MDL Research Group to cease trading

UK-- MDL Research Group is to cease trading at the end of the month, Research has learned, after 30 years in business.

A meeting will be held on 29 May to put the company into voluntary liquidation, said chairman John Kelly, a former president of Esomar.

He cited the loss of two major client contracts “due to circumstances beyond our control” as the reason for MDL's demise. The first loss came after the client in question was bought out by a rival who put a moratorium on research, and the second was the result of spending cuts triggered by the economic downturn, Kelly said.

The group has seven staff, including Kelly and his business partners Ricky Baxter, Andy Booth and Lise Cottle.

MDL's operating divisions included Marketing Direction, European Data and Research (EDR), International Air Travel Surveys (IATS) and Business Intelligence Consultancy.

EDR and IATS were acquired almost four years ago.

Author: Brian Tarran