New York’s NPD Group acquires York-based travel retail market research firm

Counter Intelligence Retail (CiR), the York-based travel retail market research and data analysis agency, has been acquired by The NPD Group (NPD), a New York-based global provider of information and advisory services.

As a result of the acquisition, CiR will now be able to have access to NPD’s expertise in global domestic markets in industries including food & beverage, foodservice, luxury, beauty, electronics, and accessories.

NPD’s global retail point-of-sale tracking experience and infrastructure will combine with CiR’s industry expertise to facilitate the introduction of deeper insights and new types of information to address retailer and brand needs in today’s travel retail landscape.

Garry Stasiulevicuis, managing director of CiR, said: “By joining the NPD family of companies, we will have access to a new level of point-of-sale-data tracking expertise and a new platform for improved advisory services, something we’re excited about bringing to travel retail to enhance our existing offer.

“We have a platform for expansion into new categories, markets and in developing new products for our clients.

“Like CiR, NPD has a heritage of industry expertise, and we are looking forward to working together to help guide our clients, existing and new, through a period of unprecedented change in our industry.”

The acquisition is expected to complete in early January, after which CiR will operate as Counter Intelligence Retail, an NPD Group Company.

Michel Maury, group president, Europe and Asia for NPD, added: “We are excited to be adding travel retail to our portfolio. Our clients are very interested in having more information on the industry, which we are now able to offer through CiR.

“We are also looking forward to exploring new business opportunities, leveraging CiR’s knowledge and reputation in the industry along with NPD’s own retailer expertise and POS tracking infrastructure.”

Legal advice to CiR was provided by a team from the York office of Andrew Jackson Solicitors comprising corporate partner, Philip Ashworth, together with Helen Mellors, Grace Howell and Fiona Phillips.

James Hardy of New Law Legal of London advised NPD and CiR’s financial advice was provided by Michelle Thirsk of CGA Accountancy of York.

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