Top 15 Indian brands in WPP, Kantar list

Leading entertainment broadcaster Zee TV is among the seven new entrants in the BrandZ top 15 most valuable Indian brands for 2018. Other new entrants in the ranking by WPP and Kantar Millward Brown featuring 75 Indian brands include Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Flipkart, Paytm, Infosys and Gold Flake.

David Roth, chief executive officer - EMEA (Europe, the Middle-East and Africa) and Asia, The Store WPP, said that a booming economy and an increasingly digital world are re-shaping India’s brand landscape and creating new opportunities. “Brands that get it right, regardless of whether they are established players or newcomers are reaping the rewards. However, there is no room for complacency in this fast-paced environment where so many ambitious companies are ready to rise to the occasion,” said Roth.

While insurance major LIC came at second position with a brand value of $19.8 billion, TCS ranked third with a brand value of $15 billion. At number 11 e-commerce retailer Flipkart had a brand value of $4.1 billion followed by e-commerce payment wallet Paytm at number 12 with $4.1 billion in brand value. Ranking at number 15, brand Zee TV was valued at $3.8 billion.

Overall, there are 30 newcomers in this year's ranking including Reliance Industries's telecom firm Jio, cab aggregator Ola and travel agency MakeMyTrip.

HDFC Bank retained its numero uno spot for the fifth consecutive year with a rise of 21% to a brand value of $21.7 billion.

The BrandZ report noted that the collective value of India’s top 50 brands grew 34% and as per an analysis by WPP and Kantar Millward Brown, the brand value was boosted by rising consumer confidence, the country’s return to rapid economic growth and consumers becoming increasingly brand aware.

In fact, since the launch of BrandZ report five years ago, the total value of its top 50 Indian brands grew 110% to $146.1 billion. This compares to a rise of 76% for the BrandZ top 50 Chinese brands and 60% for the BrandZ global top 50 over the same period.

According to Vishikh Talwar, managing director, Kantar Millward Brown - South Asia, the premiumisation trend is equally a reflection of the continuous progression of the Indian society over the last few decades. “In this journey, consumers with an unprecedented array of options will choose the brand they instinctively trust. Trust is not the sole prerogative of heritage brands; young brands can be equally trustworthy if they have a clear purpose and deliver consumer experiences that reinforce this,” said Talwar.

Interestingly, the new 2018 ranking was increased from 50 to 75 brands, thus reflecting the strength of India’s growing economy and a marketplace in which more local brands are emerging to present consumers with increased choice. And for the first time, the ranking incorporated brands from key and growing sectors such as technology (IT services), technology (online), durables and home appliances, tobacco, and entertainment (TV stations). Also included were privately owned brands, where financial information was publicly available and unicorn brands based on their most recent valuations.

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN VALUE

HDFC Bank retained its top spot for the fifth consecutive year with a rise of 21% to a brand value of $21.7 billion; LIC came second with a brand value of $19.8 billion   

Collective value of top 50 brands grew 34%, boosted by rising consumer confidence, rapid economic growth and consumers becoming increasingly brand aware