India’s largest dairy brand Amul has become the strongest brand worldwide in 2026, beating a number of well-known international competitors to be able to achieve the distinction.
Brand Finance’s latest Food & Drinks 2026 report, which is based on brand strength, consumer familiarity, trust, reputation and influence on purchasing decisions among food, beverage and dairy brands, awarded Amul a 93 out of 100 score and a AAA+ rating.
Amul is ahead of many international dairy companies. Vietnam’s Vinamilk achieved an 89.6 BSI score, while Finland’s Valio scored 88.3. China’s Mengniu and Yili both scored 87.2 and 85.0, respectively. Other brands included in the global top ten were Almarai, Président, Arla, Danone etc. Amul’s ranking is a testament to their exceptional performance in consumer trust, recognition and its ability to influence buying decisions.
Such a brand is particularly powerful because of India’s dairy cooperative model. Amul is marketed through a huge network of dairy cooperatives and milk producers in the province of Gujarat. This farmer-to-farmer relationship of manufacturing has helped Amul and the farmers become a brand of everyday life in India.
The latest recognition also comes at the same time as strong growth of Amul’s financial brand value ( Brand Finance). Amul’s brand value grew 22% to $5 billion (which makes it the fourth most valuable dairy brand globally) and also the 13th among the world’s top food brands on the overall Food 100 rankings. Brand strength and brand value are two different metrics that are not the same. Amul is the world’s leading dairy brand strength while Yili continues to have the top financial brand value.
Yili’s brand value increased 29% to approximately $14.5 billion, keeping it as the world’s most valuable dairy brand. Danone came in second with a brand value of $8.2 billion and Mengniu was third with $6 billion. Amul was fourth in the financial-value list with a valuation of $5 billion. The difference between the two lists shows why Amul’s latest win is all about brand strength rather than being the world’s most valuable dairy company or brand by monetary value.
Amul is also growing to be a global brand, and is now more international than ever. And it’s not just milk but butter, ghee, cheese, paneer, ice cream, chocolates, beverages and many other traditional Indian foods. The brand has broad product range and wide distribution network of products to keep its brand to the global market.
The cooperative’s financial performance has also been increasing. The Amul brand’s unduplicated turnover grew to Rs 1 lakh crore in the financial year 2025-26, which is around 11 percent higher than in previous year, reports GCMMF. The company’s product portfolio was developed in large quantities, distribution network was acquired to meet the changing consumers’ needs in both urban and rural markets and this growth was the reason for this growth.
Therefore the Brand Finance Award is far more than just an Indian consumer brand’s latest honor. It also demonstrates the growing global market power of India’s dairy sector and the ability of a farmer-owned cooperative to compete with some of the world’s largest commercial dairy companies.
Amul’s success also has a strong symbolic value for Indian consumers. A brand that started in the cooperative movement and developed into a key brand in the development of India’s dairy industry has now climbed to the top of a global brand-strength ranking. With its low cost, widespread availability, consumers’ familiarity and long-term trust, it has forged a very good relationship with older generations of consumers.
Amul is now in a position to grow internationally, with its brand value increasing, international footprint growing and product mix evolving. The 93-point BSI score and AAA+ rating underscore the quality of the Amul brand and support the company’s standing as India’s leading consumer brand globally.
