The Top 25 Global Brands

Interbrand has released its annual top Global Brands for 2009. We've listed the top 25, as well as what Interbrand had to say about the five leaders.

1. Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola is 123 years old and shows no sign of relenting. It is the

number one producer of sparkling beverages by volume and dollars.

It has launched more than 700 products in 2008 around the world,

and its edgy campaigns continue to push boundaries, showing the

rest of the marketing community what it really means to manage a

brand.

2. IBM

In this tough market, Big Blue’s revenue is at an all-time high. IBM

received the most U.S. patents (more than 4,000) for the 16th year

in a row, investing heavily in innovation as it continues its progression

from a hardware provider to a software and services solutions

brand.

3. Microsoft

2009 marks the first year-on-year decline in Microsoft’s public history,

despite a game console division that continues to be profitable. As

the market matures, the giant faces stiff competition from faster,

quicker rivals.

4. GE

Despite GE slipping in its position of technology leadership, it is still

better equipped to support future innovations and brand evolution

than other traditional competitors, due to its ability to touch

consumers on an emotional level.

5. Nokia

Nokia seems to be trailing behind more dynamic smartphone

innovations like Apple’s iPhone and RIM’s BlackBerry. The N97, a

flagship Nseries mobile computer that was first unveiled in December

2008, is designed to address competitive technologies but debuted in

2009 at a much higher price point than Apple’s or RIM’s new offerings.

And the rest...
6. McDonald's
7. Google
8. Toyota
9. Intel
10. Disney
11. HP
12. Mercedes-Benz
13. Gillette
14. Cisco
15. BMW
16. Louis Vuitton
17. Marlboro
18. Honda
19. Samsung
20. Apple
21. H&M
22. American Express
23. Pepsi
24. Oracle
25. Nescafe

This just goes to show how crucial a strong brand can be in times of crisis, with nearly every one of the top 25 reporting growth in the midst of a worldwide recession. Read the full report.