Kantar Worldpanel facts for kids

Kantar Worldpanel is a company that helps businesses understand what people buy. They do this by collecting information from many households around the world. This information is called "consumer knowledge and insights."

Kantar Worldpanel used to be called TNS Worldpanel. It is part of a bigger company called Kantar Group, which is based in London. Kantar Worldpanel has about 3,500 employees. They work in over 60 countries, either directly or with partners.

They study many different products and services. This includes things like food, drinks, beauty products, fashion, baby items, phones, and entertainment. They help companies know what you and your family are buying.

What Kantar Worldpanel Does

Kantar Worldpanel collects information about what people buy. They use special groups of people called "consumer panels." These panels are made up of thousands of households. These households share details about their purchases.

This helps companies understand what products are popular. It also shows them what people like and don't like. This information helps businesses make better products. It also helps them decide how to sell their items.

How They Collect Information

In the past, people on the panels would fill out paper forms. Now, they use modern ways to share their shopping habits. This includes using special scanners for barcodes. They also use the internet and even text messages.

This makes it easier for people to share their information. It also helps Kantar Worldpanel get information quickly. They can then share it with businesses.

Kantar Worldpanel's History

The idea of consumer panels started a long time ago. The first panels were created in the 1940s. One was in the UK in 1948. Another started in France in 1969. These early panels helped companies learn about what people were buying.

Growing the Network

In the 1970s and 1980s, more companies began creating panels. For example, a company in the UK started tracking food and drink purchases in 1976. In the United States, a panel for drinks began in 1980. IBOPE launched a consumer panel in Brazil in 1985.

The 1990s saw a big growth in these networks. Different companies joined together. This helped them collect even more information. For instance, two UK companies, AGB and Taylor Nelson, merged in 1991. This brought different types of panels into one company.

Becoming TNS Worldpanel

In 1997, two large groups, Taylor Nelson AGB and Sofres, merged. They formed a new company called Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). All the consumer panels became part of a special division. By 2003, this division was known as TNS Worldpanel.

The network continued to grow around the world. Between 1997 and 2002, new panels started in many Asian countries. These included Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. In China, TNS partnered with a local company in 1999. This partnership helped create a large consumer panel there.

In Latin America, the network also expanded. Panels were launched in countries like Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia. By 2007, TNS owned all these Latin American panels. This brought them together with the Worldpanel network in other regions.

Becoming Kantar Worldpanel

In 2008, a company called WPP bought TNS. This led to a big decision. They decided to create a separate company just for consumer panels. This new company was named Kantar Worldpanel.

Over time, Kantar Worldpanel started tracking more than just food and drinks. They began measuring things like fashion, phones, entertainment, and even fuel. They also kept improving how they collected information. They launched new tools to deliver their insights to businesses.

Kantar Worldpanel continued to grow in new areas. In 2011, a new panel started in Indonesia. In 2013, they expanded into Africa. They launched panels in Nigeria and Kenya. In 2014, they added Ghana to their network. This shows how much the company has grown over the years.