Best brands celebrated

Bangladesh Brand Forum or BBF yesterday recognised Lux, Grameenphone, KFC and Radhuni along with 100 other names as the finest brands, highlighting their acceptance among consumers. 

BBF honoured the leading brands in 35 categories based on a month-long countrywide consumer survey carried out by American brand research company Millward Brown in Dhaka.

Five new categories -- fashion boutique, food joint, FM radio, superstore and furniture -- were added this year.

In the personal care category, winners include Lux, Fair & Lovely and Closeup. In the food and beverage categories, the best brands were Horlicks, 7up & Maggi.

KFC operated in Bangladesh by Transcom Foods Ltd won the Best Brand Award 2015 in the food joint category. On September 6, KFC completed nine years of operations in Bangladesh.

Akku Chowdhury, managing director of Transcom Foods Ltd, received the award from the chief guest.

Agora won the award in the superstore category, Ispahani Mirzapore in hot beverage, Otobi in furniture, Aarong in fashion boutique, the Prothom Alo in print media, and Radio Foorti as the FM radio station.

Grameenphone, the country's largest mobile phone operator, came on top in the mobile phone network category, and Symphony in the handset category.

Along with the top brands in each category, top 10 brands and local top 10 brands were also recognised.

The top 10 local brands are: Symphony, Radhuni, Teer refined soybean oil, Super Fresh soybean oil, Walton refrigerator, Cocola noodles, Milk Vita, Walton TV, Teer flour and Sandalina sandal soap.

In a special category, Samsung was recognised as the Best Newcomer Brand, Banglalink the Most Improved Brand and Lux the Most Consistent Brand. An honorary crest was handed over to the Bangladesh Cricket Team for outstanding performance this year, as they beat top teams such as India, South Africa and Pakistan.

The event, which was held at the capital's Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, was attended by around 600 brand and marketing professionals, diplomats, government officials and members of various business associations.

Launched in 2008, the Best Brand Award is held every year to honour the finest brands in the country based on a consumer survey. The award is organised in association with The Daily Star.

The event was supported by Haque Group of Industries, Independent TV, MSB, Webable, Maverick and Aamra.

Shariful Islam, founder of BBF, and Khandaker Samina Afrin, country manager of Millward Brown, spoke at the event.