweiser cemented its position as one of the world’s twenty most valuable brands with a 27 percent rise in brand value to USD 21,279 million and a four-place climb to 15 in the Global 500. It is also the most valuable beer brand in the world and the second most valuable beverage brand overall, behind Coca Cola.

Heineken remains the world’s second most valuable beer brand, but has seen its brand value rise by only 11 percent this year and has fallen in the overall Top 500 from 43 to 62, but there has been an impressive performance by Corona, the third placed beer brand, which has risen 37 places to 184 on the back of a 53 percent rise in brand value.

Amstel and Stella Artois have fallen from 283 to 336 and 247 to 340 respectively. Stella fared particularly badly with a 3 percent fall in the value of its brand. Both have been overtaken by Foster’s, which is new into the Global 500 at number 284 and Carlsberg at number 372 with a brand value of USD 2,525 million.

Smirnoff is the only spirit brand to make the Global 500 survey. It is ranked as the 16th most valuable beverage brand and 341st most valuable brand overall.

“Budweiser, with its global brand status and iconic advertising, continues to dominate the beer sector,” comments David Haigh, CEO of Brand Finance. “Foster’s and Corona both have well defined brand positions based on their geographical origins and have out performed Amstel and Stella. Smirnoff’s ability to extend its brand across age and gender by diversifying its drinks offering has enabled it to remain the world’s leading spirits brand.”

Elsewhere in the report, retail giant Walmart, whose brand value increased 2 percent this year, retains top spot in the annual survey. Google, whose brand value has risen 24 percent to USD 36,191 million, is at number two and Coca-Cola, which enjoyed a 6 percent increase in its brand value, is at number three. Coke has extended its dominance over main rival Pepsi, which falls nine places to number 30, despite a similar 6 percent increase in brand value.