BrandZ rated HSBC at $21.6bn in value, pushing Vodafone into second place with a value of $18.5bn.

Nine of the top ten fastest growing brands in the UK were financial services firms, with the UK’s brand index growing 8%, reversing the decline seen in 2024.

Shell, BT, BP, Tesco, Barclays, Johnnie Walker, Dove and Revolut made up the rest of the top 10 most valuable British brands in the rankings.

Kantar said that despite the stronger performance in the UK rankings in 2025, British brands were still missing out on around $10bn in value due to gaps in their brand building and reliance on short-term marketing tactics.

The study also noted that brand contributed around 33% of a companies total value on average worldwide, but fell to 29% in the UK. UK disruptor brands were down 19% in value since 2019, BrandZ found. 

BrandZ has run annually since 1998 and is based on interviews with 4.3 million consumers for 21,000 brands in 54 markets. 

Jodie Gillary, head of brand activation at Kantar Insights UK & Ireland, said: “It’s a tough time for the industry and, with pressure on margins right now, marketers are being pushed to do more with less. 

“The reality is that almost half of the UK’s most valuable brands ( 45%) aren’t seen positively enough to justify charging a higher-than-average price for their category, so it’s never been more important for businesses to grasp the financial imperative of investing in considered brand building.” 

Gillary added: “It’s not that British brands don’t have it in them to be disruptive – there are some fantastic examples of businesses which have broken the mould. It’s that when they do shake things up, they tend to only do it once, and that’s not enough. 

“This is the marketing paradox; brands need to put their manners to one side and keep rocking the boat again and again – and always in a way that’s both distinct to the brand and in step with society’s changing culture.”