Which dairy brands score the best?

Brand Finance, a British research agency, conducts annual research into the brand value of various product brands in the food industry, including the dairy sector. As it turns out the report that the Chinese market (within the dairy industry) is the most dynamic market. The country will be the United States (US) in 2022 overtake it as the largest market for dairy products.

According to Brand Finance, this is mainly due to the increasing prosperity and improved accessibility of China. This is because Chinese consumers more often prefer 'premium dairy products' (with health benefits and innovative flavors). It also makes brands (such as Yilic) focus more on changing demand and therefore focus on product innovation.

The best scoring dairy brands
If we look at the top 5 (compiled by Brand Finance), then: Danone still at the top. The brand has a brand value of $2018 billion in 9,098. Compared to 2017, this is an increase of 15%, because last year Danone's brand value was $7,894 billion.

Second place goes to the rapidly growing Yili. The company shows a brand value of $6,158 billion, showing a 43% increase from last year ($4,294). Third place goes to a Chinese newcomer, Mengniu. This company has a MER value of $2018 billion in 3,446. It therefore rises above numbers 4 and 5. 

Since Mengniu takes the bronze medal, the Arla and Amul cooperative drops 1 place. In addition, both dairy manufacturers show negative growth. Arla has a brand value of $2018 billion in 3,424, compared to $2017 billion in 3,759 (-9%). Amul's brand value drops from $2,870 billion in 2017 to $2,496 billion in 2018 (-13%).

Yili shows strong increase
Yili's strong rise is striking. The brand may remain within the dairy sector, but in the... overall ranking (food industry), the dairy manufacturer rose from place 8 (2017) to place 3 (2018). This is a result of the company's rapid revenue growth and high profitability, which makes it a darling for investors in the meantime.

Although Yili has an advantage over Danone in terms of brand potential, the French dairy giant still has an annual growth rate of 15%. Something that not many other companies manage to achieve. The annual increase is partly due to good sales.

This also includes the performance Mengniu remarkable. This Chinese dairy brand is also rising rapidly. This dairy manufacturer recorded an increase of 45% (in the overall ranking), but achieved a lower brand value.