In Asia, GfK Custom Research Singapore has acquired the Thai market research company MarketWise. GfK has also increased its stake in Etilize in the USA and GfK Retail and Technology GmbH has completed a 100% acquisition of market research company GfK-MEMRB Marketing Services in Cyprus. In addition, GfK Retail and Technology Baltic has established a retail panel in Belarus.
As of June 1, 2011, GfK Custom Research Singapore has acquired the Thai market research company MarketWise, enabling GfK to broaden its activities in South-East Asia. The company, which will now operate under the name GfK MarketWise, is one of Thailand's leading full-service market research organizations. It was established in 1994 with the objective of combining local knowledge with the most effective and innovative global methods.
The company achieved sales of almost EUR 1 million in 2010. Its key clients include, AIA, GlaxoSmithKline, Hakuhodo, HSBC, Mercedes, Pepsi, and the Ministry of Energy as well as other government authorities. Daranee Charoen-Rajapark will continue to hold the position of Managing Director.
Further information: Daranee Charoen-Rajapark, tel. +66 2259 0290, daranee@marketwise.co.th
USA: stake in Etilize increased to 75%
At the beginning of May, the GfK Group increased its stake in the US company Etilize from 51% to 75%. This means that GfK's Retail and Technology sector now holds the world's largest and most comprehensive electronic catalog of technical consumer goods. Etilize offers product data for transactions in the area of e-commerce for a wide range of technical consumer goods. Clients worldwide are given access to information on more than nine million products in 20 languages. The information comprises marketing descriptions, videos and product handbooks, as well as a complete list of manufacturers' article numbers. Clients of Etilize include some of the world's largest manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, online shopping websites, search engines and price comparison sites.
The founder, CEO and President, Azhar Hameed, will continue to head the GfK subsidiary in future.
Further information: Azhar Hameed, tel. +1 888 608-1212, ahameed@etilize.com.
Cyprus: complete acquisition of MEMRB shares
In March, GfK Retail and Technology GmbH increased its stake in the Cypriot subsidiary GfK-MEMRB Marketing Services, a joint venture with the MEMRB market research group, from 60% to 100%.
The organization is based in Nicosia and will be operating under the name GfK Retail and Technology Cyprus in future. It serves as the administrative and coordinating holding company for several GfK operations in the Retail and Technology sector. These include subsidiaries in Dubai, Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt and Israel. Around 180 employees collect non-food retail data for GfK in 21 Middle Eastern and African countries.
The three-man Management Board comprises Herwig Rubin, Frédéric Wasson and Carlos De Oliveira.
Further information: Carlos de Oliveira, tel. +357 22 866-310, cde-oliveira@memrb.com.cy
Belarus: new retail panel
Since April, GfK's Retail and Technology sector has been offering retail data in Belarus. The first report focused on the telecommunications industry in the first quarter of 2011. In the Belarusian telecommunications panel, around 480 retail outlets, representing 90% of the overall market, report their figures to GfK on a weekly basis.
By autumn this year, the range of GfK retail data from Belarus will be ex-panded to include selected product groups from the consumer electronics, major domestic appliances and IT segments. The development of Retail and Technology's business in the country will be managed by GfK Retail and Technology Baltic, which is based in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.
Further information: Eduardas Grybovas, tel. +370 6100-6661, eduardas.grybovas@gfk.com
As of June 1, 2011, GfK Custom Research Singapore has acquired the Thai market research company MarketWise, enabling GfK to broaden its activities in South-East Asia. The company, which will now operate under the name GfK MarketWise, is one of Thailand's leading full-service market research organizations. It was established in 1994 with the objective of combining local knowledge with the most effective and innovative global methods.
The company achieved sales of almost EUR 1 million in 2010. Its key clients include, AIA, GlaxoSmithKline, Hakuhodo, HSBC, Mercedes, Pepsi, and the Ministry of Energy as well as other government authorities. Daranee Charoen-Rajapark will continue to hold the position of Managing Director.
Further information: Daranee Charoen-Rajapark, tel. +66 2259 0290, daranee@marketwise.co.th
USA: stake in Etilize increased to 75%
At the beginning of May, the GfK Group increased its stake in the US company Etilize from 51% to 75%. This means that GfK's Retail and Technology sector now holds the world's largest and most comprehensive electronic catalog of technical consumer goods. Etilize offers product data for transactions in the area of e-commerce for a wide range of technical consumer goods. Clients worldwide are given access to information on more than nine million products in 20 languages. The information comprises marketing descriptions, videos and product handbooks, as well as a complete list of manufacturers' article numbers. Clients of Etilize include some of the world's largest manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, online shopping websites, search engines and price comparison sites.
The founder, CEO and President, Azhar Hameed, will continue to head the GfK subsidiary in future.
Further information: Azhar Hameed, tel. +1 888 608-1212, ahameed@etilize.com.
Cyprus: complete acquisition of MEMRB shares
In March, GfK Retail and Technology GmbH increased its stake in the Cypriot subsidiary GfK-MEMRB Marketing Services, a joint venture with the MEMRB market research group, from 60% to 100%.
The organization is based in Nicosia and will be operating under the name GfK Retail and Technology Cyprus in future. It serves as the administrative and coordinating holding company for several GfK operations in the Retail and Technology sector. These include subsidiaries in Dubai, Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt and Israel. Around 180 employees collect non-food retail data for GfK in 21 Middle Eastern and African countries.
The three-man Management Board comprises Herwig Rubin, Frédéric Wasson and Carlos De Oliveira.
Further information: Carlos de Oliveira, tel. +357 22 866-310, cde-oliveira@memrb.com.cy
Belarus: new retail panel
Since April, GfK's Retail and Technology sector has been offering retail data in Belarus. The first report focused on the telecommunications industry in the first quarter of 2011. In the Belarusian telecommunications panel, around 480 retail outlets, representing 90% of the overall market, report their figures to GfK on a weekly basis.
By autumn this year, the range of GfK retail data from Belarus will be ex-panded to include selected product groups from the consumer electronics, major domestic appliances and IT segments. The development of Retail and Technology's business in the country will be managed by GfK Retail and Technology Baltic, which is based in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.
Further information: Eduardas Grybovas, tel. +370 6100-6661, eduardas.grybovas@gfk.com
