New data from Brand Finance reveals the collective brand value of the world’s top 100 food brands stands at USD250.8 billion in 2025
LONDON, 6 August 2025 – With a brand value of USD20.0 billion, Nestlé remains the most valuable food brand globally for the tenth year running, according to a new report from Brand Finance, the world's leading brand valuation consultancy. Despite experiencing a small decline in brand value, down 4% from 2024, Nestlé’s brand value remains more than USD7.0 billion greater than the second most valuable food brand, Lay’s, with a brand value of USD12.7 billion.
According to Brand Finance research, Nestlé notes strong consumer familiarity (9.7), understanding (7.6), and credibility (7.4), but lower engagement (5.8), preference (6.3), and notably, price acceptance (6.3). These scores underline the challenge Nestlé faces: maintaining its premium pricing position without alienating price-sensitive consumers. That said, Nestlé holds the top spot as the most valuable food portfolio brand in 2025, with its wider portfolio brand valued at USD65.4 billion.
Swiss chocolatier Lindt (brand value up 14% to USD4.9 billion) ranks among the top 10 most valuable food brands globally, and the top six strongest food brands, and has emerged as a ‘brand to watch.’ Brand Finance research reveals that Lindt achieves a perfect 10 out of 10 score for price acceptance in core markets, including Germany, France, Spain, the UK, and Switzerland, showcasing its ability to command a price premium and defend margins.
Henry Farr, Valuation Director, Brand Finance commented:
“Lindt’s strong performance across key research metrics is reinforced by consumer perceptions. Brand Finance data shows that 63% of UK and 56% of Swiss consumers view Lindt as 'expensive but worth the price,' – the highest percentages among chocolate brands in both the UK and Switzerland. Similar sentiments are shared in Germany, with 57% of consumers signalling price acceptance and 60% associating Lindt with 'great taste,' highlighting its exceptional brand appeal and ability to validate its premium pricing – a significant competitive advantage.”
Coca-Cola (brand value up 32% to USD46.3 billion) is the most valuable non-alcoholic drinks brand for the 11th year running. Its brand value is now more than double that of runner up, Pepsi (brand value up 12% to USD22.5 billion). Coca-Cola is also the strongest among the top 50 non-alcoholic drinks brands, with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 93.4 out of 100.
Yili maintains its position as the world’s most valuable dairy brand, with a brand value of USD11.2 billion. It stands as the sole brand in the ranking to maintain its position from the previous year, as several Asian brands saw a decline in brand value. In contrast, European dairy brands demonstrated growth. France’s Président leads this trend, becoming the fastest growing brand in the sector with a 51% increase to USD3.2 billion.
Finnish dairy cooperative Valio has emerged as the strongest dairy brand and is the strongest European brand across all sectors in 2025, with a BSI score of 96.3 out of 100.
Brand Finance is the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. Bridging the gap between marketing and finance, Brand Finance evaluates the strength of brands and quantifies their financial value to help organisations make strategic decisions.
Headquartered in London, Brand Finance operates in over 25 countries. Every year, Brand Finance conducts more than 6,000 brand valuations, supported by original market research, and publishes over 100 reports which rank brands across all sectors and countries.
Brand Finance also operates the Global Brand Equity Monitor, conducting original market research annually on 6,000 brands, surveying more than 175,000 respondents across 41 countries and 31 industry sectors. By combining perceptual data from the Global Brand Equity Monitor with data from its valuation database — the largest brand value database in the world — Brand Finance equips ambitious brand leaders with the data, analytics, and the strategic guidance they need to enhance brand and business value.
In addition to calculating brand value, Brand Finance also determines the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics evaluating marketing investment, stakeholder equity, and business performance, compliant with ISO 20671.
Brand Finance is a regulated accountancy firm and a committed leader in the standardisation of the brand valuation industry. Brand Finance was the first to be certified by independent auditors as compliant with both ISO 10668 and ISO 20671 and has received the official endorsement of the Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) in the United States.
Brand is defined as a marketing-related intangible asset including, but not limited to, names, terms, signs, symbols, logos, and designs, intended to identify goods, services, or entities, creating distinctive images and associations in the minds of stakeholders, thereby generating economic benefits.
Brand strength is the efficacy of a brand’s performance on intangible measures relative to its competitors. Brand Finance evaluates brand strength in a process compliant with ISO 20671, looking at Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and the impact of those on Business Performance. The data used is derived from Brand Finance’s proprietary market research programme and from publicly available sources.
Each brand is assigned a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score out of 100, which feeds into the brand value calculation. Based on the score, each brand is assigned a corresponding Brand Rating up to AAA+ in a format similar to a credit rating.
Brand Finance calculates the values of brands in its rankings using the Royalty Relief approach – a brand valuation method compliant with the industry standards set in ISO 10668. It involves estimating the likely future revenues that are attributable to a brand by calculating a royalty rate that would be charged for its use, to arrive at a ‘brand value’ understood as a net economic benefit that a brand owner would achieve by licensing the brand in the open market.
The steps in this process are as follows:
1 Calculate brand strength using a balanced scorecard of metrics assessing Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and Business Performance. Brand strength is expressed as a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score on a scale of 0 to 100.
2 Determine royalty range for each industry, reflecting the importance of brand to purchasing decisions. In luxury, the maximum percentage is high, while in extractive industry, where goods are often commoditised, it is lower. This is done by reviewing comparable licensing agreements sourced from Brand Finance’s extensive database.
3 Calculate royalty rate. The BSI score is applied to the royalty range to arrive at a royalty rate. For example, if the royalty range in a sector is 0-5% and a brand has a BSI score of 80 out of 100, then an appropriate royalty rate for the use of this brand in the given sector will be 4%.
4 Determine brand-specific revenues by estimating a proportion of parent company revenues attributable to a brand.
5 Determine forecast revenues using a function of historic revenues, equity analyst forecasts, and economic growth rates.
6 Apply the royalty rate to the forecast revenues to derive brand revenues.
7 Discount post-tax brand revenues to a net present value which equals the brand value.
Brand Finance has produced this study with an independent and unbiased analysis. The values derived and opinions presented in this study are based on publicly available information and certain assumptions that Brand Finance used where such data was deficient or unclear. Brand Finance accepts no responsibility and will not be liable in the event that the publicly available information relied upon is subsequently found to be inaccurate. The opinions and financial analysis expressed in the study are not to be construed as providing investment or business advice. Brand Finance does not intend the study to be relied upon for any reason and excludes all liability to any body, government, or organisation.
The data presented in this study form part of Brand Finance's proprietary database, are provided for the benefit of the media, and are not to be used in part or in full for any commercial or technical purpose without written permission from Brand Finance.
