Mintel Acquires China Specialist Access Asia

UK-based publisher and market analyst Mintel has acquired consumer market data provider Access Asia, with the aim of building up its research capabilities in China. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Access Asia was established in 1997 by East Asia market researchers Matthew Crabbe and Paul French, and has bases in the UK, Malaysia and China. The firm provides market intelligence for organisations seeking to establish or develop their presence in Greater China and Southeast Asia. Coverage includes detailed analysis of companies and the markets and sectors they operate in, for 50 Chinese markets and more than 300 sectors / sub-sectors.

Mintel says the acquisition will build on its market and trend intelligence coverage and global retail expertise to include China's food and non-food consumer products, retail and service industries.

CEO Peter Haigh (pictured) comments: 'Our acquisition of Access Asia is key to Mintel's development in China - a core market for us. This represents an important step for us as we move deeper into the fastest moving economy in the world and build for the future, extending our global footprint.'

Crabbe says the deal will introduce the resources needed to expand Access Asia's research and reporting to cover more sectors, more frequently and in more depth.

Web sites: www.mintel.com and www.accessasia.co.uk .