Healthy Order Books at GfK

Despite the global downturn, GfK has booked nearly a quarter of its expected revenue for the year, says CEO Klaus Wübbenhorst - almost precisely in line wth figures for this time last year.

Orders currently total 23.7% of anticipated revenue for 2009, compared with 23.9% at the same point last year. Wübbenhorst explained that customers are seeking more information on the best way to sell their products during the economic downturn. 'Customers want to know what the market can bear,' he said. 'Demand for market research does not fluctuate as much as that for advertising when the economy slows.'

In November, GfK announced that revenue for the first nine months of the year had risen to EUR 883.8m, representing organic growth of 7.2% (up from 5.5% the previous year).The firm described the results as 'satisfactory' in the current economic climate.

Today, Wübbenhorst confirmed that sales without currency adjustments rose about 6% in 2008, which will result in annual revenue of around EUR 1.23bn. However, he would not provide a forecast for 2009 sales prior to the firm reporting its earnings on 26 February.

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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