Apple Tops Coke As Top World Brand

Coca-Cola and all its carbonated goodness is king no more. After 13 consecutive years of being the world's top brand, the soda manufacturer has been dethroned by tech giant Apple. As it turns out, it was not only knocked from the top spot, but kicked all the way to third as Google joined in on the fight to surpass Apple. The two have notably been grappling for the past few years, with Google's Android in fierce contention with the ever-changing iPhone. The list was saturated with tech companies this year, with IBM, Microsoft, Samsung and Intel making appearances in the top 10. The list is released annually by Interbrand, which not only talks with company executives one-on-one about public image, but takes into account financial performance, cultural relevance and the value of its products over time. "Every so often, a company changes our lives, not just with its products, but with its ethos," Interbrand CEO Jez Frampton said in this year's report. "This is why, following Coca-Cola's 13-year run at the top of Best Global Brands, Interbrand has a new No. 1 -- Apple."

Apple got a 28 percent increase in brand value from last year from Interbrand, which appraised the company's value at $98.3 billion. Apple took the No. 2 spot last year, whereas Coke only jumped 2 percent to be valued at $79.2 billion. Other tech brands and websites, such as Facebook and Amazon, were among the fastest growers on the list. This isn't the first crown Apple stole recently, as it kicked Microsoft to the curb last year to become the most valuable public company in history, though its stock value has suffered recently. The tech manufacturer also broke records with its recent iPhone 5S release, selling 9 million units its first weekend. Though critics say Apple's innovative force is weakening, Interbran is not so sure about such claims. "(CEO) Tim Cook has assembled a solid leadership team and has kept Steve Jobs' vision intact -- a vision that has allowed Apple to deliver on its promise of innovation time and time again," Frampton said.