The detailed sectoral findings from the BrandZ study highlight some of the most important themes in 21st century global business.

These include the rise of Chinese brands such as China Mobile, reflecting the size and growth of the Chinese market and the ability of Chinese companies to operate as global players; the power of retailers’ brands, which are becoming a key factor in driving consumers’ shopping behaviour; the strength of Europe’s luxury brands and their allure for the “new money” spenders of China, Russia and other fast-growing countries; the strength of new business models such as those deployed by Starbucks and Zara; and the need to invest in brands to increase the chance of long-term success, illustrated most clearly in GM and Toyota’s relative performance in the study.