As head of FMCG research, Europe, Baret has impressive credentials, having spent a decade in senior positions at Kraft Foods France, and a further nine years at Numsight, an independent market research agency in France, where she has been working with clients across Europe, including Russia and Turkey.

The opening follows the merger, in September, of SPA and Future Thinking (formerly The Oxford Research Agency, or TORA) to form an international agency with a £13m+ turnover. Adeline brings our clients a huge wealth of experience in sensory testing and product optimization, and she is already working on specific engagements for us in France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, said Jon Priest, CEO. France is a great market for NPD - and very different in terms of things such as eating and drinking culture from the UK. This makes the French market so exciting from a new product development point of view. Adeline's arrival makes us even better suited to help our clients who need our expertise in Europe. Coupled with the recent opening of the US office, our international plans are now well underway and starting to produce results.

This new establishment had full access to the services provided by the Paris Region Economic Development Agency, especially in terms of seeking qualified employees and being put in touch with the local ecosystem.

On next November 16th, the SPA and Future Thinking agencies will both be attending PREDA's International Businesses Forum, which puts newly-established companies in the Paris Region in touch with the major international groups based within the area.

About SPA and Future Thinking
In September 2010, market research consultancies SPA and Future Thinking, formerly known as The Oxford Research Agency (TORA) merged to form a single business. The newly formed agency now boasts a £13m+ turnover and an international network of offices in London, Paris, New York and Oxford. The new combined entity is run by Jon Priest as group CEO. The newly merged agency makes the most of SPA and Future Thinking's complementary areas of expertise. For example, for FMCG clients, Future Thinking specialises in pre-launch research (e.g.new product development and simulated test market research and forecasting), while SPA specialises in post launch research (e.g. brand and advertising tracking, sponsorship research and broader qualitative brand/category studies). The deal was funded by growth capital private equity investor Next Wave Partners, and both SPA and Future Thinking have a 20 per cent shareholding in the combined business, with the remainder held by Next Wave Partners.

Contacts:
Velvet PR
Claire Foss: +44(0)20 8996 1804/ +44(0)7795 112 127 claire@velvetpr.biz
Jo Sensini : +44(0)20 8996 1800/ +44(0)7710 316759 jo@velvetpr.biz