Savanta to Open Explorer Shopper Lab in London

Shopper insights agency Explorer Research, recently acquired by Savanta, is expanding into the UK with the London launch of its experiential lab.

The buy was announced in December. Led by Mike Moussallem, Anne Stephenson and Marc Inkol, Explorer specializes in path-to-purchase, planogram, packaging and shopper experience research, using conscious and nonconscious research methods, and has facilities for in-lab experiential research in Toronto and Chicago, in addition to various VR environments for research anywhere. One of the aims of the acquisition was to allow expansion of these facilities across Savanta's larger geographical footprint with Explorer offering 'a consistent approach to clients across the world'.

The new London experiential lab facilities will be based in Savanta's office just off the shopping hub that is Oxford Street: Savanta's team will be trained to run the lab by the experienced Explorer team. The lab will support the firm's wider full service shopper insights offer which also includes online package and shelf testing; and complement Savanta's existing UK shopper capabilities which include retail environment design and behavioural and media optimisation.

Company President Moussallem comments: 'Since our partnership began with Savanta, we've seen the huge opportunities for our business outside of the US and Canada, and in particular in the United Kingdom, where so many major FMCG and retail companies are based'.

Graeme Cade, Executive Director, UK at Savanta says: 'The shopper insights that the Explorer Research team offers are world-leading, so at Savanta we're delighted to help facilitate their growth across the world. Our collaboration has already supported lots of opportunities for new business that builds on our existing shopper capabilities, and we expect this to be an increasingly bullish sector as the UK economy gets back to growth'.

Savanta's services include customised research and consulting solutions, data collection and analysis tapping a proprietary technology platform giving access to 100 million respondents; and branded consumer intelligence products such as the BrandVue and MarketVue reputation tracking solutions.

Web site: www.savanta.com .

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