Coca-Cola tops the Checkout Top 100 Brands for 2024, produced by Checkout, the leading magazine for the grocery retail sector in Ireland, in partnership with NIQ Ireland. This means that this iconic global brand has claimed the number-one spot in our rankings for a record-breaking 20 years in succession.
The drinks giant isn’t the only brand to retain its top-ten position from 2023, with some of Ireland’s biggest brands standing strong in the rankings and putting it up to their international counterparts.
Read The Latest Edition Now: Checkout Top 100 Brands 2024
Changes At The Top
Apart from Coca-Cola, another four of the top ten brands for 2024 – Lucozade, Tayto, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Red Bull – have held on to the rankings that they achieved last year, with chewing gum brand Extra climbing from number 12 in 2023 to enter the top ten, at number nine, in 2024.
This means that 7UP has moved down from number nine to number ten, which, in turn, has forced Pringles out of the top ten and into the number-11 position this year. Energy drink Monster moves up by two places, from number seven in 2023 to number five in 2024, while last year’s number-five brand, Avonmore, moves to number six this year.
The Checkout Top 100 Brands is based on branded value sales across the Irish grocery sector, making it the most accurate barometer of the biggest-selling brands in the marketplace. In compiling the report, NIQ Ireland measures the sales performance of over 5,000 brands from over 200 product classes.
Flying High
“Ireland’s grocery market is a beacon of excellence, where trusted brands consistently deliver quality and innovation, delighting consumers year after year,” says Maev Martin, editor of Checkout. “While the retail landscape is still challenging, inflation has been decelerating this year, leading to greater stability and, in many instances, accelerated growth for grocery retail brands.
“As always, it is encouraging to see so many Irish brands among the biggest movers on the Checkout Top 100 Brands list for 2024. This year, it is particularly pleasing to see Irish yoghurt brand Glenisk rocket up the rankings by no fewer than 32 places, from number 92 in 2023 to number 60. This means that Glenisk is the brand that makes the biggest leap up the rankings in 2024.
“The September 2021 fire at its plant in Killeigh, outside Tullamore, in Co. Offaly, halted production for four months and put the brand at a massive disadvantage in the market. Its year-on-year climb back up the rankings ever since, and its gargantuan achievement this year, is a testament to the consistent quality of the Glenisk product and to the esteem in which the brand is held by Irish shoppers.”
Other brands making big leaps on our list this year include HB Cornetto, which moves up the rankings by 16 places, from number 91 to number 75, and Cadbury Snack, which moves up by 15 places, from number 78 to number 63. Another sweet treat, Kinder – this time in Confectionery – moves up by 13 places, from number 47 to number 34. Despite the increasing availability of no-sugar options in many grocery retail categories, Irish shoppers are clearly very fond of their sugar-filled treats.
Washing and fabric care brand Ariel and frozen-potato brand McCain have both risen by 12 places in the rankings, with the former moving from number 76 to 64 and McCain moving from 77 in 2023 to 65 in 2024.
Irish Brands
“Ireland’s FMCG brands have shown remarkable resilience and innovation, as they continue to thrive and deliver exceptional value to consumers, proving that strength and adaptability are at the heart of their success,” says Ruth Lloyd-Evans, senior business insights manager, retailer services, NIQ Ireland. “Brands continue to thrive by adapting to changing consumer preferences, investing in sustainable practices, and leveraging digital transformation.
“These strategies help food brands connect with their target audience, drive engagement, and, ultimately, increase sales. The outlook for 2025 is on the rise, as consumer sentiment continues to improve and inflation is stabilising. Pressure points are easing, and shoppers are shifting from cautious to intentional spending. However, concerns regarding economic stability, personal financial security, and environmental health remain prevalent.”
Apart from Glenisk, many other well-known Irish brands have delivered strong performances this year. They include hand-cooked crisp brand and Ireland’s most-awarded crisp, O’Donnells, which moves up the rankings by seven places, from number 49 to number 42.
Ireland’s number-one branded sausage, Clonakilty, moves up by six places, from 63 to 57, while Deep River Rock, which celebrates 30 years in the Irish market this year, moves up the rankings by five places, from 31 to 26, as does iconic Irish brand Barry’s Tea, which moves from 33 to 28.
Meanwhile, two stalwarts of the Irish food industry, Keogh’s Crisps and Flahavan’s, retain their number-56 and number-62 positions, respectively.
What’s New?
This year, we welcome two new brands to the Top 100. The first of these is Ferrero, and the first thing that many consumers think of when this brand is mentioned is the ‘The Ambassador’s Party’ TV ad from 1993, wherein one of the guests thanks the ambassador, saying, “Monsieur, with these Rocher, you are really spoiling us!” Over 20 years later, the golden-papered chocolates are making a comeback with Irish consumers, as they move from number 103 last year to join the list at number 90.
Our second new entry, Hula Hoops, rises by no fewer than 22 places from the number-118 position last year, to claim the number-96 spot this year. Renowned for its unique ability to fit on fingers, Hula Hoops was first launched in 1973, and since then, it has maintained its position as one of Ireland’s favourite snacks, with 34 million packs enjoyed across Ireland in 2023.
Top Categories
Numerous categories have improved their rankings – some quite significantly – in the Checkout Top 100 Categories for 2024. This year, the Solid Baking Products category has the distinction of making the biggest jump within the list, as it moves up by seven places, from 98 to 91. The Sugar category moves up the rankings by six places, from number 78 to 72, as do the Air-Fresheners and Washing-Up Liquids categories, with Air-Fresheners moving from 68 to 62 and Washing-Up Liquids moving from 87 to 81.
Five categories move up the rankings by four places: Deodorants moves from number 44 to number 40, Stock and Gravy Mixes from 72 to 68, Olive Oil from number 89 to 85, Jam from 94 to 90, and Other Table Sauces from 100 last year to 96 this year.
Frozen Savoury Products is a new category on our Top 100 Categories list for 2024, moving up by eight places from number 103, to join the list at number 95.
Category Leaders
Like last year, we have ten new leaders on the Checkout Top 100 Categories list for 2024. In Cakes, Ryan’s dethrones the 2023 category leader, Stafford’s Bakeries. In Detergents, Fairy claims the top spot from last year’s leading brand, Persil, while in Dishwasher Products, Fairy Platinum Plus relinquishes its category leadership position to last year’s fourth-placed brand, Fairy Platinum.
In Shampoo, L’Oréal Elvive claims the top spot from Head & Shoulders, while Airwick is the new leader in Air-Fresheners. In Shower Gels, Dove takes the top spot from Radox, and there is a new leader – Sorrento – in the Chilled Pizza category. Crisp ‘n’ Dry is the new leader in Cooking Oils (Non-Olive), while in Jam, Folláin displaces Bonne Maman to claim the top spot. In Liquid Soap, Palmolive wrests the number-one position from Carex.
New Brands
Numerous grocery retail categories welcomed new brands into the ranks of the top five this year. These include the Purepower Nutrition brand in Fresh Meals; Ballyfree in Pre-Packed Sausages; Finnebrogue in Pre-Packed Bacon; WillowWarm in Ignition Products; Kellogg’s Cereal Milk Bars in Granola Bars; Sun Exotic in Nuts; Lutosa in Frozen Chips; Diggers in Frozen Prepared Fish Products; Chivers in Cream; Sisú and All About Kombucha in Health/Functional Drinks; Finish Ultimate All-in-1 in Dishwasher Products; Surcare in Fabric Softeners; Gold Seal and Whitworths in Sugar; Rascal & Friends in Baby Wipes; Schär in Chilled Pizza; Gillette Blue II Plus Slalom in Razors; McDonnells in Prepared/Savoury Dips; and Lifeforce in Cooking Oils (Non-Olive).
Checkout Top 100 Brands 2024: The Top Ten
- Coca-Cola
- Lucozade
- Tayto
- Dairy Milk
- Monster
- Avonmore
- Brennans
- Red Bull
- Extra
- 7UP
*Produced in partnership with NIQ Ireland.
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