Nielsen Acquires Perishables Group

NEW YORK — Data analytics firm Nielsen Holdings said Tuesday it has acquired The Perishables Group, a firm specializing in fresh-food consulting and category development.

Nielsen said it has acquired all company assets including data, advanced analytic IP, tools and ongoing client work, according to reports. All employees of the Chicago-based company will join Nielsen's North America
Consumer Analytics team.

Nielsen will integrate perishables information into its retail measurement operation, which it said would provide a larger spectrum of insights across total store.

"Nielsen acquired the Perishables Group to drive increased value for our clients," John Lewis, president and chief executive officer of Consumer North America-Nielsen, was quoted as saying. "With The Perishables Group now fully part of the Nielsen organization, we can accelerate our work to integrate total-store information, thus providing a holistic picture of store-level activity."

Bruce Axtman, president and CEO of The Perishables Group, added in the press release, "This acquisition is a natural evolution in the long working alliance we have had with Nielsen. Our focus remains on enhancing the insights we deliver to the fresh consumer. Our mission is to help retailers and fresh suppliers increase consumer value and improve business performance by helping them apply a consumer-based business model specific to the fresh food business environment."

Axtman will continue to lead the group, now known as Nielsen Perishables Group, and the integration of the Perishables Group's analytic capabilities into Nielsen's offerings, reports said.