Planet Retail publishes reports on the retail sector, while Simstore conducts custom research using online surveys and virtual store simulations.

Together, the companies say they will be able to offer “a complete lifecycle view”, covering macroeconomic forces, retailer strategy and individual shopper behaviour.

Volker Koch, Planet Retail’s operations director, said: “By combining the global retail expertise of Planet Retail with the in-depth shopper insight and cutting-edge approach of Simstore we are creating an indispensable platform for understanding the economically critical retail sector.”