Our company History

History

1984 - Verdict Research was started in September 1984 by Richard Hyman (previously a director of Mintel). The company's mission statement was "to be the best in retail research and analysis" and it differentiated itself by writing opinion rather than merely reporting retail facts. Unlike many other firms operating in the consumer and retail research arena, the company only employed in-house analysts, not freelancers.

1985 - The company moved to Britten Street and the first employees (a secretary, an analyst and a marketing manager were employed. The company produced 12 reports in first year with two analysts.

1986 - The company sold its first consultancy project.

1987 - The company moved to High Holborn and added more reports, including those focusing on consumer, forecasting and retail issues. The first Verdict conference was also held; these were held ever year for the next four years.

1990 - The company added Fieldforce, a range and price auditing company, based in Coventry

1992 - The first European Reports were produced. The company also launched the Retail Verdict Newsletter, 136 subscribers in first year.

1994 - The company celebrated its 10th Anniversary.

1996 - Retail Daily News was launched.

1997 - The company moved office to Berners Street just off Oxford Street in London.

1999 - The 40th employee was taken on and the number of off-shelf reports exceed 40 per year for the first time.

2000 - All Verdict's publications were made available over the internet.

2004 - Verdict Research celebrated its 20th Anniversary.

2005 - The company was acquired by Datamonitor plc.

2006 - Verdict Research added more clients than any other year in the company's history. The Retail knowledge Center is launched.
A new series of reports, the Strategic Company Profiles Series, is also launched.

2007 - Verdict launches new website. Verdict branches into publishing reports with a global focus.