Marks & Spencer remains one of the best-loved brands among British consumers, according to a new survey from pollster YouGov.
The BrandIndex study, which asked shoppers to name their favourite brands operating in the UK, placed M&S in third place. Online retailer Amazon took second spot – closing the gap on internet giant Google, which topped the list for a second successive year.
“It’s been a tough year for the leading brands - very few have managed to improve their perceptions in consumers’ eyes,” said Sarah Murphy, YouGov’s BrandIndex associate director. “However, many outside the leaders have certainly bucked that trend.”
Other big names in the retail industry placed highly on the list included John Lewis, Boots and Sainsbury’s, all of which featured in the top 10. Struggling confectionery chain Thornton’s took 11th place, despite a difficult 2011 which saw it begin to shift its focus away from the high street.
Last week, M&S signalled its intention to ease some of the pressure on cash-strapped consumers by cutting prices, after clothing sales failed to impress during a challenging Christmas period.
