Brandwave

John West vs King Oscar:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, John West had more branded searches than King Oscar among canned fish brands worldwide. John West had about 40,500 branded searches, while King Oscar had 37,000. John West made up 11.6% of all canned fish brand searches we track, and King Oscar accounted for 10.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about canned fish brands, King Oscar appeared in three of the four answers and John West in none.

Among canned fish brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

John West, about 9% more searches than King Oscar

John West 40.5K searchesKing Oscar 37K searches

Who does AI mention more?

King Oscar, mentioned in 3 of 4 answers, John West in 0

King Oscar in 3 of 4John West in 0 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

King Oscar, the only one of the two named

King Oscar first in 3John West never named

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Top canned fish brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, King Oscar was mentioned in three out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. John West did not appear in any of the four answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Wild Planet1st
  2. Fishwife2nd
  3. King Oscar3rd
  4. Safe Catch4th
  5. Bar Harbor–
  6. Rio Mare–
  7. John West–
  8. Princes–
  9. Brunswick–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Wild Planet4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • King Oscar3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Fishwife3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Safe Catch2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Bar Harbor0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Rio Mare0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • John West0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Princes0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Brunswick0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about canned fish brands

4 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is John West or King Oscar more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for John West and King Oscar by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine canned fish brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

John West and King Oscar among canned fish brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for John West, King Oscar. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBar HarborRio MareJohn WestSafe CatchKing OscarWild PlanetFishwifePrincesBrunswick
Oct 202552.1%13.2%7%10.6%8.3%4.7%3.8%0.27%0.02%
Nov 202531.8%18%7.8%10.1%13%9.5%9.5%0.38%0.02%
Dec 202528.2%12.2%8.4%10.5%16.4%8.4%15.4%0.36%0.01%
Jan 202630.2%14%6%16.2%16.8%7.4%9.1%0.33%0.02%
Feb 202633.2%15.4%6.6%14.6%13.6%8.1%8.1%0.35%0.01%
Mar 202632.2%14.9%5.3%14.1%12.5%6.4%14.4%0.26%0.02%
Apr 202636.6%12.3%4.9%12.8%19.7%6%7.4%0.28%0.02%
May 202638.1%21.6%9.3%10.9%11.6%4.2%4.2%0.16%<0.01%
Jun 202645.9%13.7%13.8%8.8%11.5%3.4%2.8%0.16%<0.01%
Jul 202656.6%9.6%4.2%10.8%11.6%4.2%2.8%0.17%0.02%
Aug 202652.6%9.7%4.7%12.3%13.2%4.7%2.6%0.23%0.01%
Sep 202647.2%12%11.6%11.4%10.6%4.2%2.8%0.22%0.01%

How has the John West and King Oscar comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: John West took it in June 2026, King Oscar took it in July 2026, John West took it in September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, John West’s share of searches among canned fish brands worldwide moved from 7% to 11.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 18.1K to 40.5K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, King Oscar’s share of searches among canned fish brands worldwide moved from 8.3% to 10.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 21.4K to 37K.

How did search popularity change for canned fish brands worldwide in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, Rio Mare overtook King Oscar and Safe Catch to rank 2nd among canned fish brands worldwide, with 12% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, John West overtook King Oscar and Safe Catch to rank 3rd among canned fish brands worldwide, with 11.6% of the searches.

  3. In September 2026, King Oscar lost share of searches among canned fish brands worldwide, from 13.2% to 10.6%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using John West’s and King Oscar’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

John West

1 branded search term

  • john west

King Oscar

2 branded search terms

  • king oscar
  • king oscar sardines

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among canned fish brands

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