CorpComms Magazine

Banks have been relegated as retailers top UK consumer trust tables.

British clothes and food retailer Marks & Spencer has earned poll position in UK consumers' confidence, according to a poll by PR agency Lansons Communications and market research firm Opinium. The John Lewis Partnership follows close behind, while UK supermarket Tesco, pharmacist Boots, and venture capital group Virgin, boasting planes, trains, music and mobile phones within its portfolio, make up the top five.   

High-street banks have been pushed out of the top ten but five still feature in the 20 most trusted brands, with Barclays and HSBC sharing 12th place, Nationwide at 16th, Lloyds TSB at 19th and Natwest holding on to number 20. 

In a climate of perceived injustice in the banking sector, it is perhaps unsurprising that co-operatives, mutuals and partnerships, in which consumers share in the companies' fortunes, retain public trust. John Lewis, Nationwide and retail group the Co-operative all continue to stake out terrain in the top 20. 

The only non UK companies to get a foot in the door are online retailer Amazon (ninth place) and US technology manufacturer Apple (in at ten).

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