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GfK Buys and Launches Boost Global Coverage
GfK has strengthened its worldwide presence, buying Thai MR firm MarketWise and completing the buying of GfK-MEMRB Marketing Services in Cyprus. It has also upped its stake in US company Etilize and launched a retail panel in Belarus.
Full-service agency MarketWise was acquired this month by GfK Custom Research Singapore at the beginning of June, and will now operate under the name GfK MarketWise. Established in 1994, it had sales of just under EUR 1 million in 2010. Its MD Daranee Charoen-Rajapark will continue in the role.
GfK increased its shareholding in technical and marketing data supplier Etilize from 51% to 75% in May, boosting its Retail and Technology sector. Founder, CEO and President Azhar Hameed will continue to head the firm, now a GfK subsidiary.
In March, GfK Retail and Technology GmbH bought the remaining 40% of Cypriot subsidiary and JV GfK-MEMRB Marketing Services. Based in Nicosia and now known as GfK Retail and Technology Cyprus, this serves as a holding company for GfK Retail and Technology subsidiaries in Dubai, Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt and Israel.
GfK Retail and Technology began offering retail data for Belarus in April with weekly stats from a panel of 480 telecoms retailers, representing 90% of the market. The company plans to expand the service by August to include selected product groups from the consumer electronics, major domestic appliances and IT sectors. Development will be managed by GfK Retail and Technology Baltic, based in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.
The group's home page is at www.gfk.com .
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