Ipsos has launched InnoExplorer, which uses generative and analytical AI to help clients accelerate innovation cycles 'from months to days' and improve success rates. More
Consumer behavioral data firm Circana has launched Liquid Data Engage, which allows retailers to manage market performance, category management, loyalty, supply chain, and retail media data assets in one solution, and identify opportunities for growth. More
Consumer data giant Circana, which was formed following the merger of IRI and The NPD Group, has agreed to acquire independent MR firm Golf Datatech, which tracks golf retail activity across the US, the UK, Sweden, France and Germany. More
In the US, retail tech firm Stackline has launched a tool called Beacon Pro, using AI to help brands predict future sales, traffic, conversion, marketing and operational performance across every product. More
In the US, strategy and insights firm Quester has launched a brand-building methodology called DRIVE, which the company says 'puts real people and their love and emotional connection to brands at the heart of the creation process'. More
In the US Circana, the company formed from the merger of IRI and the NPD Group, has launched what it describes as its first 'guided survey solution'. Fast Feedback Guided Surveys taps the consumer insights platform of partner firm Zappi and targets 'small to midsize CPG brands'. More
TRA Labs, the ventures arm of Australian insights firm TRA, has partnered with innovation studio Previously Unavailable to launch Ideally, a platform promising 'fast, affordable and accessible customer insights to help bring great ideas to life'. More
In the US, four former execs of new product advisory service Top Box Associates have launched a research agency called Innovate Wisely, focused on new product development. More
Toronto, Canada-based Dig Insights has appointed former GutCheck CRO Jessica ('Jess') Gaedeke as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO).| More
Consumer behaviour specialist Circana, formed from the merger of IRI and The NPD Group, has launched a solution called 'AlwaysOn Analytics', allowing clients to analyze real-time data using advanced algorithms, to give immediate insights. More
Consumer behaviour specialist Circana, formed from the merger of IRI and The NPD Group, has appointed Anne Bramman as Chief Financial and Growth Officer and a member of its executive leadership team. She starts on June 20th. More
Circana, recently formed from the merger of consumer data and insights firms Information Resources Inc. (IRI) and The NPD Group, has appointed long-time Ford exec Amy Marentic as President, Global Solutions. She succeeds Nishat Mehta who is leaving after six years with the firm. More
In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has appointed Brad Martinez as Programming & Data Visualization Specialist and Rachel Lenz has a Project Director, while promoting Emily Trentacosta to VP of Strategy & Insights. The firm has also promoted six other employees. More
Ipsos has appointed Tom Juetten as Executive Vice President and Service Line Lead for its US Innovation Practice, which provides clients with insights on the entire innovation process, from ideation and concept testing to post-launch evaluation. More
Armenian product testing and validation platform Prelaunch.com has secured $1.5 million in seed funding, and says it will use the funds to expand in the US and elsewhere, and to develop its product. More
In the US, recently merged consumer data and insights firms Information Resources Inc. (IRI) and The NPD Group have named the combined company 'Circana', which CEO Kirk Perry says conveys the business's 360-degree, full-circle understanding of the consumer and market. More
In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has hired Ashley D'Annunzio for the newly created role of Director of Qualitative, while Shelbi Webb joins as a Project Director. More
London-based immersive product shopping platform Situ Live has raised £1m in an investment round, which it will use to further develop its technology and increase sales and marketing activity. More
Kantar has added a price sensitivity module to its Concept eValuate suite, to help brands identify the ideal price range for new products. More
Israel-based near real-time consumer insights provider Revuze has raised $12m in a round of growth investment, supported by NPD Group's former CEO and Chair. Proceeds will be used for expansion into the US, to scale technology, and to continue to innovate. More
In the US, former Microsoft exec Malli Vangala has joined newly merged consumer data and insights providers IRI and The NPD Group as Chief Strategy Officer. He succeeds Wei Lin Wong, who will now focus on his role as President of Retail. More
Private equity firm Beringer Capital has spent an undisclosed sum to acquire a majority stake in Toronto, Canada-based Dig Insights. More
UK-based product / consumer research agency Sensory Dimensions has been acquired by Eurofins-owned SAM Sensory and Consumer Research, for an undisclosed sum. More
US-based direct marketing company Publishers Clearing House (PCH) has launched a platform called PCH Consumer Insight, which offers access to market feedback and intelligence on new products, packaging, pricing and marketing messages. More
Consumer data and insights companies IRI and NPD have completed their merger, which brings together a global team to deliver a view of consumer behavior and total retail purchasing and consumption trends. A unified name and brand for the combined company will be announced soon. More
In the US, consumer data giant IRI has launched the OmniConsumer Receipt Panel, which will source shopping receipt data from 120,000 active households to provide insights into how consumers are shopping across channels. More
Melbourne, Australia-based tech-driven research agency Cubery has rolled out its platform in Canada, Singapore and Ireland. More
Matt Britton started digital research platform Suzy in 2018, named it after a favourite song, worked with other non-researchers to build it, and got to $25 million annual recurring revenue 'faster than Salesforce and Qualtrics'. An interview with MrWeb's Nick Thomas - available as video or in print. More
Product testing platform Maze has raised $40m in a Series B round of funding, for use in developing new solutions, including further investment in its new participant management solution Reach. More
SurveyMonkey parent Momentive has launched a new solution for concept and creative testing, Idea Screening. The tool promises 'quick, AI-powered insights on early-stage ideas, claims or concepts'. More
UK-based consumer and sensory research agency PPL Insights and France-based consumer and shopper research specialist Strategir have formed a joint venture, to provide a broad range of research services linking all elements of the consumer journey. More
Major league consumer data and insights firms IRI and The NPD Group have announced they are to merge, promising clients 'a view of total retail purchasing and consumption trends powered by advanced, predictive analytics' on IRI's Liquid Data technology platform. More
In the US, market research and analytics company GutCheck has launched an online qualitative co-creation solution called Agile Creative Think Tank (ACTT), to integrate the voice of customer (VOC) into exploration, innovation and creative development projects. More
Retail data provider The NPD Group has launched the 'Chinese Sports Footwear E-Commerce Tracking Service', covering online sales of international and domestic sports brands in China. More
Retail data provider The NPD Group is to be acquired by private equity firm Hellman & Friedman (H&F), with NPD Executive Chairman Tod Johnson and CEO Karyn Schoenbart retaining a minority stake in the business and continuing to serve on the Board. More
In New York, full-service MR firm 360 Market Reach has launched a solution combining consumer insights and targeted social media influencer feedback to support product development initiatives. More
In the US, market research and analytics company GutCheck has launched a 'human experience' intelligence solution called Innovation Illuminator, to support new product development initiatives. More
US-based youth and family researcher Smarty Pants has hired long-time ViacomCBS exec Michael Desmarais as Vice President, based in Los Angeles. More
Consumer insights platform Toluna has added a range of new product development methodologies to its Start platform, including needs identification, ideation, and claims testing solutions. More
Canada-based Dig Insights has added a new feature called Idea Split to its innovation insights platform Upsiide. Users can now assess a handful of validated ideas against critical business metrics, gathering quant and qual feedback. More
Packaging and shopper / consumer behaviour specialist PRS IN VIVO has launched a product development research tool called InnoCompass, promising to help pinpoint ideas with the highest market potential. More
UK-based ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has appointed Alice Saje as Executive Vice President of Operations, to lead its Global Operations team across support, market expansion, fulfilment and business operations. More
In New Zealand, consumer insights, brand planning and innovation agency the One Picture Group has acquired full-service social and marketing research agency Gravitas, which has now been re-named GravitasOPG. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Retail data firm The NPD Group has appointed former Kantar exec Edurne Uranga as Head of Foodservice Spain. More
Ipsos has made its InnoTest idea and concept testing solution available on the Ipsos.Digital DIY platform in seven countries - Brazil and the US plus Europe's 'big 5' - with eight more due to follow shortly. More
US-based researcher The NPD Group has acquired Pricing Excellence, a retail analytics company. Founder Nathan Krol joins NPD and will continue to lead the business for his firm's current product offerings Market Insight and Data Ladder, now potentially enhanced with NPD data. More
Retail data firm The NPD Group has promoted Susan Merrill to the role of President of its US Apparel practice. She succeeds John Deputato, who is retiring this month. More
Innovation insights firm Clarivate Analytics has announced the launch of a Global Business Center in Penang, Malaysia, to be led by VP Shankar Nagalingam. Two more such centres are planned, for London and Chandler, Arizona. More
In Australia, marcoms and media buying group WPP AUNZ has launched a new product development business called 'big', promising to create new categories, new markets and new revenue for clients. More
Innovation analytics firm Clarivate is to open an office for around 150 staff in Chandler, Arizona, and says it will serve as one of three new Centers of Excellence, alongside locations in London and Malaysia. More
Retail data firm The NPD Group has appointed Darren Person as Global Chief Information Officer, and Robert Taylor as SVP, Enterprise Systems. More
In the UK, former Cambridge MR Managing Director Mark Bagnall has set up his own agency ESP Live, which will focus on two areas of consumer research - development of products and techniques to re-shape the way research is conducted, and measurement of experiential marketing campaigns. More
Retail data specialist The NPD Group has launched its 'Toys E-commerce Tracking Service' in China, covering online sales of toy products. More
Dan Hess, former Comscore Chief Product Officer, has joined retail data specialist The NPD Group to lead its global product development and management. More
Hamburg, Germany-based MR agency quantilope has launched a fully-automated TURF model, helping clients to maximise the consumer reach of new products and marketing campaigns by identifying the best combination of attributes. More
Global management consultancy Accenture is to acquire Mexico City-headquartered service design and strategic research firm INSITUM for an undisclosed sum. More
Ipsos has launched an 'Innovation Testing' service, founded on behavioural science and promising to help users 'successfully compete in today's omnichannel world'. More
Consumer insights firm PRS IN VIVO has launched the BEQual Toolkit, which applies behavioral science to projective qualitative research techniques using tablets and real-time feedback. More
Automated consumer insights platform Zappi has launched a tool called Optimize Reach, which uses TURF analysis to understand the combined reach of text-based stimuli, eliminating the need to manually re-run possible scenarios. More
Retail data specialist The NPD Group has appointed Hal Danziger as Head of Next Gen Platforms, working on the design and development of a new data processing and delivery platform which will support new data sets and analytics. More
Nielsen's innovation division BASES has launched a new service called Retail Ready, to help packaged goods manufacturers of all sizes compete for shelf space for their new products. More
The NPD Group has named 25-year GfK veteran François Klipfel as President of its Europe Toys business. More
Harris Interactive has expanded its New Product Development (NPD) Express suite of solutions with the addition of a tool called 'Price Express', through which companies can apply consumer insights to determine costing strategies for their products and services. More
Outdoor advertising company JCDecaux has introduced an international solution for the airport industry called AAM (Airport Audience Measurement). More
In the US, retail data specialist NPD has launched a tool to help retailers understand where they have permission to price items differently from the rest of the market. More
In the UK, retail data specialist The NPD Group has partnered with travel intelligence specialist ForwardKeys to launch its Traveller Statistics platform, with the aim of helping companies better access and understand passenger data. More
US-headquartered real-time consumer behavior specialist First Insight has opened offices in London, UK and Chennai, India. The firm has also added twelve new currencies and ten new languages to its Customer-Centric Merchandising platform. More
The NPD Group has expanded its Retail Tracking Service for a detailed view of the US health and fitness equipment market, with data immediately available including three years of historical comparisons. More
Nielsen has joined the NPD Group in a new alliance which aims to 'reimagine the future of omnishopper measurement'. The partners are building a 'large-scale, comprehensive' consumer panel bringing together Nielsen's CPG measurement and NPD's general merchandise data. More
In the UK, retail information provider The NPD Group has launched a service called Nationality Tracker, providing insight into the duty free shopping behaviour of travellers and how they evolve over time. More
In the US, retail information provider The NPD Group has hired Gina Pingitore as Senior Vice President, Research and Innovation. More
The NPD Group is to work with the U.S. Census Bureau to improve the way retailer data is fed into the Bureau's monthly programs. More
In the US, retail information provider The NPD Group has signed an agreement with the SportsOneSource Group (SOS) to acquire assets from the latter's SSI Data POS Sports and Outdoor tracking business. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, retail information provider The NPD Group has appointed Darren Person as Chief Data Strategy Officer, leading development of the company's tech platform. More
In the UK, travel retail research and analysis firm Counter Intelligence Retail (CiR) is to be re-named NPD Travel Retail, two years after its acquisition by retail information provider The NPD Group. More
Online research and marketing analytics firm MetrixLab has launched Immerse, a 'mass qual' tool to help clients engage consumers in the early stages of the creative development process. More
Retail data pioneer the NPD Group has appointed former GfK exec Stanley Kee as MD of its APAC business, effective January 2nd 2018, based in Singapore and leading teams in China, Japan, South Korea and Australia. More
Consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR has expanded its suite of 'Express' research tools with the addition of 'Accelerator', designed to fast track the early stages of pack and product development. More
Harris Interactive has launched a product called PackTest Express, the latest tool in its digital new product development research suite. More
Philadelphia, PA-based product development and conjoint analysis specialist TRC Market Research has launched a concept evaluation tool called Idea Filter, to help researchers and marketers assess 'close-to-final' product ideas and concepts. More
Nielsen has enhanced its proprietary financial forecasting platform, Nielsen BASES Volumetric Forecasting, with the addition of three new solutions. The new tools aim to make financial forecasting easier and more flexible through the innovation process. More
Consumer tracking company The NPD Group has announced the appointment of former GfK leader Gerhard Hausruckinger as Group President for Europe and APAC. More
UK-based online communities specialist Verve has launched a dedicated Innovation practice, for businesses seeking customer feedback on product and service design. More
In the US, retail information provider The NPD Group has promoted Tia Frapolli to the role of President of its Supplies business. More
Nielsen has launched Target Group Performance Analysis, a framework helping FMCG manufacturers to predict an innovation's overall viability and growth potential in specific segments. Also this week, the firm has extended its alliance with ingredient data firm Label Insight. More
Hall & Partners has launched a new specialist consultancy dedicated to brand invention, under its OpenMind brand. Jen Drexler joins as Managing Partner to lead the company, which promises 'a radical new collaborative approach focused on rapid innovation'. More
Retail information provider The NPD Group has launched a new platform to help clients track and understand apparel trends. Trend Tracker takes the form of a microsite comprising dashboards, insight reports, curated news and analyst expertise on the sector. More
In the US, former Experian execs Lindsey Harju and Brienna Pinnow have launched a company called Blinc Digital Group, which will offer a data-centric approach to help clients with their product and marketing development strategies. More
In the US, product innovation specialist InsightsNow has hired Karen Lynch to lead expansion of its co-creation and co-design methods, which are designed to uncover sensorial triggers of behavior. More
Retail information provider The NPD Group has expanded its Retail Tracking Service to provide a view of the US team sports equipment market, covering basketball, football, baseball, softball, soccer, hockey, racquet sports, golf and lacrosse. More
In the US, retail information firm The NPD Group has promoted President and Chief Operating Officer Karyn Schoenbart to the role of CEO, succeeding Tod Johnson who will continue full time as Executive Chairman. More
Nielsen has launched an overnight quant innovation tool called Quick Screen, to enable FMCG manufacturers to quickly test new product ideas and measure their potential. More
Online community and 'agile research' specialist GutCheck has announced a new qual solution, Competitive Checkpoint, which it says allows clients to compare their product ideas with current competing brands instead of historical databases. More
Retail data firm The NPD Group has launched a suite of scenario planning and simulation tools called the Price and Promotion Management Service, tapping into weekly, store-level point-of-sale data gathered from major US brands and retailers. More
Retail information firm The NPD Group has acquired the US portion of Nielsen's information services for the book industry, including US-based BookScan, Books & Consumers, PubEasy and PubNet; plus the three PubTrack services - Digital, Higher Education and Christian. More
US full-service marketing and sensory research agency Blueberry has launched a proprietary product and concept testing methodology called PinPoint. More
Retail information firm The NPD Group has partnered with OTT (over-the-top) audience measurement and data management specialist Tru Optik, to better understand digital demand for movies and video games. More
The NPD Group has signed an agreement to buy British travel retail research and analysis firm Counter Intelligence Retail (CiR) for an undisclosed sum. Closing is anticipated in early January. More
Retail information firm The NPD Group has launched what is says is the first service providing sales data for the virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) headset market. More
Retail information firm The NPD Group has launched a retail tracking service for the US juvenile products market, covering the durable travel, safety, feeding, bed/bath, infant entertainment and furniture categories. More
Netherlands-based online specialist Blauw Research has launched a new solution called SPRINT, to help teams and organisations access the right consumer insights at any time during the product and service development process. More
Researcher and information provider The NPD Group has announced a partnership with real-time analytics pioneer Neustar MarketShare, combining NPD's data with Neustar's modeling, planning and resource allocation solutions. More
In the UK, Mustard Research has launched the 'Popcorn Innovation Process', a 3-stage approach to new product development work in consumer and B2B markets. More
Nielsen has launched a product idea testing solution called 'Concept Quick Predict', which it says enables marketers to test innovations up to three times faster than traditional methods. The tool is initially available in the US and most of Europe. More
In the US, retail information firm the NPD Group has agreed to acquire video games industry researcher EEDAR for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, retail information firm the NPD Group is combining its luxury tracking services with its 'Softlines' unit, following the departure of luxury tracking President Fred Levin. More
In the US, retail information firm The NPD Group has added data from consumer and media research specialist GfK MRI to its BrandLink tool, to help users predict the likelihood that a celebrity will resonate with fans of specific brands. More
Retail information firm the NPD Group has launched the 'Digital Games Tracking Service', to provide the US gaming industry with publisher-sourced SKU-level data on digital game sales, aggregated from the participants of a digital panel. More
GfK has appointed Stacy Bereck as Managing Director of its Market Opportunities and Innovation team in North America. More
Retail information provider The NPD Group has expanded its tracking service with the addition of data about the US cycling market. More
In the US, Kellen Frank has returned to retail information firm the NPD Group as Vice President, Product Development, working closely with its Retail Business Group team to enhance its product portfolio. More
Ipsos innovation and forecasting business InnoQuest has launched a concept development tool, InnoConstruct, which promises to optimize products, simulate and compare scenarios, and help differentiate new offerings. More
In the US, retail information firm The NPD Group has launched a new service to provide measurement of diamond sales in the fine jewelry market. More
Retail information provider The NPD Group has introduced an approach for identifying the value in dollars of individual product features, to help manufacturers and retailers make more informed product development and marketing decisions. More
In the US, retail information firm The NPD Group has introduced a pre-market sales forecasting service, which can be used to assess and improve the sales potential of new and revamped products and services before they are launched. More
Nielsen has sold its VideoScan home video market point-of-sale retail tracking service to The NPD Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, retail information firm the NPD Group has hired Jeremy Allen as Group President, Product. He was previously EVP of Nielsen's Marketing Effectiveness Practice. More
Consumer tracking firm The NPD Group has launched a new analytic service integrating clients' own segmentation schemes with sales and market share 'data of record' for every industry and country covered by its survey-based trackers. More
Consumer information specialist The NPD Group has combined two of its units - the Video businesses within its Entertainment practice, and its Connected Intelligence division - and created a distinct new practice area for its BrandLink product, led by VP Barbara Zack. More
Oxfordshire, UK-based MMR Research Worldwide has launched MMR Express, a suite of tools for rapid and cost-effective insights. The solutions include screening, concept and package testing and optimisation, online focus groups and video, and rapid sensory evaluation. More
US-based retail tracking provider The NPD Group has hired IBM veteran Lori Gerber as Senior Vice President, Sales for North America. More
UK-based business intelligence specialist Future Thinking has appointed Dan Young as Research Director and Head of its Quantum Lab in London. More
UK-based consultancy FreshMinds has launched an ideation approach called Spark, promising to help brands in the early stages of the innovation process by generating ideas for new products and services. The firm's existing product suite has also been upgraded. More
In the Netherlands, innovation-driven market research agency Winkle has added an emotion analytics tool called Pansensic to its new product development platform, Concept Screener. More
US-based retail tracking provider The NPD Group has appointed John Bremer as Senior Vice President, Research Science, to lead the team that designs, maintains and enhances its methodologies. More
In the UK, publisher and conference organiser Solar Media has hired Finlay Colville, previously Head of NPD Solarbuzz, to lead its recently formed Solar Intelligence division. More
Analytics firm Absolutdata has released a cloud-based, automated decision support tool for concept testing, NAVIK, which it says will allow researchers, brand managers and product managers to go to market with new ideas 'faster than ever before'. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has launched a suite of services to provide insights into the product innovation and development process - from product concept and testing to post-launch assessment. More
US-based retail tracking provider NPD Group has launched a home automation advisory service, comprising consumer panel-based reporting, qualitative reports, US POS data, and analysis from its team of industry experts. More
US-based retail tracking provider The NPD Group has promoted Tim Bush to the role of Group President, Americas, while Dennis Brown moves into the newly created position of Group Operating Officer. More
US-based retail tracking provider The NPD Group has appointed Robby Hart as Head of Analytics and Modeling; Steve Thornberry as Senior Vice President of Solutions Consulting; and Jim Hirshfield as Senior Vice President of Solutions Architecture. More
Retail tracking specialist The NPD Group has expanded Michel Maury's role as Group President for Europe, to include management of its Asia Pacific operations; meanwhile former Ipsos exec Philippe Cabin Saint Marcel joins as General Manager of Commercial Activities for Europe. More
US-based consumer and retail tracking provider The NPD Group has launched a new service called Checkout Tracking, which will provide information on consumer buying behaviour based on receipts for both online and in-store retail purchases. More
GfK has launched a methodology called FutureWave, to help companies predict the potential future direction of their category and determine which new product or service benefits will appeal to their consumers. More
Nielsen has acquired concept testing and forecasting software specialist Affinnova, and will integrate the latter's team into its Innovation Practice division. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group has appointed Matt Powell as Vice President, Industry Analysis for Sports and Leisure Trends. More
US-based information and analytics firm IHS is to acquire two subsidiary firms from retail researcher the NPD Group: flat-panel display specialist DisplaySearch and solar energy MR business Solarbuzz. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, product intelligence company Wizeline has added new 'market needs analysis' functionality to its core offer, to help companies determine the features of a product that are most likely to drive customer value. More
US-based consumer and retail tracking provider The NPD Group has launched a new wearables advisory service, led by Eddie Hold, Vice President of the firm's Connected Intelligence division. More
In Texas, former Bank of America exec Tim Mahaffey has set up a brand strategy firm called Retail Passage, offering a platform for product developers and inventors to assess a product's retail potential. More
Online research technology company uSamp has introduced a tool called Instant.ly Shelf Score, giving CPG manufacturers and retailers a measure of consumers' intent to purchase recently launched products. More
TNS has launched an 'express' screening tool, to enable businesses to determine in less than 24 hours whether a new product idea will drive business growth. More
In the US, The NPD Group has promoted Steve Coffey from Chief Research Officer to the newly created position of Chief Innovation Officer. More
GfK has launched a tool called MarketBuilder, which it says puts actual consumer behavior - as opposed to stated intentions - at the center of measuring innovation performance. More
George Terhanian has left Toluna to join consumer specialist The NPD Group in the newly created role of Group President and Chief Research and Analytics Officer. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group has promoted Jim Kelley to the role of President of its newly combined Sports and Leisure Trends business. More
Nielsen and The NPD Group have signed an agreement to produce a quarterly US Beauty Cross Channel Monitor, providing a 'comprehensive view' of the US beauty market. More
Innovation and forecasting business Ipsos InnoQuest has launched a new methodology called the 'Insight Accelerator', allowing marketers to test innovations and ideas through a process that takes just two days. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group has partnered with Nielsen to introduce a new data and analytics service looking at the market for school and office supplies. More
Innovation and forecasting specialist Ipsos InnoQuest has launched a new service to test ideas and deliver a snapshot of quantitative consumer feedback in around eighteen hours. More
US-based consumer specialist The NPD Group has launched ReceiptPal, an iPhone app which asks consumers to upload photographs of their receipts in return for rewards. Data is anonymised and aggregated to produce marketing intelligence. More
Research community specialist Vision Critical has launched a co-creation tool called the IdeaHub, through which clients can tap into the ideas of customers, employees or other stakeholders for innovation and new product development. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group is to acquire the retail sales tracking and consumer research business of Boulder, Colorado-based sports and recreation researcher Leisure Trends. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Baltimore, USA-based natural and organic products specialist New Hope Natural Media has launched NEXT, a suite of data and analytics tools which build on its understanding of consumer behavior and product innovation in the sector. More
UK MR agencies Engage Research and Bonamy Finch have partnered to introduce a proprietary approach called 'EvolveScope', through which brands can evaluate new ideas, claims or packs prior to launch. More
UK-based consumer and cultural insight agency Flamingo has hired former Firefly Millward Brown exec David Moir as a creative development expert in its London practice. More
Ipsos Marketing's qual arm Ipsos UU has appointed industry veteran Natalie Hennekam as Account Director in its Melbourne office. More
April Jeffries has been promoted to the role of President of Ipsos UU, Ipsos Marketing's qualitative research arm in the US. She is based in the firm's office in Mahwah, NJ. More
US-based consumer intelligence specialist The NPD Group has appointed four new market research analysts at its flat panel display specialist NPD DisplaySearch in the US, Korea and Taiwan. More
US-based consumer intelligence specialist The NPD Group is launching what it describes as 'the foodservice industry's first monthly sales tracking service with broad distributor coverage'. 'SupplyTrack' will cover all products shipped from major distributors representing 70% of the broadline market. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group has reorganized its senior management team as part of its strategy to 'accelerate growth and innovation'. More
US-based product innovation specialist InsightsNow has appointed former NPD Group LatAm President Mark Turim as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer. More
Food, drink and consumer goods specialist MMR Research Worldwide (MMR) has announced a new NPD tool, 'Concept Lab', which it says will screen, optimise and validate product potential cost-effectively and without the need for multiple rounds of research. More
Ipsos innovation and forecasting division InnoQuest has unveiled a new Framework, centred around 'nine drivers critical to innovation success'. More
Consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group has restructured its European management team in response to what it describes as the 'changing needs' of clients and retail partners. As part of the reshuffle, David Pritchard has been named General Manager of Commercial Activity. More
Aegis-owned digital creative agency Visual Jazz Isobar (VJI) has extended its NowLab innovation unit network to Melbourne. The lab will help the firm to identify, research and prototype new technologies and platforms for clients across Australia. More
New York-based collaborative product invention platform Quirky has raised $68m in Series C funding, which it will use to expand its service across a number of verticals such as electronics, kitchen, and toys. More
Specialist innovation and forecasting business Ipsos InnoQuest has rolled out a new market potential analysis tool called Vantis*Optimize, designed specifically for clients planning to launch non-FMCG products or services. More
US information and analytics provider IHS has made its sixth acquisition so far this year, paying around $40m for semantic research technology provider Invention Machine. More
Solar energy and photovoltaic industry specialist NPD Solarbuzz has hired Wolfgang Schlichting as Research Director, Downstream Markets; and promoted Finlay Colville Ph.D. to VP leading its solar research team. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group has appointed Mike Leahy President in Canada, overseeing all aspects of its technology, home, fashion, food and custom market research business in the country. More
In the US, research software and services firm MarketTools has partnered with new product forecasting specialist Top Box Associates, to provide a 'one-stop approach' to forecasting for new product launches, line extensions and re-launched products. More
Consumer and sensory specialist MMR Research has formed a dedicated research team, focused on early stage product development and packaging work and the creation of new qualitative and bespoke research approaches. More
In the US, former ARF CRO Joel Rubinson and analytics specialist Judah Phillips have co-founded a new trade association called ARO, to enable conversations about how data, analytics and research can be used across the insights and analytics community. More
In the US, consumer research company the NPD Group has decided to stay in its current headquarters in Port Washington, NY and expand the premises rather than move to a bigger alternative location. The company will also site its expanded data center at its headquarters and create ten new jobs. More
In the US, NPD Group has announced an agreement with Walmart to process its point of sale data. The firm has also appointed four new analysts, plus Raj Misra as Director of Marketing. More
In the US, BrainJuicer has appointed planning specialist Rene Huey-Lipton as Senior Vice President, in charge of the firm's 'Juice Generation' team, which helps clients generate insights and ideas at the early stages of development. More
Concept testing and forecasting software specialist Affinnova has launched a web-based application called the 'Concept Studio', designed to accelerate concept development for new products, designs and ad campaigns. More
Concept testing and forecasting software specialist Affinnova has appointed former TNS researcher Sarita Bhagwat to lead its Financial Services practice. More
Retail research firm The NPD Group has moved Mark Turim, previously President and General Manager for its Asia Pacific business, to the same role in Latin America as part of a drive to expand its business in the latter region. More
London-based consumer insight and brand innovation agency Brand Genetics has appointed former 1HQ director Tom Ellis as Director of Insight and Innovation. More
In the US, The NPD Group has launched a new tracker for the consumer electronics industry, drawing its respondents from NPD's online panel of nearly two million participants. More
Consumer and retail tracking provider The NPD Group has promoted Tim Bush to the post of Group President for the Asia Pacific region, working out of its offices in Hong Kong. More
Nielsen has launched a new approach to helping companies with their product innovation strategies, which it claims will increase the likelihood of new products succeeding to 75%. More
In Amsterdam, user experience specialist Harald Lamberts has founded an innovation agency called Essense, which aims to help clients use consumer insights to design products aligned with their business strategy and brand identity. More
Consumer and retail tracking provider The NPD Group has opened a new facility in Athlone, Ireland, for development as a Global IT/Operations Centre. Over the next three years, the firm plans to add another 80 employees to the twenty already based there. More
Netherlands-based online market research agency MetrixLab has appointed former Kantar Worldpanel director Chris Kingsland to lead its NPD & Innovations division in the UK. More
In the US, former ARF leader Joel Rubinson has partnered with product development specialist InsightsNow to develop research tools to help consumer packaged goods (CPG) clients with product innovation. More
US marketing and product development agency LEVEL has appointed former Yahoo! user experience specialist Michelle Haag as Vice President, Customer Experience, to oversee a unit focused on content strategy, business strategy and usability. More
The NPD Group has finalized its acquisition of tech analyst In-Stat, first announced three months ago. More
In the US, multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak has appointed media veteran Sherri Lee as Product Manager of its TV Essentials audience measurement service, based in its Advanced Media & Information (AMI) division. More
In the UK, full service research agency Crowd DNA has appointed trend and consumer insight specialist Terna Jibo as Research and Strategy Director. More
In the UK, a group of CEOs led by Paul Lindley, the founder of ethical children's food firm Ella's Kitchen, has called for tax relief on investment in consumer insight aimed at developing new products and services. More
US-based In-Stat is to be acquired by The NPD Group, which has held a stake in the mobile and digital entertainment specialist since a management buyout last April. More
In the US, the NPD Group has launched a suite of advanced analytics products which tap into its proprietary item-level tracking information. It has also hired former SymphonyIRI exec John Deputato for the newly created role of Senior Vice President for Advanced Analytics. More
In the US, multi-screen media measurement specialist Rentrak has partnered with retail information provider The NPD Group, to provide a 360 degree view of video-on-demand (VOD) users. More
In London, Harris Interactive has appointed former Millward Brown exec Colin Deller as Senior Consultant, New Product Development. More
In New York, product innovation specialist Ipsos Vantis has launched 'Vantis Files', a syndicated research offering that monitors competitive products and services across multiple industry sectors. More
Kraft Foods has invested $14m in a gum and candy research lab in Switzerland, housing a team of product and package specialists who will focus on innovation and new product development. More
In New York, GfK's trend consultancy division GfK Roper Consulting has partnered with futurist firm Weiner, Edrich, Brown (WEB), to deliver consumer trends insights through a number of combined services. More
US-based innovation consulting firm Cheskin Added Value has introduced OpFinder; a tool that provides quantitative insight into new market opportunities, and helps clients develop the business case to progress new ideas. More
Ipsos Vantis, the global group's product innovation division, has appointed Randy Giusto as Senior Vice President in its technology business. More
In the US, market research agency Echo Stats has opened a new office in Miami where it plans to establish a division specializing in multicultural marketing research. More
The NPD Group and electronics retailer Best Buy Co. have extended their agreement to share point-of-sale data for a further two and a half years. More
UK-based digital MR specialist eDigitalResearch has rolled out eConceptTest - a suite of research methodologies designed to help marketers test their latest idea, service or product on the general public. More
Florida-based market research consultancy Echo Stats has created a new product development division, led by Elizabeth Wallings who has been promoted to the position of Director of New Product Development. More
US consumers demonstrate 'significant interest' in taking a more proactive role in developing new products, according to a survey conducted by Gongos Research among some of its 'Consumer Village' online community members. More
In the US, retail information firm The NPD Group has announced the acquisition of Randolph, NJ-based LGI Network, which provides retail point-of-sale information on fine watches and branded jewelry. Financial terms were not disclosed. More
Networking giant Cisco is to acquire privately-held design consulting firm MOTO Development Group for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, outsourced sales and marketing specialist MarketStar and retail MR agency The NPD Group have partnered to launch a product to determine the most efficient marketing programs to grow retail presence. More
In Canada Tony Chapman, founder and head of creative agency Capital C, is to launch a 'one-stop global market research and product development firm'. Launch Labs will merge private, public and academic sector expertise to strengthen the country's place in the digital revolution. More
In the UK, online database and analysis firm Datamonitor Group has acquired packaging research specialist Pack-Track. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the US, the management of tech market intelligence provider In-Stat have bought the company from former owner Reed Business information, in a move backed by consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group. More
UK ad agency McCann Manchester has announced it will acquire research firm The Blue Banana Agency, for an undisclosed sum. More
The NPD Group has announced the acquisition of solar energy market research and consulting company Solarbuzz LLC, which will operate in conjunction with NPD subsidiary and flat panel display (FPD) specialist DisplaySearch. More
In London, a collective of agencies, organisations, academics and individuals have joined to launch The Co-Creation Hub; a platform through which participants can co-create new products and services. More
In London, a new innovation agency has been opened by Calum Watson, Marco-Pierre White's former Executive Head Chef and Director of Operations; and marcoms specialist Greg Wixted. The Food Nursery will provide NPD and new ideas research to the food industry. More
US electronics market research specialist IMS Research has acquired recently founded Young Market Research (YMR), which provides marketing intelligence and consulting in the solar, solid-state lighting and display industries. Terms were undisclosed. More
Harris Interactive has partnered with innovation consultancy Ideas To Go (ITG) to enable clients to explore, create concepts for, and test new products. More
In the UK, co-creation consultancy Sense Worldwide and innovation body NESTA have teamed up to launch a platform through which third-party brands can come together to create new products and joint ventures. More
US-based retail specialist The NPD Group has enhanced its Retail Insight Service to enable consumer technology clients to view point-of-sale information and 'casual' sales data side-by-side. More
In The Netherlands, online market research agency MetrixLab has appointed former Research International VP Alexander Kleijngeld to spearhead the international expansion of its NPD & Innovation unit. More
UK retail giant Asda plans to 'empower' consumers by enabling them to get involved in every aspect of the business - from product development to the look and feel of packaging. More
Flat panel research specialist DisplaySearch is to roll out a new suite of reports to cover the rapidly growing solar and photovoltaics markets. More
US-based retail intelligence specialist The NPD Group has launched its first ever store level information service for the beauty industry. More
US-based consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group has launched an analytics service for the automotive aftermarket sector. More
In the US, consumer and retail specialist the NPD Group is now tracking consumer shopping habits, purchases and perceptions of the supermarket deli counter through its new service 'DeliTrack'. More
UK agency Conquest has launched a concept testing product, designed to measure gut reaction to new product ideas. More
Consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group has begun tracking sales of sports apparel, athletic footwear and some equipment categories across major cities in Russia. More
Former Ipsos and NPD executives Jean Davis and Tessie Ting have started Conversition Strategies, a new research firm focused on social media and with bases in the US and Canada. The company's first key offering is brand rating web site MatterMeter, due for launch this weekend. More
Harris Interactive has launched a new methodology to enable children and teenagers to participate in the co-creation of new products and services. More
In the US, marketing and public opinion agency PERT Survey Research has launched a product analysis and modeling tool (PRIMO Analysis) that identifies those product design areas most likely to increase product ratings and purchase intent scores. More
Consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group has launched a consumer tracking service for the US housewares market, to provide insights into purchase behaviours and preferences for the cooking, baking and tabletop categories. More
Colorado, USA-based Strategyn, Inc. has announced what it calls 'the industry's first fully integrated, end-to-end innovation program', offering clients 'the world's most advanced innovation process' along with the education, software tools and support needed to embed it in a company. More
Consumer strategist, author, and InsightFarm Principal Kelley Styring has teamed up with MR firm C&R Research to offer the InsightFarm Innovation HotHouse, billed as a more cost-effective method for marketers to determine the potential success of their latest innovations. More
Music web site Songness.com is offering free audience research for new songs posted by independent musicians. More
US consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group has begun offering weekly ecommerce point-of-sale (POS) data for consumer technology. More
Nielsen has opened a BASES office in Delhi, its second Indian location, from which it will provide new product research and forecasting services to the consumer packaged goods sector. More
Consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group has rolled out its Consumer Reports on Eating Share Trends service (CREST) in the People's Republic of China, to track and offer insight on consumer purchases of commercially prepared meals and snacks in the region. More
In New York, healthcare researcher Ziment has introduced an analytic technique for modelling 'order-of-entry' effects on new product research and forecasting. More
Consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group has launched a study to monitor how the US economy is affecting consumer attitudes and shopping behaviour. More
Nielsen is expanding its new product sales forecasting business BASES into the Middle East, with the establishment of a group in its United Arab Emirates office. More
Jill Telford, Synovate's CEO for Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea, is moving to London in January to take up the post of UK CEO. At the same time, Brendan Shair will become Managing Director for Hong Kong. More
Mintel and Information Resources Inc (IRI) have enhanced their joint product development support solution, GNPD IRIS, with additional trend analysis. More
European online research agency MetrixLab has boosted its UK team with the appointment of former Synovate Director Darren Lewis, as Managing Consultant NPD. More
Consumer and retail research providers The NPD Group and GfK Chart-Track, and publisher Enterbrain have partnered to produce a single source of data on video game software sales in their respective countries: the US, UK and Japan. More
GfK has acquired US brand innovation consultancy Arbor Strategy Group (ASG) to complement new product development services for its Custom Research North America subsidiary. More
New York-based consumer research firm The NPD Group has enhanced its offer with point-of-sale (POS) store level information, to provide clients with detailed analysis relating to stores in their sales areas. More
New York-based consumer research firm The NPD Group has launched its BeautyTrends panel in Spain, to measure both the prestige beauty and mass beauty markets through retail sell-through data. More
2007 was a mixed bag for US research providers, some reporting impressive growth and others struggling, according to figures in the latest Honomichl 50, just out. Overall, growth was a respectable 6%, the mean of the two previous years, achieved despite a US workforce reduction of c.1,300 among the top 50 firms. More
Gfk Nürnberg eV – GfK's non-profit association – and employee Holger Dietrich have received the German market research innovation award for developing a tool which can be used to optimize the design of new products and services. More
Nielsen's film and home entertainment specialist NRG (National Research Group) has become part of the firm's BASES division, which provides new product optimization, marketing plan simulation capabilities and sales forecasting. More
Information Resources Inc (IRI) and The NPD Group have joined forces to launch the Beauty Cross Channel Monitor, claimed as the US beauty industry's first and only cross-channel retail tracking product. More
Chicago-headquartered branding and marketing consultancy Maddock Douglas has acquired Connecticut-based MR agency Markitecture to add market research and customer insights to its 3-2-1Launch! new product and services division. More
Synovate has appointed Pranay Jeyachandran as UK Head of its MarketQuest team, which focuses on product design and development. More
TNS is to buy the remainder of LatinPanel Holdings from joint venture partners The NPD Group and the IBOPE Group. Its current 33.3% stake will be upped to 100% in January. More
The NPD Group has launched a consumer tracking service for the sports market in Japan. The service covers consumer purchasing, attitudes, and behavior for sports apparel, athletic footwear, and sports equipment. More
Research agencies NPD, IRI and IMS have linked up to launch a twice-yearly study of the French beauty products market. More
In the US, The National Political Do Not Contact Registry (NPDNC) has provided voters with the option to opt out of receiving political polling calls through its www.StopPoliticalCalls.org website. More
New York-based consumer research firm The NPD Group has linked up with LA consultancy Fusion Marketing to offer consumer information and marketing insights into the food and drink perishables industry. More
Branding specialist AcuPOLL Research has launched a new service, 'Germinator' to help brand executives gauge whether consumers believe their creative ideas are worthy of further development. More
Retail information provider The NPD Group has opened a Beijing office and launched a service tracking sales of prestige beauty products in China, covering the fragrance, make-up, and skincare businesses. More
Wal-Mart Stores has signed an agreement to access consumer tracking data from research firm NPD Group for its stores and its membership warehouse business, Sam's Club. More
The NPD Group has launched a point-of-sale tracker for office supplies superstores, covering the USA's three major office superstore retailers; Staples, Office Depot, and Office Max. Perry James will lead the unit as Director of Office Supplies. More
Consumer and retail information provider, The NPD Group, has launched the Accessories Market Tracking Service to understand consumer purchasing habits across a broad range of accessories. More
Synovate has introduced a suite of market potential models and simulators known as MVP – Market Value Potential; and has renamed its specialist Product Design & Development division 'MarketQuest'. More
In the US, MRSI (Marketing Research Services, Inc.) has launched Concept Highlighter (SM), an online concept testing tool enabling respondents to react directly to visuals. More
The NPD Group has acquired the consumer electronics, imaging, and computer business sectors of Current Analysis, Inc. Current Analysis continues as before in the telecoms, networking, and business software sectors. More
Retail and consumer information firm, NPD Group, has bought TNS's foodservice tracking businesses in the UK and Spain, and integrated them into its CREST® food purchase information service. More
US dieting has hit an all-time low, according to The NPD Group's 21st annual 'Eating Patterns in America' report. Meanwhile a survey conducted by food manufacturer, Dairy Crest, reveals that the UK's 7 to 12 year-olds are opting for healthier lunch choices. More
Consumer and retail information firm, The NPD Group, has employed three senior executives to spearhead the sale and support of its new market-level point-of-sale data. Frank Racioppi joins as VP, Emil Martinez as VP of Business and Product Development, and Sheri McKee in the role of Product Director. More
Texas-based researcher DisplaySearch has strengthened its team with seven senior hires. Three new staff join in the US, two in Korea and one each in China and Japan. More
Market research supplier, Mintel, and retail and consumer information provider, Information Resources Inc (IRI), have paired up to launch a new tool which they claim could reduce the cost of new product development by up to 80%. More
Retail sales of consumer technology for the month before Christmas were 6.5% up on the year, according to weekly point-of-sale (POS) data from The NPD Group. LCD and plasma TVs, MP3 players and navigation systems were among the big gainers this year. More
Internet searches for the Nintendo Wii have ousted the perennial favourite iPod to become the UK's most searched-for gadget in the run-up to Christmas, according to Hitwise. The recall of a wrist strap, due to over-enthusiastic users throwing remote controls around, can't have hurt its worldwide sales either. More
DisplaySearch, flat panel display specialist within the NPD Group, has appointed Kevin Liao as Director of Taiwan Small / Medium Display and OLED Market Research, with a remit to expand the business. More
US-based provider the NPD Group will launch what it says are the industry's first comprehensive tracking services for the country's accessories business, in the first half of 2007. Products covered will include bags and luggage, watches, jewellery, sunglasses and small leather goods. More
In the US, The NPD Group has appointed Tim Bush as Group President of its flat panel specialist subsidiary DisplaySearch; and re-hired Rupert Walters as Group President, Entertainment & Communications. Walters left NPD in 2001 and was most recently President and COO of Ipsos North America. More
In the US, the NPD Group has promoted Peter Greene to VP and General Manager of its Consumer Technology sector; and Peter Goldman to replace him as President of the Home sector. More
Flat panel display specialist DisplaySearch, part of the NPD Group, has hired Paul Gagnon as Director of North American TV Market Research, bringing its TV analyst team to a total of twelve. More
Ipsos Insight, the global group's flagship US division, has unveiled a new tool, Innotrack, which measures how well a new product has performed in the market versus expectations. The process includes identification of consumer motivations and deterrents to trial and repeat. More
US-based consumer and retail information provider The NPD Group has promoted Art Spar to President of its Apparel tracking services. He was formerly Vice President, Apparel Client Development. More
NPD experts and entrepreneurs Shimon Shmueli and Claire-Juliette Beale have formed a multi-disciplinary strategic design and innovation company, Touch360, based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Shmueli is ex-IBM while Beale was a founding member of Global Market Insite (GMI). More
Cincinnati-based Marketing Research Services Inc. (MRSI) has added online concept screening and testing services ConScan(SM) and ConSelect(SM) to its PRISM® system for product development. More
US consumer and retail information provider The NPD Group has given the leadership of its Canadian business unit to Larry Moore, a 23-year veteran of the company. More
With the World Cup still 16 days away, MR companies are already rolling out related statistics and web site launches. Pulse Train has a World Cup stats system showcasing its Pulsar Web software; Research Now and NPD have released results on shirt purchase; and FIRM has launched a Confirmit-based World Cup predictions site. More
Ipsos Insight has announced a new product testing system, 'Product Precision', using tailored test designs to address business issues that arise throughout the product lifecycle. More
TNS has today launched a new NPD research offering called InnoSuite - Launch Maximiser, which provides companies with accurate, predicated, sales and volume forecasts on new product concepts before they are launched. More
MR software company FIRM and US-based consultancy The NPD Group have announced a partnership to develop a new panel management and sample selection platform. The move, described by FIRM's CTO as 'sure to change the entire MR industry', reflects researchers' fast-growing use of external panel providers. More
Kathy Lubner has joined Research International as a Client Service Account Executive in its Chicago office after more than seven years with The NPD Group, where she was a Senior Account Manager in the Foodworld Client Development group. More
Market information company Mintel has acquired Cosmetic Research, which tracks the launches of luxury cosmetic and beauty products worldwide. The acquisition is designed to increase the depth of coverage in Mintel's Global New Products Database (GNPD). More
The NPD Group has announced it will launch a regional sales information service for the consumer electronics market, starting this summer. Clients will have access to information on what is selling, where and at what price for more than 50 DMAs and 9 Census regions, based on information from 70 retail partners representing over 15,000 US stores. More
US agency the NPD Group has promoted four of its Directors - Stephen Baker, Steve Flavin, Bruce Schnur and Martin Zagorsek - to Vice President positions. Between them, they take responsibility for technology tracking; automotive and convenience retailing sales; corporate products; and games and software. More
The NPD Group has launched Market Insights, a service that combines industry analysis of consumer electronics markets with point-of-sale (POS) data, consumer panel information, and a new forecasting methodology. The first of the Market Insights reports will cover digital still cameras. More
Just weeks after its purchase of Display Search, US retail specialist the NPD Group has acquired ACNielsen's IT tracking business in Canada. NPD will now provide both retail and commercial sales tracking of computers and peripherals in Canada, as it does in the US. More
Flat panel display research specialist DisplaySearch is launching ten new regular reports on various aspects of the TV and PC flat panel display supply chain. The company, which has employees in both the US and Asia, was recently taken over by retail research provider the NPD Group. More
Recent studies from NPD and Packaged Facts find US consumers eating more takeaway meals and using fewer fresh products, while also becoming increasingly concerned about food safety. Meanwhile, dietary concerns are spreading to Australia, where a TNS study finds 67% of women overweight, and a third of teenagers underweight. More
The NPD Group has appointed Claude Charbit, formerly special adviser to the company's European Beauty business, to President of its Global Beauty division. Charbit was responsible for NPD's recent agreement to acquire the TNS Infratest Italian perfumery business. More
US-based retail specialist the NPD Group has appointed Glen LeBlanc, formerly Business Consulting Manager at Nokia, as Research Director for Wireless Services, and Drew Hull, formerly of mobile network Sprint, as Research Director for Mobile Content. More
US retail specialist NPD Group, fresh from its European deals with TNS, has announced new positions for two of its Fashionworld VPs. Ron Friedman becomes VP, Fashionworld Product and Business Development, while Art Spar is now VP, Apparel Client Development. More
US agency the NPD Group has entered an initial agreement with TNS Infratest, to acquire Infratest's Italian perfumery business. Separately, TNS Secodip, TNS' subsidiary in France, is to exit the French selective beauty tracking business - a core area for NPD. More
US retail specialist the NPD Group has acquired DisplaySearch - a provider of MR, analysis and conferences for the fast growing flat-panel display industry. The companies aim to combine their strengths to offer deeper insights into the market. DisplaySearch will continue to operate independently as an NPD Group company. More
US agency the NPD Group is expanding its wireless practice to include more in-depth information and analysis, and an increased breadth of consumer data. The aim is comprehensive coverage of the wireless market, including mobile devices, multimedia content, and voice and data services. More
Conference season in the MR world is also product launch season. With ESOMAR Congress next week, and other major events imminent, new or expanded services announced in the last few days include the NPD Group's 'Technology Track', Synovate ViewsNet for Western Europe and a new version of FIRM's ConfirmIt software. More
ACNielsen has introduced a new service to allow consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers to benchmark the progress of multi-country product launches, and to help them predict the likelihood of success. The service covers more than 90 countries worldwide. More
A new US consumer poll from the NPD Group shows that spending on clothes and accessories for the new school year started earlier than last year, but remains at roughly the same level. The back-to-school period, now the second largest retail season, is an important indicator for the upcoming holiday season. More
A new study by J.D. Power finds buyers increasingly satisfied with digital cameras, especially those in the lower price segments; while two other recent surveys suggest strong demand for high-tech mobile services - as long as they are cheap. More
The NPD Group has appointed five new members of staff to its US-based wireless research practice. Among them are Ed Manzitti, Director of Primary Research, Neil Strother, Research Director for Mobile Devices, and Charul Vyas, Senior Account Manager. More
Consumer and retail specialist the NPD Group today announced its acquisition of STS Market Research, a US company serving the fashion industry. NPD will take over the STS longitudinal AccuPanel to provide clients with tracking research. More
The NPD Group, the US provider of consumer and retail information, has appointed Diane Nicholson as President of its NPD Beauty division. Nicholson will replace NPD Beauty founder, Timra Carlson, who is relocating to New England. More
The NPD Group, Inc. has announced two new senior appointments. Leon Shapiro, the new Group President, will lead three divisions: NPD Techworld, NPD Funworld, and NPD Music & Movies. Meanwhile, Ken Meyer has joined the company as Global Head of Human Resources, responsible for NPD's 14 offices in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. More
Ipsos UK has appointed Chris Sinclair as Senior Director in its Novaction division, with a specific brief to widen awareness of its cutting edge forecasting and modelling techniques for NPD. More
NPD Funworld, the entertainment division of US agency The NPD Group, has launched a Video Games Hits Monitor, a quarterly tracking service giving consumer purchase information in-depth at the game title level. NPD also released results of a study of 'Cross-Entertainment Shopping' showing the power of licensing and product mentions in games and movies. More
The latest MusicLab report from US agency The NPD Group highlights the rise of music-listening via computer. Radio, audio devices and music videos on television still dominate behaviour, but portable music players, streaming music online and listening to music on a computer all show big increases. More
UK agency Holden Pearmain has announced a suite of dedicated decision-making tools for NPD and sales forecasting. re:New, re:Formulate and re:Develop use conjoint analysis, build statistical models from the results and deliver forecasts using customised electronic reporting. More
US agency the NPD Group has appointed Anita Frazier as entertainment industry Analyst for its Port Washington, NY-based Funworld subsidiary, which tracks toy, video game and PC game markets. More
The NPD Group has appointed Kaileen Millard as Director of Fashion for its Canadian division. More
The NPD Group is to launch a service tracking US sales of home textiles, via its NPD Houseworld® division. The data will cover bedding, bath, kitchen linens and window treatments and include overall market size estimates, retailer shares, retailer trends, channel shares, buyer profiles and purchase drivers. More
The NPD Group has appointed Randy Smith as Group President with responsibility for leading several NPD divisions: NPD Foodworld, NPD Automotive, NPD Canada and the firm's interests in Latin America. The Group says it is preparing for further expansion in the US and abroad. More
The NPD Group has announced the appointment of Clint Wheelock to VP of Wireless Research for its Techworld division. More
The NPD Group has added several new retailers to its footwear tracking point-of-sale service and has also added a new shoe chain channel that helps clients get a clearer picture of the marketplace. More
US marketing information provider The NPD Group has acquired control of Parkod France and Parkod Europe, specialists in software and information for the perfumery sector. NPD has appointed Claude Charbit, former executive VP for European operations at IRI (Information Resources, Inc.) as Chairman. More
Austin, Texas-based marketing services group T3 has launched a leading edge marketing research and development team under the name of T3 Fuse. More
Teenage boys probably bring cars and video games to mind, but according to The NPD Group, fragrance is on the minds of teen boys in the US today. According to results taken from the NPD Beauty FragranceTrack 2004 Men's Study, 82% of teen boys today (aged 13-17) wear fragrance. More
US-based agency The NPD Group, has launched the NPD Consumer Electronics Price Watch, a monthly pricing monitor that provides a top-line look into the average selling price of technology products. More
Independents and small chain restaurants in the US are still struggling, while the bigger chains are 'coming back to life' after the worst slump in more than a decade, according to data and commentary just released by NPD Foodworld. More
NetRatings, Inc. and The NPD Group, Inc. have settled the lawsuit filed by the former in March 2003 and alleging patent infringement by NPD. Settlement terms included the licensing of NetRatings' patented technology to NPD for specific market research activities. More
Despite all the low-carb diets and foods, The NPD Group's new Report on Carbohydrate Consumption Patterns finds Americans still consuming plenty of them. Even among people who say they are on low-carb diets, only one out of four is actually significantly cutting carbs. More
The NPD Group has appointed Ross Rubin as Director of Industry Analysis for its technology tracking division NPD Techworld. Rubin will focus on the consumer electronics sector. More
After the weakest year in more than a decade, the US restaurant sector shows signs of recovery, led by major fast food chains, according to The NPD Group. More
The NPD Group has appointed Marc Johnson as VP of product development and data management for NPD Techworld, its technology tracking division. Johnson worked previously at online consumer discussion analysts Buzzmetrics and at Jupiter Media Metrix. More
The NPD Group, Inc. have appointed Luis Delahoz as vice president of sales for NPD Techworld, the company's technology tracking division. More
The Non-Food Tracking division of the GfK Group and The NPD Group are formalizing and gearing up their 20 year long cooperation specializing in continuous retail research in consumer electronics markets. More
The war on obesity continues to fascinate the US press and attract column inches on a scale comparable to the war on terrorism. Three recent studies / surveys, of which DRNO presents a digest (sic) this morning, highlight the nature of the problem, the response, and some possible opportunities. More
Many Americans have given up on eating desserts at home, according to the NPD Group's upcoming 18th Annual Report on Eating Patterns in America. The percentage of in-home dinner meals that include dessert has declined from 21 in 1990 to only 15 in 2003. More
Orders for salads at US restaurants, including side and main dish salads, decreased between June 2002 and May 2003 according to research from the NPD Group whose 'Annual Eating Patterns in America' will be published in October. However, main dish salads are enjoying a renaissance in a seemingly unlikely quarter, fast food restaurants. More
The NPD Group, Inc. has appointed its third new Vice President in as many weeks. Evan Neufeld becomes Vice President of client development and will work for the company's technology tracking division NPD Techworld. More
US research consultancy The NPD Group have announced their second senior appointment in a week. Peter Goldman joins the company as Director of Client Development and Sales and will work for the company's appliance and housewares tracking division, NPD Houseworld. More
Market information company The NPD Group has announced the appointment of Tim Bowles as a consultant and member of the firm's Executive Committee. Tim is a renowned innovator in the international market research arena who has held CEO, MD and equivalent positions in UK and US companies including Information Resources Inc., MRB Group, AGB and RSGB. More
According to a recent consumer spending study, released by market information company The NPD Group, many US consumers are now planning to spend more on apparel and footwear, despite disappointing retail sales of late. According to NPD, the apparel and footwear industries saw dollar volume decreases of two and five percent respectively in 2002 over 2001; however, consumers surveyed said they are willing to spend more on apparel and footwear post-war, compared to an identical study conducted prior to the war in Iraq. More
The NPD Group and home improvement tracking partner The Farnsworth Group have agreed to work together with CCITRIAD, parent company of Vista Information Services, to provide a comprehensive marketing information service for the home improvement industry. More
Recent food & drink highlights from Mintel's GNPD service (Global New Products Database) include melon flavoured instant cappuccino and mini Nutri-Grain snack bars. More
The NPD Group has reached a strategic partnership with Parkod Europe to provide beauty retailers and manufacturers with access to new levels of market information. France is the first step in the partners' European rollout of selective beauty POS tracking. Discussions are underway to expand the partnership's beauty industry market tracking to include Italy, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. More
According to the Mintel Global New Products Database, 2002 has proven to be the most successful year for new product introductions since 1995, with the number of introductions exceeding 22,000. This figure is an increase of 15% over 2001. More
ACNielsen U.S., an operating unit of ACNielsen, has recently announced the launch of New Product Qualifier (NPQ), a powerful new software tool to help consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies hone their lists of new product ideas to those with the greatest potential for success. More
Seventy-six percent of all meals in the US are prepared at home, according to NPDFoodworld, a division of The NPD Group, but Americans are spending less time in the kitchen preparing those meals than ever. More
NPDTechworld, a division of The NPD Group, Inc. has recently launched Distributor Track, the authoritative source for distributor sell-through data on information technology products. More
Market information provider, The NPD Group, has recently announced the launch of its fifth Web-based service - NPDHouseworld, providing a complete view of the appliance market. More
Sports Tracking Europe, a joint venture between market research organizations NPD in the USA, and GfK in Germany, has launched a new information service for the retail and manufacturing industries in the European sportswear markets. Sports Apparel Track provides comprehensive information on sportswear-related retail sales and purchase behaviour in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. More
The NPD Group has this week announced the appointment of Mainak Mazumdar to the position of vice president, research and George Ziegler to the position of vice president, information technology. More
In 2001 three of the five fastest growing food and beverage categories in the global marketplace were drinks, led by prepared alcoholic beverages, according to a recent study released from ACNielsen. Water and drinkable yogurts also made the top five. Out of more than 90 categories reviewed, only nine grew by 10% or more in 2001. More
Leading market information provider, The NPD Group has appointed Thomas H. Stigler to the newly created position of corporate vice president of sales. Stigler will be responsible for creating and implementing a corporate-wide sales strategy and a new sales vision for the company. More
A new syndicated tool from research agency, Ipsos-NPD, Ipsos PharmTrends Drug Sample ROI Report, aims to measure the effectiveness of prescription drug samples in promoting sales of new and established drugs to prospective customers. More
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