The NPD Group Acquires TNS Foodservice Businesses in UK and Spain

Business Wire, April 3, 2007

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. -- The NPD Group, leading provider of consumer and retail information, and TNS, a world leader in market information, announced that NPD has acquired the foodservice tracking businesses of TNS in the UK and Spain. The deal was completed March 31. The firms also announced plans to cooperate on the development of special reports combining their information on food consumption trends in Great Britain and the use by NPD of TNS' 6thdimension European access panels.

With the transaction, NPD becomes the premier provider of consumer panel information for the foodservice business in the UK and Spain. The deal is the latest step in the expansion of NPD's industry-leading CREST([R]) service, which provides information on consumer purchases of prepared meals and snacks in restaurants and other commercial and noncommercial establishments in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, U.S., Canada, and Japan.

Under the agreement, NPD's CREST will replace both the TNS Outlet Tracker and the TNS Out of Home Report. However, clients will continue to receive the same information previously available through TNS as well as additional information unique to CREST. NPD will also continue to offer the TNS Out of Home Report in addition to CREST through at least March 31, 2008, in order to smooth the transition in information trending for former TNS clients.

Former TNS Outlet Tracker subscribers will be able to receive the metrics previously available through that service plus data on children under 17 and continuous tracking of the same consumers over time for greater insight into behavioral trends.

Former Out of Home Report subscribers will be able to receive comparable measures reported more frequently and based on data reported by larger samples of consumers. As NPD CREST subscribers, they will also gain the ability to drill down to identify and monitor key market trends by chain, channel, and food type. Clients will be able to review frequency and penetration, plus information on where consumers are eating, pricing, and promotions.

"NPD is pleased to be offering the industry the most accurate and robust market views available today. Our goal is to offer global coverage with granular market views that provide the breadth and depth the foodservice industry needs to drive decision making," said Andy Tarshis, NPD group president, Europe.

"We are confident that our clients will benefit from NPD's industry expertise and continued dedication to providing the best information available," said Giles Quick, Managing Director of TNS Worldpanel, Usage. "And we are committed to working together to ensure that we don't miss a beat in delivering the information and insight clients rely on."

In addition to the flagship CREST service, NPD also offers foodservice companies access to a portfolio of complementary services. The CREST atwork Panel monitors prepared foods and beverages at work and educational institutions. NPD's SalesTrac([R]) delivers same-store sales trends for benchmarking and strategic planning.

In a separate agreement NPD has also appointed TNS' 6thdimension as the Access Panel fieldwork provider for its CREST, Toys, and Sports services in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

About The NPD Group, Inc.

The NPD Group is the leading provider of reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,600 manufacturers, retailers, and service companies rely on NPD to help them drive critical business decisions at the global, national, and local market levels. NPD helps its clients to identify new business opportunities and guide product development, marketing, sales, merchandising, and other functions. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, foodservice, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys, and wireless. For more information, visit http://www.npd.com/.> About TNS:

TNS is a global market insight and information group.

TNS's strategic goal is to be recognised as the global leader in delivering value-added information and insights that help its clients to make more effective decisions. As industry thought leaders, TNS's people deliver innovative thinking and excellent service to global organisations and local clients worldwide. They work in partnership with clients, meeting their needs for high-quality information, analysis and foresight across our network of over 70 countries.

TNS is the world's foremost provider of custom research and analysis, combining in-depth industry sector understanding with world-class expertise in the areas of new product development, segmentation and positioning research, brand and advertising research and stakeholder management. They are a major supplier of consumer panel, media intelligence and internet, TV and radio audience measurement services.

TNS is the sixth sense of business.

www.tns-global.com