Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Feel-good factor meanz Heinz is the best-known brand

Ian Burrell,Media,Culture Correspondent
Tuesday 19 August 2003 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Coca-Cola may still be the world's best-known brand but in Britain it is being driven into obscurity by the humble baked bean.

Polls over the past 12 months show that Heinz is Britain's most recognised brand, buoyed by nostalgic television advertisements linked to the "Beanz Meanz Heinz" slogan. Coca-Cola slipped from the fifth most-recognised brand in September last year to ninth in May this year in polls by the market research company Martin Hamblin GfK, which asked respondents to name five brands.

In two other polls, taken in November 2002 and January this year, the Coke brand failed to make the top 10. Pepsi failed to make the top 20 in any of the five months.

Gordon MacMillan, the editor of Brand Republic, said the drinks had suffered from the demand for bottled water. He said: "People used to buy a couple of cans of Coke a day but now they're buying a bottle of Evian instead, almost as an accessory."

An international survey by Interbrand earlier this year showed that Coca-Cola was the most-recognised name around the globe.

Mr MacMillan said Heinz had been trying to encourage public debate over whether the "Beanz Meanz Heinz" catchphrase should be kept.

"There's a lot of nostalgia and goodwill with people looking back at those ads," he said. "It has all been really positive, feel-good stuff."

Other brands to figure prominently in the British polls were Kellogg's and Persil. The highest-ranking British brand was Tesco.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in