GfK takes majority share in Chart-Track UK

GfK has acquired majority shares in market research company Chart-Track, the provider of retail information for games software in the UK and the music and video charts in Ireland.

With effect from 1 July, GfK acquired a further 46 per cent share of Chart-Track Limited in addition to the existing 9 per cent share it already held.

Chart-Track, the expert in sales research for games software and music/video in the UK and Ireland respectively, complements the existing European entertainment business GfK has through its Media Control GfK International joint-venture and has reinforced the group's commitment in the retail and technology entertainment platform.

Since it was founded in 1996, Chart-Track has achieved considerable success in the field of music and video charts in Ireland and games software in UK and Denmark.

The company is based in West London and one of its strengths is its strong relationship with the industry associations the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publisher Association (ELSPA) and the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA), who together still own 45 per cent of the shares in the company.

Chart-Track 's data is based on POS information directly delivered by the leading games, games software and music providers in the market.

Headed up by Managing Director John Pinder, Chart-Track generated sales totaling almost 1.8 million euros in 2007.

The market research company will trade as GfK Chart-Track Limited in future.

GfK Chart-Track aims to provide an upgraded offer to the games and music industry, by combining system, team capacity and expertise.

John Pinder, MD of GfK Chart-Track, said: "We are delighted to be joining the GfK Group - we're confident this will provide us with a solid platform for future growth and we look forward to further developing our range of services.

"Most importantly, the ability to plug into GfK's strong international network will be a terrific benefit to our clients".

The GfK Group is the No 4 market research organisation worldwide.

Its activities cover the three business sectors of custom research, retail and technology and media.

The GfK Group achieved sales of 1,162.1 million euros in financial year 2007.

The Group has 115 companies covering over 90 countries.

Of a total of 9,297 employees (as of 31 March 2008), 80 per cent are based outside Germany.

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