TNS Acquires National Drinks Survey

TNS has announced the acquisition of the National Drinks Survey (NDS) one of the UK's foremost studies into consumer drinking habits. NDS is purchased by major blue chip drinks manufacturers who use it to gain insight into the hot and cold drink markets, to identify marketing and product development opportunities.

Together with TNS's FFP (Family Food Panel) service - the UK's leading study into food and drink consumption - TNS will provide a comprehensive consumer usage information package to food & drink manufacturers and retailers.

As a result of the acquisition, TNS will take over full responsibility for NDS from Nestlé, who established the survey in 1970. TNS has been collecting and processing the data for the past four years and will now take charge of selling, marketing and servicing all clients.

Mike Penford, Chairman of TNS UK, said: 'The National Drinks Survey fits excellently into our portfolio of consumer behaviour monitoring services. As the leading supplier of consumer research in the UK, we have the expertise and resources to develop NDS and further enhance the benefits it provides to the drinks market and related industries.'

Gavin Emsden, Head of Consumer Insight and Planning at Nestlé, added 'The National Drinks Survey remains very important to Nestlé. It is a high quality research service which we believe is of huge value to the drinks industry. We are completely committed to the service and will continue to make full use of it.'

NDS uses advanced CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing) technology to collect data. Interviews are conducted daily to generate a total annual and nationally representative sample of 11,500 consumers. Each respondent provides an in depth record of their drinking, both in and away from the home, on the day prior to the interview. All drinking of beverages, including soft drinks, carbonates, and alcoholic drinks is covered, (only tap water is excluded). It examines the amount drunk, the location and time of day of drinking, as well as brands and flavours consumed.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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