H&M named Europe’s most valuable retail brand

H&M is the most valuable retail brand in Europe, according to a report from Interbrand.

The Swedish-owned high street clothing brand tops the consultancy’s Best Retail Brand Report, published today.

It is valued at €11 125m (£10 247m), having expanded its store presence from 1522 outlets in 2007 to 1738 in 2008.

Its success is attributed to a strong image and regular collaborations with fashionable designers. Next year will see more innovations with a planned Collection of Style concept.

French supermarket Carrefour follows in second place, with a value of €9523m (£8771m), and Ikea at €7373m (£6791m).

The annual league table ranks the top 20 global retail brands using Interbrand’s brand valuation methodology, a derivative of the way business and financial assets are assessed.

Interbrand global chief executive Jez Frampton acknowledges that while discounting during recession may form a big part of survival strategies, it is more important than ever for retail brands to invest in ways to connect with their customers.

The top four US retail brands are Wal-Mart, with a value of $129bn (£87.6bn), followed by Best Buy at US$21bn (£14bn), The Home Depot at US$20bn (£13.5bn) and Target valued at US$17bn (£11.5bn).

The report also examines issues affecting brands in retail and consumer packaged goods sectors, and offers insights for all businesses.