WGSN Debuts Food and Drink Forecasting Platform

UK-based company WGSN has launched a forecasting platform for the food and drink industry, to help clients develop appropriate products and services. The team is led by sector specialist Kara Nielsen, who is based in the US.

WGSN, which is owned by B2B media group Ascential (previously Top Right and Emap), uses forecasting, analytics and custom research techniques to study fashion season trends in apparel, accessories and interiors. The new platform provides a holistic view of consumer lifestyles, enabling the food and drink industry to better understand their values and anticipate their needs. The company's execs observe, assess and distil trends to provide insights, data and recommendations for food and drink product development and strategic thinking.

Nielsen (pictured) recently joined as Director, Food & Drink from food trend insights provider CCD Innovation, where she led trend insight services for new product development. Earlier, she worked for food industry market intelligence and research provider Innova as Sales & Engagement Manager; was Culinary Director at food brand-building firm Sterling-Rice Group; and served as AD, Consumer Strategist at CEB Iconoculture (now part of Gartner).

WGSN Managing Director Carla Buzasi comments: 'The coronavirus pandemic is forging new consumer attitudes, making it more important than ever to understand what consumers will think, feel and behave, and the products they'll want to buy. In this scenario, WGSN is the ideal partner as it enables brands to understand, and design for, their future consumer'.

Web site: www.wgsn.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.