CHICAGO – Sept. 26, 2005 – Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), the leading global provider of enterprise market information solutions for the consumer packaged goods, retail, and healthcare industries, today announced that Constellation Brands, Inc., is one of the latest beverage alcohol clients to renew its business relationship with IRI.
Under the five-year contract, IRI will provide marketplace information, business and shopper insights and access solutions for Constellation’s U.S. companies - Constellation Wines U.S., Icon Estates, Barton Beers, Ltd., and Barton Brands, Ltd. With such leading brands as Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Blackstone, Ravenswood, Arbor Mist, Corona Extra, St. Pauli Girl and Black Velvet, Constellation is the largest wine company in the world and the largest multi-category supplier of beverage alcohol in the U.S.
“Constellation decided to extend its relationship with IRI because they offer the highest quality information, innovative solutions, and superior beverage alcohol focused customer solution teams,” said Abbott Wolfe, senior vice president, channel management for Constellation Wines U.S. “We look forward to leveraging the information and insights provided by IRI to focus on growth opportunities that will increase our share of market.”
The following is an outline of the solutions and services that Constellation Brands will receive from IRI:
- Precise measurement of regional and national beverage alcohol product sales in grocery, drug, mass, convenience and liquor chain trade channels using IRI InfoScan®, a census-based, point-of-sale tracking service. These measurements can be utilized in numerous ways, such as identifying sales lifts for promotion planning and recognizing distribution voids.
- Deeper understanding of consumer behaviors and motivations, such as cross-purchasing behavior, using the IRI 70,000 ScanKey Consumer Network™ Household Panel as well as the Builders™ Suite, which leverages IRI’s multi-outlet InfoScan Panel to help sales managers and marketers make intelligent inferences from sophisticated data for both strategic and tactical planning.
- Improved data mining, analytic and presentation capabilities with the IRI Plus Suite™ of software services.
- Increased speed to insight for enhanced fact-based decision making using the Web-based IRI CPGNetwork™ business information portal.
- Improved new product development and introduction support for both regional and national brands using IRI granular store-level insight.
- “Constellation has unequalled breadth in the beverage alcohol industry, and we’re very excited to continue working with them to help them grow their business in the highly complex beverage alcohol marketplace,” said Bump Williams, executive vice president and general manager, global consulting, beverage alcohol practice of IRI. “IRI’s deep beverage alcohol expertise combined with rich consumer and retailer insights will help Constellation quickly identify issues and opportunities and act upon them quickly, ultimately helping them to win at the shelf.”
About Constellation
Constellation Brands, Inc. is a leading international producer and marketer of beverage alcohol brands with a broad portfolio across the wine, spirits and imported beer categories. Well-known brands in Constellation's portfolio include: Corona Extra, Corona Light, Pacifico, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, St. Pauli Girl, Tsingtao, Black Velvet, Fleischmann's, Mr. Boston, Paul Masson Grande Amber Brandy, Chi-Chi's, 99 Schnapps, Ridgemont Reserve 1792, Effen Vodka, Stowells, Blackthorn, Almaden, Arbor Mist, Vendange, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Hardys, Nobilo, Alice White, Ruffino, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Blackstone, Ravenswood, Estancia, Franciscan Oakville Estate, Simi and Robert Mondavi Winery brands. For additional information about Constellation Brands, as well as its product portfolio, visit the company's Web site at www.cbrands.com.
About Information Resources, Inc.
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) is the world’s leading provider of enterprise market information solutions and services, empowering its clients to grow their business profitably in a complex marketplace. Driving the transformation of the consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, and healthcare industries, only IRI provides a unique combination of real-time market content, advanced analytics, enterprise performance management software, and professional services. The company’s portfolio of services, solutions, and technology enable leading retailers and their suppliers around the globe to see what they are missing, act faster with greater confidence and win at the shelf. Ninety five percent of the FORTUNE Global 500 in CPG and retail leverage IRI to power their business. For more information, visit www.infores.com.