In September 2010, the market research consultancies SPA and Future Thinking, formerly known as The Oxford Research Agency (TORA), merged to form a single business. At the same time, the company chose Paris as the location for its first commercial subsidiary in Paris. The newly formed agency now boasts a turnover of £13 million and an international network of offices in Paris, London, Oxford and New York.

Future Thinking is a British company created in 1982 specializing in market research. It offers its clients the tools to determine and optimize their customers’ experience of their products and services to drive repeat purchases and higher profitability. By forecasting the impact of its clients’ new products, Future Thinking predicts their future. Since its creation, Future Thinking has been at the forefront of market research and has developed a first-class reputation. The company now works with the biggest global brands in the transport, retail, finance and education sectors, as well as with local governments in the United Kingdom, the United States and France. The company provides high-quality services from testing new products with sample groups to identifying future sales in order to help its clients launch their products to best effect. Future Thinking uses high technology such as real and virtual stores as well as the latest 3D technology which allows companies to design unique solutions and standardize their approach.

Recently, the company decided to set up in France due to the vibrant international business environment in the Ile-de-France (Paris) region. This commercial subsidiary will allow the company to prospect and serve its international clients. “France is a great market for new product development – and very different from the UK in terms of things like the eating and drinking culture. This makes the French market so exciting from an NPD point of view” said Mr. Jon Priest, CEO. Future Thinking has already hired Mrs. Adeline Baret, who spent a decade in senior positions at Kraft Foods France and nine years at Numsight, a French independent market research agency, to head up their Paris offices. She brings their clients a huge wealth of experience in sensory testing and product optimization and is already working on specific engagements for the company in France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. “Adeline’s arrival makes us even better suited to help our clients who need our expertise in Europe. Coupled with the recent opening of the US office, our international plans are now well underway and starting to produce results” added Mr. Priest.

Future Thinking received useful advice from the Invest in France Agency UK and Ireland (IFA UKI) about setting up in the country. The IFA UKI also provided them with legal support and put them in touch with the Paris Region Economic Development Agency, through whom they gained access to existing networks of local businesses and professional associations.

“Future Thinking decided to invest in France thanks to the availability of highly qualified personnel and its attractiveness as an investment location: France is one of the two largest markets in Europe and is the fourth largest market in the world after the United States, Japan and Germany. Paris, along with its surrounding region, Ile-de-France, is also a leading economic powerhouse in the European Union and is on the path to becoming an influential “world city” thanks to the “Greater Paris” project”.