Touchstone Partners Buys Shoppercentric

In the UK, B2C and B2B researcher Touchstone Partners has acquired shopper insight consultancy Shoppercentric. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Founded in 2004 by Danielle Pinnington and based in Harpenden, Herts, Shoppercentric specialises in research to help brand owners and retailers drive their shopper marketing and retail strategies. Two years ago, it introduced an annual study called the Shopper Stock Take index, tracking consumers' thoughts and feelings about the grocery retail sector.

As part of the deal, Oxfordshire-based Touchstone has brought back former Shoppercentric Director Jamie Rayner (pictured) as Managing Director of the company. He joins after more than six years at Imperial Tobacco-owner Imperial Brands, latterly as Senior Insight Manager - Shopper & Trade. Prior to this, he was a Senior Director at SPA Future Thinking, spent more than three years as a Director at Shoppercentric, and was Research Director at ID Magasin.

In a statement, Touchstone said the acquisition will 'significantly increase' its own market presence for brand, category and shopper understanding. MD Jon Darby comments: 'We have known Shoppercentric for some time now as competitors and colleagues, and we know that the solid quality of work they deliver is commercially relevant to the businesses they touch. We've known Jamie for a long time in various roles and relationships and as well as having a great mind, he's fun to work with and we're delighted to welcome him to Touchstone. We look forward to seeing him build on the opportunity that the Shoppercentric acquisition has given us'.

Web sites: www.touchstonepartners.co.uk and www.shoppercentric.com .