Led by Zara, the 2017 Best Spanish Brands reach new dimensions of global growth

• Zara, as the Top Growing Best Spanish Brand (+45% YOY), takes over the #1 position
• Movistar and Banco Santander complete the Top 3 of the ranking
• New entrants Estrella Galicia and Sanitas break into the Top 30

Madrid, Spain January 18, 2018.- Zara, Movistar, and Banco Santander are the three most valuable brands of the 2017 Best Spanish Brands report published by Interbrand. “Dimensions” is the theme chosen for the seventh edition of this bi-annual report, which analyzes the 30 most valuable brands based in Spain and, for the first time, highlights five Brands to Watch in the immediate future. The theme of “Dimensions” refers to, on the one hand, the international dimension of Spanish brands’ growth and, on the other hand, the multidimensional strength of the brands themselves, which are built from multiple factors that reach all areas of the business, employees, and customers.

Gonzalo Brujó, Interbrand’s CEO of EMEA & LatAm, commented, “The Best Spanish Brands are among the global vanguard and on the verge of new important thresholds. Recognition and attention should be paid, both domestically and abroad. These thirty brands, together with the Brands to Watch, reveal the rich diversity and dimension of Spain and represent a full portfolio of sectors: financial services, technology, telecommunications, entertainment, fashion and retail, energy, sports, beverages, health, and hospitality. These brands, in several cases, have created their industries and many are a reference for global best practice.”

This is the first time that Inditex Group’s crown jewel, Zara, leads the ranking after its brand value grew by 45% to EUR €15,452m. It is followed by the transatlantic telco giant, Movistar, whose brand value fell to EUR €10,646m, despite new forays into producing branded content. Banco Santander maintains its ranking position by growing its brand value 20% to EUR €5,576m. Zara and Santander are currently the only two Spanish brands present in the annual Best Global Brands ranking, which is comprised of the 100 most valuable brands around the world. Financial services brand BBVA and fashion brand Bershka (also owned by Inditex Group) round out the Top 5 at #4 (EUR €4,694m) and #5 (EUR €1,415m) respectively.

Of the 30 brands featured in this year’s ranking, 24 show positive change in comparison to 2015’s values, which reflect the notable improvement and momentum of the Spanish economy. The three Top Growing Brands include fashion brand Zara (+45%), retail brand Mercadona (+31%), and Inditex’s apparel brand, Massimo Dutti (+29%). Two new entrants have broken into the ranking: Estrella Galicia and Sanitas, debuting at #27 and #29.

“The excellent performance of the Best Spanish Brands deserves even more merit if we take into account the context of the economic crisis that we’ve experienced in Spain. These great brands have managed to overcome formidable obstacles and get stronger along the way, adapting and pioneering new international business strategies with a clear commitment to technological innovation,” observed Nancy Villanueva, Managing Director of Interbrand Madrid. “In addition, Spain is home and headquarters to international brands that are leading the way in the ‘Grow.Change.Grow’ ecosystem: Banco Santander is the leading financial brand in the Eurozone; El Corte Inglés leads the department stores category in Europe; BBVA has developed the world’s best mobile banking app; Zara has established a new model in the global fashion industry; and Iberdrola is the leading producer of renewable energies in Europe. We feel really proud of the work that these brands are developing to become more and more relevant internationally.”

Methodology

Interbrand’s Best Spanish Brands report identifies the most valuable Spanish brands by analyzing the many ways a brand benefits an organization—from delivering on customer expectations to driving economic value. Interbrand’s global methodology was the first brand valuation method to become ISO certified.

The ranking is based on a combination of attributes that contribute to a brand’s cumulative value:

• The financial performance of the branded products and services.
• The role the brand plays in influencing customer choice.
• The strength the brand has to command a premium price or secure earnings for the company.

Best Spanish Brands 2017

Download the full report here