CHICAGO — Global market research firm IRI announced Oct. 8 its acquisition of Retail Solutions, Inc. (RSi), a leading supplier of supply chain solutions for CPG brands and retailers. IRI will fold RSi’s solutions into its IRI Liquid Data technology platform to offer comprehensive supply chain solutions and anonymous consumer data assets for its clients.

“The acquisition of RSi builds upon IRI’s long track record of continuous investment in technology, solutions and data assets,” said Andrew Appel, president and chief executive officer of IRI. “IRI remains laser-focused on serving the CPG and retail industries with innovative solutions that help our clients address their most challenging issues to deliver highly differentiated capabilities and impact to clients. The investment in RSi to enhance our supply chain optimization capabilities is a direct response to our clients’ needs as they navigate disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

RSi’s supply chain solutions are used by more than 75% of the world’s largest CPG manufacturers worldwide as it serves more than 500 global CPG companies, according to IRI. These solutions help companies optimize shelf availability, operational productivity and omnichannel sales growth.

“IRI is the ideal partner to build upon our existing suite of solutions and enable our clients to further optimize their supply chains, and we’re thrilled to be joining forces with them,” said Bert Clement, chief executive officer of RSi.

RSi’s on-shelf availability solutions suite includes OSAPower, an AI-driven tool used to diagnose, reduce and prevent out-of-stock issues for companies. The company’s solutions are created using data and insights from more than 150 retailers.

“With access to enhanced data, technology, solutions and resources, existing RSi clients will be even better positioned to make smarter, faster decisions that maximize efficiency and drive growth,” added Stuart Careford, chief customer officer of RSi.

As a result of the merger, clients of IRI and RSi will benefit from expanded market coverage, cutting-edge supply chain solutions, enhanced collaboration between manufacturers and retailers, data and technology integration, digital shopper marketing analytics, and augmented decision-making resources.

“Optimizing supply chain through better end-to-end visibility, efficiency and execution has never been more important to retailers and manufacturers across the CPG landscape,” added Baljit Dail, president of IRI Global. “The addition of RSi’s leading solutions to our broader portfolio of offerings will further enhance our robust capabilities and enable retailers and manufacturers to drive tangible ROI and capitalize on opportunities in a dynamic environment.”

For now, RSi will be a stand-alone subsidiary of IRI. Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal counsel to IRI throughout the acquisition. RSi received legal counsel from Cooley LLP. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC was the exclusive financial advisor for RSi.

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