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Ogilvy, Koo, Discovery Health excel in Sunday Times Top Brands survey 2018The results of the annual Sunday Times Top Brands survey were announced at an awards ceremony hosted at The Empire venue in Parktown, Johannesburg on Wednesday, 24 October, seeing two local companies excel as the overall winners in their sectors, and Ogilvy SA as top creative agency in support of winning brands. ![]() Image: © Sunday Times Top Brands on Twitter. Koo adds to its Top Brands awards tally by winning the grand prix in the consumer category, while Discovery Health Medical Scheme claimed the grand prix in the business category. Reardon Sanderson, GM: Group Sales and Marketing at Tiso Blackstar, comments: “20 years ago, we could never have anticipated the longevity of this survey and how it would become the industry’s leading – and most quoted and respected beacon – for enlightening brands about the changing and fickle nature of consumer preference.” Decade-long survey partnershipThe survey also celebrates 10 years in partnership with Kantar TNS South Africa, who conduct the annual survey. They conducted face-to-face interviews with 3,500 adults in the metro and non-metro areas of South Africa in the Consumer sample. The Business sample represents businesses of all sizes, with 469 C-level decision-makers participating in online self-complete interviews. The final results have been weighted to represent the population according to Stats SA 2015 mid-year population estimates. The Kantar TNS methodology used to establish brand ranking and category winners is based on the concept of relative advantage. This takes brand familiarity and awareness, the perceptions of users and non-users, as well as the size of brand presence in the market into account. Says Nuala Harris-Morele of Kantar TNS: While 2018 saw a downgrade of the South African economy and increasing pressure on food prices through rand fluctuations and the increase in the price of fuel, South Africans are still creating space for some additional luxuries here and there. We see usership in beauty and cosmetics, alcohol, personal care and fast food increase. In some cases, to offset these expenses, we see an increase in the usage of micro loans. This may be irresponsible spending, as we also see a decrease in the ownership of long-term insurance policy ownership.Consumer categories Koo reclaimed the top spot to receive the Consumer Overall Favourite Brand Grand Prix – an award it has won on multiple occasions previously. Coca-Cola and Samsung came in second and third place respectively. Coca-Cola received the Consumer Green Award for the preservation of SA’s natural resources, as well the Consumer Social Investment Award. Coca-Cola was the recipient of both awards in 2017 as well. Shoprite and Eskom also continued to feature in the top three positions of these two category rankings. Winners in the other 32 consumer categories included: BonAqua, Powerade, Heineken, Hunter’s Dry, Bernini, Hennessey, Vaseline, Oros, All Gold Tomato Sauce, Tastic, Koo, Coca-Cola, Rainbow, KFC, Spur, Nivea, Mercedes-Benz, Engen, South African Airways, Capitec, Discovery Insure, Old Mutual Group, Capfin, Vodacom, SABC1, Pick n Pay Smart Shopper, Daily Sun, Shoprite, and the Sunday Times. Samsung won in three categories: electronic goods, large kitchen appliances and cellphones. Business categoriesDiscovery Health Medical Scheme fought back from third place in 2017, to claim the Grand Prix award as the 2018 Business Overall Favourite Brand. Vodacom was nudged into second place, with the Apple iPhone in third. Nedbank received the Business Social Investment Award, followed by Woolworths and FNB in second and third place respectively. Banks dominated in the green category with FNB claiming the Business Green Award, while Capitec took second spot and Nedbank placed third. Brands that won in the other 12 business categories included: Kulula.com, Avis, Mercedes-Benz, Liberty, Santam, FNB, Apple iPhone, Vodacom, Allan Gray, Discovery Health Medical Scheme, Glenfiddich and Business Day. Mercedes-Benz and Vodacom were the only brands to win across both consumer and business categories. The 2018 Robyn Putter Award for creative agenciesThe Robyn Putter Award recognises the contributions made by creative agencies in support of winning brands, with the winner decided on a points system, based on the performance of its clients in the survey. The 2018 recipient is Ogilvy South Africa.
See all the winners below. 2018 Sunday Times Top Brands Survey - Consumer categoriesGrand Prix - Consumer Social Investment - Consumer Green - Consumer Water Energy drinks Beer Ciders Alcoholic Coolers Alcoholic Spirits Personal Care Fruit-Based Drinks Condiments & Sauces Essential Foods Tinned Foods Soft Drinks Frozen Chicken Fast-food Restaurants Sit-down Restaurants Beauty and cosmetics Electronic Goods Large Kitchen Appliances Car Category Petrol Stations Domestic Airlines Retail Banks Short-term Insurance Long-term Insurance Micro-lenders Cellphones Telecommunications Providers TV Service Providers Loyalty Programmes Daily Newspapers Weekly Newspapers Grocery Stores 2018 Sunday Times Top Brands Survey - Business categoriesGrand Prix - Business Social Investment - Business Green - Business Domestic Airlines Car Hire Companies Car Companies Long-term Insurance Short-term Insurance Corporate Banks Cellphones Telecoms Providers Business Newspapers Investment Companies Medical Aid Companies Whiskey, Brandy and Vodka Brands Robyn Putter Award |