Schlesinger Buys German Fieldwork Agency

US-based qual and quant data collection firm Schlesinger Associates has acquired Schmiedl Marktforschung GmbH, a fieldwork services agency and provider of focus group facilities in Germany. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 1985 by Dr. Christian Schmiedl and Edith Schenk, Schmiedl Marktforschung has facilities in Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt from which it conducts face-to-face, telephone, in-depth and online research, while also offering group discussions and mystery shopping services.

Following the acquisition, the firm's three operations will continue to be led by long-standing MDs Stephan Lange, Stephan Schmid and Markus Herbig (pictured).

Schlesinger Associates has a network of fourteen focus group facilities in the US, and also owns Paris-based fieldwork services agency ConsuMed Research and focus group facilities provider Passerelles; and London firm The Research House, which has operations in the West End and in Wimbledon Village. CEO Steve Schlesinger says the latest acquisition will expand his firm's data collection services across Europe.

Dr Schmiedl adds: 'The growth of Schmiedl into a leading European service has been our passion for over thirty years. We are confident that our friends at Schlesinger Associates will bring new and exciting opportunities to both Schmiedl and to our clients.'

Web sites: www.schlesingerassociates.com and www.schmiedl-marktforschung.de .