GfK acquires Nielsen's Clear tracking service

US-- GfK has bought Nielsen's contact lenses sales tracking service Clear for an undisclosed amount.

Clear, which reports monthly sales-out information, will have its data integrated into GfK's StarTrack database during the first quarter of 2009.

Carl Ravitch, managing director of the audits and surveys division in the US, said: “We're delighted to be able to add the single largest market for contact lenses to the already significant list of countries that we track for our global clients.”

Kervin Henry, GfK's US optics products director, said: “We will maintain the current Clear sample composition and projection methodology throughout the transition into our GfK system.

“Once in place, we then expect to expand the sample for both the sales-out measurements as well as the collection of new fits and switches information. Other categories such as eyeglass frames and lenses as well as sunglasses will then be added to our US program with all due speed.”

Author: James Verrinder