Datamonitor plc, is pleased to announce that it has acquired Verdict Research Limited.

Verdict is the UK’s leading authority on retailing, providing definitive analysis and opinion across the retail industry. Verdict provides specialist coverage in the following retail sectors: clothing & footwear; DIY; homewares; grocery; furniture; health & beauty; and electrical goods. It has close relationships with most major UK retailers and access, at the highest level, to key executives working in the top 300 retailers. Verdict’s clients use the research to enhance the performance of their product lines, store portfolios and brand reach. As such Verdict’s publishing business enjoys a client renewal rate of over 90%.

Richard Hyman founded Verdict in 1984. Over the last 20 years Richard has been one of the UK's most influential retail analysts and is a frequent contributor to television and radio programmes, as well as being much quoted in the trade and national press. He is regularly invited to be a guest speaker at retail conferences and often acts as a special advisor on legal matters with a retail slant.

The acquisition of Verdict enhances Datamonitor’s existing presence in the consumer goods sector and also complements its offerings in the technology, logistics and financial services markets. Datamonitor will provide further scale to Verdict’s operations through its international sales network. This will be further assisted by Datamonitor’s well-developed electronic platforms that continue to be invested in.

Mike Danson, Chief Executive of Datamonitor, commented: “We are delighted to have acquired the UK’s most influential and well-known brand in the retail analysis market, creating a real presence for Datamonitor in this important market. We see substantial opportunities to really enhance their product delivery through our global electronic platform as well as for the continued growth of their unrivalled retail service offering.”

Richard Hyman, Chairman of Verdict, commented: “I believe that Datamonitor offers Verdict an exciting opportunity for growth not only in the UK but especially in the international market and I look forward to working closely with them to achieve this.”