CorpComms Magazine

Virgin Galactic, which hopes to bring space travel to the (rich) masses, could be heading for the stars according to new research which names the ten brands to watch this decade.

The list, which includes four British brands, has been drawn up by Further, a new design consultancy launched today following the merger of design and brand identity company FHD, part of Fishburn Hedges, and specialist corporate reporting firm Pauffley.

Adrian Day, managing partner of Further, said: 'Ten years ago, there was no iPod, Twitter or Facebook, and Google was in its infancy.  The Internet was the major phenomenon that shaped brand evolution in the noughties.  The next ten years - themselves as yet unbranded, although 'tweenies' is our prediction - are going to be characterised by incredible change.

'The emergence of a significant consumer demographic in nations like China and India, ageing Western populations, the importance of low carbon - these are just some of the major trends that will create an entirely unprecedented climate for brands in the next decade.  The brands that go furthest over the coming years will be those that are best placed to capitalise on this changing climate.'

Further predicts the top ten brands to be:

- United Breweries Group, an Indian conglomerate that owns Kingfisher beer and recently acquired Whyte & Mackay.

- Build Your Dreams, a Chinese manufacturer that claims to produce 30 per cent of the world's mobile phone battery market and has just launched BYD Auto, producing hybrid and electric cars, to target Chinese drivers.

- MTN, South Africa's mobile phone company that has more than 40 million subscribers across 21 countries.

- Natura Cosmetics, Brazil's largest cosmetic manufacturer, which is driving the country's sustainable initiatives.

-  Virgin Galactic, which plans to launch sub-orbital space flights for $200,000 within two years

-  Kapersky Lab, a Russian company that produces technologies to provide protection for more than 250 million Internet users around the world.

-  Westover Clinics, a London based one-stop shop providing GPS, dentists, opticians, specialists, therapists and clinic services, including laser treatment for skin problems.

-  OnLive, an on-demand video service which could potentially allow people to stream computer games in real time over the Internet with no need or expensive consoles

-  Climate Exchange, an AIM-listed company that owns, operates and develops exchanges on which environmental financial instruments, such as emissions reduction credits, can be traded.

-  Plastic Logic, a spin off company from Cambridge University that has created a flexible A4-size and robust plastic electronic display the thickness of a credit-card which replaces the need for paper.

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