Brand Barometer

M & S gets festive with star cast

High-profile celebrities provide spark for high street brand's successful £10m Christmas TV campaign

Argos set for merry Christmas

First major retailer to launch Christmas campaign enjoys an increase in its overall index rating

L'Oréal cashes in on Cole factor

Celebrity's role as the face of Elvive shampoo increases buzz scores for beauty product manufacturer

Burger King rings the changes

Fast-food provider promotes its latest creation with quirky ad that provokes positive consumer response

BMW ads are a joy to behold

Car manufacturer recovers from closure of its Mini factory to achieve a year-high reputation score

Cadbury follows Fairtrade route

Dairy Milk's latest ad campaign shows commitment to an ethical trading policy is paying dividends

Next bucks high-street trend

Fashion retailer takes the New York subway to help close the gap on arch clothing rival Debenhams

Twix creates teatime appeal

Mars' chocolate brand plans to muscle in on KitKat territory with campaign aimed at tea drinkers

Pat delivers Specsavers' word

Specsavers has strengthened its position in the past few years with a string of successful campaigns, leaving its rivals struggling to make themselves heard.

Ever since a certain Russian meerkat appeared on our screens, telling us that cheap car insurance could be found at comparethemarket.com, the rival comparison websites have ramped up their advertising activity in response.