Vista Grande Buy Unites Shopper Insights Firms

In Tampa, Florida, shopper insights firm Vista Grande has announced the acquisition of real-world in-store testing specialist GameChanger Products, LLC.

Vista Grande was founded and employs around 30 associates in the USA and Canada, serving clients worldwide, mainly in the consumer goods sector, Vista Grande provides innovative, action-oriented solutions empowered by an experienced team of associates.

GameChanger was founded ten years earlier than its new owner, by former executives of The Clorox Company. The firm works with a network of sixteen retailer partners and conducts tests to help clients understand shopper behavior in real-world settings.

Vista Grande says the buy strengthens its commitment to providing clients with cutting-edge tools and methodologies to understand shopper behavior and drive business growth; and that GameChanger's expertise complements its own portfolio of shopper insights solutions, including the flagship Category Choice Architecture, and virtual shelf-testing service, Package Choice Architecture. 'Nearly all' the active employees of GameChanger will join Vista Grande, including co-founder Sandy Brawley, and the new parent will maintain and invest in all GameChanger's core services. Larry Popelka, the latter's co-founder and CEO, will support the transition as an executive consultant.

Russ Onish, President of Vista Grande says the buy allows his firm to offer 'turnkey, real-world testing for the business issues that warrant it', and adds: 'This acquisition allows us to provide a comprehensive suite of services that address our clients' needs from initial shopper understanding to in-market validation'.

Popelka says the deal will take GameChanger to the next level, adding: 'Interest in store testing and transactional research has grown dramatically in the past ten years, and Vista Grande is the perfect partner to enable this on a larger scale'.

Web site: www.vistagrandestrategy.com .