March 2011
Featured in this insight: Sports & physical activity
Survey reveals most hated UK companies – Manchester United in first place: According to the results of a recent survey conducted by Online Opinions, Manchester United is currently the most hated company in Britain.
The poll of over 1,000 people saw Sir Alex Ferguson's United secure 26% of the overall vote – the club's success, power and huge worldwide following were given as reasons for its dislikeable status among non-fans.
A spokesman for the survey company commented: ''Manchester United is possibly a victim of its own success and the way it is viewed by passionate fans of its rivals but it is different for banks and utilities. Banks get billions of pounds to rescue them from the public then go and splash out millions on bonuses while the rest of the country is in recession – no wonder they are so disliked. And utilities keep raising household bills at a time when people can afford them the least yet they still seem to be making lots of profits."
Companies that also ranked top in the survey were Ryanair (23%), British Gas (22%), McDonald's (19%), RBS (17%), Lloyds Bank (16%), Starbucks (14%), BT (13%), Sky (13%), easyJet (10%) and Network Rail (9%).
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