European Expansion for Savanta's Explorer

Shopper insights agency Explorer Research, a part of MR group Savanta, is opening in Amsterdam as it seeks 'to take advantage of major growth opportunities across Europe'.

Savanta was founded in 2019 as part of the Next15 group of companies, and offers customised research & consulting; data collection and analysis, including access to 100 million respondents through a proprietary technology platform; and intelligence products such as the BrandVue and MarketVue reputation tracking solutions. It acquired Explorer In December last year, adding expertise in path-to-purchase, planogram, packaging and shopper experience research, using conscious and nonconscious research methods. Explorer has facilities in Toronto, Chicago and now London for in-lab experiential research, and a range of VR environments for agile research anywhere in the world.

Explorer is currently focused on its home market of North America, but works with a number of major global FMCG and retail companies, and says the expansion will allow to offer a consistent approach to clients across the world. The launch builds on Savanta's extensive existing shopper capabilities in Europe, including retail environment design and behavioural and media optimisation.

Explorer company President Mike Moussallem (pictured) comments: 'Since our partnership began with Savanta, we've seen the huge opportunities for our business outside of the US and Canada, and in particular in Europe, where so many major FMCG and retail companies are based. At such a pivotal time for the global FMCG sector, we're delighted that Explorer Research can offer a consistent approach to clients across the world, such as using our sector leading in-lab experiential research'.

Olly Warren, VP EMEA at Savanta says the EMEA push represents 'the next organic move' following successful UK expansion, and notes that the Netherlands 'is already a global hub for the FMCG sector'.

Web sites: www.savanta.com and www.explorerresearch.com .