Good Q1 Growth for GfK

GfK has reported an 11.3% increase in sales to EUR 345.1m for the first three months of 2012, with organic growth of 4.9%. Adjusted operating income rose 10.2% to EUR 33.5m. The firm says its new 'Own the Future' corporate strategy has contributed to the healthy figures.

Own the Future, which was introduced last June, splits the group into two divisions: 'Consumer Choices' which focuses on delivering data on the choices and actions of consumers; and the attitude-based 'Consumer Experiences'.

The Consumer Experiences sector recorded a 13.6% year-on-year increase in sales to EUR 211.1m, and organic growth of 4.5%. Consumer Choices, which integrates the retail panel of the former Retail and Technology sector and the former Media sector's TV, radio and print measurement business, saw sales rise 7.5% to EUR 132.4m, of which 5.3 percentage points were organic growth.

Across the regions, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific, as well as Central and Eastern Europe/META (Middle East, Turkey and Africa) reported the highest levels of organic growth. At 16.7%, Latin America achieved a double-digit growth rate, while the downward trend of previous quarters in the North America region was halted in some style, with sales in this region up by 28.8% in total to EUR 62.5m.

Matthias Hartmann, CEO of GfK SE, comments: 'We are confident that the targets we have set ourselves for 2012 will be achieved. GfK can look back on a successful first quarter, which proves to us that we have set the right course for the future with our Own the Future corporate strategy.'

Web site: www.gfk.com .

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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