Amul Becomes the World’s Strongest Dairy Brand in 2026
India’s Amul has been ranked the world’s strongest dairy brand for 2026 by Brand Finance. Its Brand Strength Index score was 93, based on measures including consumer familiarity, trust, reputation and influence over purchasing decisions.
Amul ranked ahead of Vietnam’s Vinamilk, which scored 89.6, and Finland’s Valio, with 88.3. China’s Mengniu and Yili followed with scores of 87.2 and 85.0. Almarai, President, Arla, Danone and Gerber completed the ten-brand strength ranking, although no scores were provided for those companies.
The ranking distinguishes between the strength of a brand among consumers and its financial brand value. Amul’s leading strength score reflects the recognition and consumer equity associated with the farmer-owned cooperative in India and its international markets.
Yili retained the top position for financial brand value. Its value rose by 29% to $14.5bn, with the company operating across liquid milk, milk powder, yoghurt, ice cream and nutritional products. Danone ranked second on this measure at $8.2bn, followed by Mengniu at $6bn. Amul placed fourth, with an estimated financial brand value of $5bn.
Arla recorded the fastest increase among the ten most valuable dairy brands. The Danish company’s brand value grew by 39% to $3.4bn. The other brands in that ranking were Almarai at $4.1bn, President at $3.1bn, Vinamilk at $2.6bn, Valio at $2.1bn and Gerber at $1.9bn.
Amul operates through a cooperative structure linking millions of dairy farmers with consumers. The company’s ranking reflects the brand’s position relative to established international dairy businesses on the specific measure of brand strength, while Yili’s position reflects the separate measure of financial brand valuation.
Brand Finance’s results therefore place Amul first for consumer-oriented brand strength and Yili first for monetary brand value. The two rankings use different measures of performance within the international dairy industry.
