16 (19) Danone Activia
Sales: £243.3m (+10.1%)
Launched: 1999
Danone Activia has overtaken Müller Corner as the bestselling yoghurt brand, thanks to a 10.1% increase in value sales that saw it jump three places. Innovation shows no signs of letting up. Last October, it followed in the footsteps of Rachel’s to launch a range of pouring yoghurts. It will be hoping the range fares better than Rachel’s version, which was axed after just eight months.

17 (21) Heinz soup
Sales: £230.3m (+9.2%)
Launched: 1910
Heinz Classic Cream of Tomato Soup celebrated its 100th birthday last September – with the company marking the occasion by releasing a limited-edition label based on the original packaging. This launch – and a particularly wintry start to 2010 – helped value sales of the brand grow 9.2%, while volume rose 9.1%.

According to Heinz internal data for January 2010 – at the height of the harsh weather conditions that brought the nation to a standstill – the company broke soup sales records, with 57.3 million cans sold in that month alone. That’s almost one can for every UK citizen.

“These strong sales translated into additional buyers for Heinz, with 1.8 million new households buying into Cream of Mushroom, Vegetable and Chicken,” says Matthew Cullum, marketing controller of Heinz Soups. He adds that the highest sales were in London, while Cream of Tomato proved to be the fastest-growing variety.

Another factor behind Heinz’s strong showing in 2010 was the launch in July of reduced salt versions of the Classic range. Using 25% less salt than the traditional Heinz Classic soup, they are part of the brand’s on-going commitment to drive value in the healthy eating category, says Cullum.

Heinz promotional activity also hit new heights in 2010, with the volume of soup sold on deal reaching 51%, compared with 36% in 2009. The fact the brand has managed to leap up the Britain’s Biggest Brands rankings this year – from 21st place to 17th – would suggest such aggressive promotional tactics have paid off in spades.

18 (15) Müller Corner

Sales: £230.2m +1.3%
Launched: 1988
Despite a £9m overhaul in May last year, including a new Greek-style sub-range, Müller Corner has been overtaken as the best-selling yoghurt brand by Danone Activia. With its 1.3% value sales growth lagging a long way behind that of its arch rival’s, it appears to be the victim of heavy trade promotion. Or should that be beneficiary, as volume sales were up by a more impressive 7.4%.

19 (18) Heinz Beanz
Sales: £228.7m (+2.7%)
Launched: 1886
Heinz larged it up in September last year when it launched the 1kg Fridge Pack. Aimed at families – and any bean fans who eat just part of a tin and leave the rest neglected in the fridge – Heinz expects the tub to be a £10m hit in its first year. The brand also found itself in the limelight in December and January as its factory workers held two 24-hour strikes following a pay dispute.

20 (25) Galaxy
Sales: £224.2m (+13.2%)
Launched: 1960
Galaxy spent £2.5m on the roll-out of Bubbles in 2010, the brand’s biggest-ever launch. Smaller, curvier and less calorific than its peers Aero and Wispa – and packaged in pastel shades – the bar is designed to appeal to a female audience. The launch budget seems to have been money well spent, with Galaxy sales boosted by a healthy 13.2%, though some of the growth was due to price hikes.

Britain's 100 Biggest Brands 2011