Retail research firm IGD has introduced a new research team 'on the ground' in the Asia-Pacific area, based in Singapore.
The team is comprised of programme director Shirley Zhu, previously based in Shanghai for three years, and senior retail analyst Soo-Eng Tan.
Zhu will improve IGD's Asian research coverage, as well as broaden the food and grocery network in the country. Before her time at IGD, she held FMCG research positions at CIC, Nielsen, and SIG.
Her colleague Tan worked for consumer goods company Unilever, Millward Brown, and Suntory in different positions across the Asian continent. Her main focus will be markets in India, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, as well as investigating the role of discounters in Asian grocery.
IGD Singapore will work out of the office of industry group Food Industry Asia, which was founded in 2010.
IGD chief Joanne Denney-Finch said of the new team: “IGD forecasts Asia-Pacific to be the biggest engine of growth in the global grocery market over the next five years, with sales to exceed that of Europe and North America combined.
"The region has a fast-paced retail environment, driven by a growing middle class and a sharp focus on technology and innovation. Many food and consumer goods companies will view this region as key to their growth strategy over the next five years, which is why we are strengthening our presence here."
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Karen Henderson. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
