••• the business of research

MR saw most growth since 2010

The 2016 Global Market Research Report, released in September 2017 by Amsterdam-based research organization ESOMAR, shows 2016 saw the most significant growth for the traditional global market research sector since 2010. The global turnover of the traditional research sector was $44.5 billion in 2016, an increase of 2.3 percent after inflation. When combined with “new” research methodologies, such as data analytics, the annual global turnover for research in 2016 was $71.5 billion. 

Africa was the world’s fastest-growing region, posting a net growth rate of 22.7 percent from the previous year. Asia-Pacific saw a net growth of 7.8 percent after accounting for inflation. Latin America (excluding Venezuela) moved from a net decline of -7.8 percent in 2015 to growth of 1.6 percent.

In the North American continent, growth was just under 1 percent, down from a net growth of 3.1 percent the previous year. In Europe, the net growth was 1.6 percent, down from 2.8 percent the previous year.

In 2016, 18 percent of the global research industry’s turnover was earned from international clients, up from 15 percent the previous year. Globally, the largest client segment of research overall continued to be consumer non-durables at 20 percent of the total research spending, slightly down from 23 percent in 2015. 


••• grocery research

Whole Foods + Amazon = :)

A study by GfK, New York, shows that 38 percent of current Whole Foods shoppers and 31 percent of Amazon shoppers feel positive about Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods. Those who already shop at both Amazon and Whole Foods are the most positive, with 43 percent saying they are optimistic about the deal, compared to 23 percent of overall U.S. shoppers. 

Three-in-four Whole Foods shoppers have made at least one Amazon purchase in the past month, compared to the average (50 percent) among non-Whole Foods shoppers. 

The study also showed a higher incidence of Amazon Prime membership among Whole Foods shoppers than among U.S. consumers as a whole (50 percent versus 37 percent). 

Among those who are positive about the alliance, 42 percent would like to see free grocery delivery for Amazon Prime members, while 34 percent are hoping that Amazon will bring technologies in-store that make shopping easier. Twenty-five percent feel reassured that they will be able to get high-quality fresh foods online.