JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Brand Finance, the world's leading brand valuation and strategy consultancy headquartered in London, UK, issued it's 2015 list of the top 500 2015 brands in the United States, and 16 of those are based in Florida.
The total brand value of those Florida brands was $32 billion, up 2 percent from last year.
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The company found that Publix was the top brand in Florida, ranking 92nd on the list of 500 -- up two spots from last year.
Royal Caribbean International, Raymond James and Hertz Global Holdings were the Florida companies showing the most brand grown, with 23 percent, 10 percent and 9 percent growth from last year.
The highest brand rating in Florida was AA+, achieved by the following companies: Bacardi, Norwegian Cruise, Grey Goose, Burger King, Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Lines. New entrants in Florida this year include: Bacardi, Norwegian Cruise, Grey Goose, and Burger King.
Publix and Jacksonville-based CSX, which was ranked 177 on the list, were both AA. Fidelity National, another Jacksonville-Fortune 500 company, was ranked 326 by Brand Finance and given an A+ rating.
The company ranks Apple No. 1 in the nation, based on brand awareness, loyalty, emotional connection, market share and other factors. Coca-Cola is ranked fourth, Walt Disney was 15th and Amazon was 56th.