Agri Research Buy and Indonesian JV for Ipsos

Ipsos has acquired agricultural and animal healthcare research firm Forward Research, and also created a joint venture to develop business management consulting in Indonesia.

Founded by President Richard Homans, Vice President Greg Deters and Vice President Mark Golde, Forward Research provides high added value research on products designed for the agricultural and animal healthcare industries, as well as for 'no-farm pest control' products. Offering product design and development, pricing, positioning and advertising studies via proprietary online panels, Forward Research employs 18 people in its St Louis offices, and last year achieved turnover of $7m.

Ipsos intends to combine the firm with its existing agrifood business in North America and further develop this activity both nationally and globally in the future.

Gary Bennewies, Ipsos Canadian Country Manager explained: 'Agrifood and Health industries are two rapidly growing sectors due to the increasing demand for biofuels, equipment and farm inputs, and the increasing consumer spending on pet care products. The expertise of Forward Research teams will bring many valuable business opportunities to Ipsos in North America and around the globe.'

Ipsos has also partnered with former TNS and Research International Director Iwan Murty, whose data collection company Central Data in Indonesia supplies fieldwork services to a number of international clients, including Unilever.

The move will allow Ipsos to gain a foothold in the country, and the firm will hold a 60% stake in what will now be known as Ipsos Indonesia.

Richard Mecchi, CEO of Ipsos in Asia-Pacific commented: 'The presence of Ipsos in Indonesia was necessary both in terms of servicing large Ipsos clients in the country and in terms of being competitive on large regional quotations and mandates.'

Mecchi noted that the Indonesian MR market was estimated to be worth c.$46m last year, a growth of 25% compared with 2006.

Web sites are at www.ipsos.com and www.forwardresearch.com .

Yesterday, Ipsos acquired US-based Monroe Mendelsohn Research (www.mrweb.com/drno/news8109.htm ).

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