TNS Buys Belgian Retail Researcher

TNS has acquired Belgian shopper research specialist Retail Insights, and appointed its CEO Kristien Laureys to head up the Retail Insights division within TNS Belgium.

Laureys, who has more than 20 years' shopper research experience, brings with her a team of five and will start on 1st January.

Founded in the mid-1990s, Retail Insights uses traditional research techniques such as accompanied shops, quant observations and shopper interviews, alongside more advanced tools such as eye-tracking to record what shoppers actually see in-store, and Pathtracker® to measure traffic flow and dwell time around a store.

Dominique Vercraeye, CEO of TNS in Belgium, says the deal brings 'very talented and expert shopper researchers' to her business and will enable it 'to roll out our state of the art solutions in the Benelux market'. She adds: 'Their experience and expertise complements our existing strengths in areas such as innovation, brand & communication management and stakeholder management.'

Laureys says Retail Insights focuses on converting shopper insights into 'pragmatic action plans for the shop floor', helping customers to develop their business by 'better meeting the needs and expectations of their shoppers in a specific retail environment'. She concludes: 'Being able to combine this practical retail expertise with the newest technologies and methods provided by the TNS group is an exciting prospect for both Retail Insights and our customers.'

Web sites: www.tnsglobal.com and www.retailinsights.be .

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

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