GfK Strengthens AsiaPac Agricultural Offer

GfK has announced the acquisition of Australia-based agricultural insights firm Paterson Consulting, and the opening of new offices in Sydney and Melbourne for its Animal and Crop Health team.

The group says these moves will boost its coverage of agriculture and animal health markets in the Asia Pacific region, complementing and supporting activities in Japan, China, India, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.

The expanded group will report to Ai Chen Kueh, Head of Animal and Crop Health for GfK in APAC, and will offer continuous panel research, retail audit and tracking studies, customized research and consulting, and advanced analytics and software.

The Sydney office opened in early February and is led by Bob Sloane, previously Research Manager at Sydney-based MR and database company Kaliber Marketing. The Melbourne office, launched just last week, has a team including Will Paterson, previously MD of Paterson Consulting. Both men are now Directors of Animal and Crop Health (ACH) for GfK in APAC. In addition, Stephen Wentworth will serve as Senior Research Manager of ACH in the region.

Kueh says the moves constitute a 'strong statement about GfK's commitment to serving the needs of this blossoming industry in the APAC market'. He continues: 'The expertise of Paterson Consulting complements our existing team with additional deep industry knowledge benefiting our Animal and Crop Health clients. In addition GfK's new Australian offices will be hubs for our increasing activities and resources in the region as a whole.'

Group home page: www.gfk.com .