Best CPG market research companies in 2024

Now is the moment for consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to sharpen their competitive edge, and double down on actionable market research. Consumer behavior is shifting faster than ever (thanks, TikTok) and relying on assumptions or outdated data isn’t retro, but risky.

CPG brands need fresh, real-time insights—giving them unique angles that they can take action on. The best way to get that is through partnering with expert market research companies, who either help you do it in-house, or do all the heavy lifting.

Deciding who to work with isn’t about finding the flashiest features, but the one that delivers ROI-driven insights, insights that can help you adjust quickly, target your key audiences, and understand consumer behaviors on a deeper level.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the top CPG market research companies, why you should be leveraging them now, and what to look for when selecting the perfect fit for your business.

Company name	Key services
Attest	Consumer insights, creative testing, market analysis, survey design
Schaefer Marketing Solutions	Market research, marketing strategy consulting, branding, data-driven solutions
InsightsNow	Behavioral science-driven research, qualitative & quantitative research, consumer panels
VideoMining	AI-driven video analytics, shopper behavior analysis, retail insights
Highlight	Consumer panels, product testing, packaging and message testing, surveys
SmashBrand	Brand strategy, packaging design, product-market fit, consumer research
Antedote	Consumer insights, predictive analytics, brand strategy, custom research
C+R Research	Qualitative & quantitative research, consumer behavior, shopper insights
Curion Insights	Sensory testing, consumer panels, product testing, brand strategy
Decision Analyst	Market research, consumer insights, predictive analytics, concept testing
NielsenIQ	Retail and sales analytics, market segmentation, data-driven strategies
Kantar	Brand strategy, consumer journey insights, ad performance analysis
Ipsos	Consumer insights, product innovation, market strategy, shopper insights
Euromonitor International	Strategic market analysis, consumer insights, brand strategy, product innovation
Circana	Consumer behavior insights, predictive analytics, business intelligence, sales data

The top 15 market research companies for consumer packaged goods

Want a quick overview of the CPG market research tools and companies we’ll review? Here you go. Let’s dig in.

1. Attest
2. Schaefer Marketing Solutions
3. InsightsNow
4. VideoMining
5. Highlight
6. SmashBrand
7. Antedote
8. C+R Research
9. Curion Insights
10. Decision Analyst
11. NielsenIQ
12. Kantar
13. Ipsos
14. Euromonitor International
15. Circana

1. Attest

Attest is a leading consumer research platform designed to help consumer brands make decisions, driven by reliable consumer insights.

With our intuitive interface and powerful survey tools, we enable businesses to gather actionable consumer insights and stay ahead of market trends. The platform supports a variety of research types, from concept testing to brand tracking to qualitative research, and provides clear, data-driven answers to critical business questions.

In addition to the platform, you get access to your dedicated Customer Research Manager, who’s on hand to give you expert research advice and help you get genuinely valuable insights with Attest.

Attest stands out for its flexibility, offering custom research solutions tailored to companies’ specific needs, especially in the fast-moving consumer goods (CPG) industry.

I love Attest. I love the speed and agility. I also really love that you guys provide a dedicated rep. I’m a marketer by trade, not a researcher, so it is nice to be able to have somebody to talk to whenever I have questions.

Monica Aguilo, Senior Director – Consumer Insights, Strategy & Social at Manscaped

Services:

• Consumer profiling
• Brand tracking
• Creative testing
• Concept testing
• Market analysis
• Multi-market research
• Competitor analysis
• New product development
• Campaign tracking

Best for:

• Data-driven decision-making
• Real-time consumer insights
• Custom CPG market research
• Marketing strategy refinement

Rating: 4.5/5 on G2

Founded: 2015

2. Schaefer Marketing Solutions

Schaefer Marketing Solutions is a boutique marketing agency specializing in consumer insights and data-driven strategies to help CPG companies, specifically those in specialty food and beverage. Schaefer leverages data analytics and market research to provide actionable insights that help businesses optimize their marketing strategies and boost customer engagement. They also offer personalized consulting services, to give CPG brands strategic guidance on improving brand performance and sales.

Services:

• Market research and consumer insights
• Marketing strategy consulting
• Branding and product development
• Data-driven marketing solutions

Best for:

• Food and beverage brands
• CPG businesses needing custom market research
• Companies focused on improving brand strategy and consumer experience

Rating: Rated 4.9/5 on Clutch.co

Founded: 2019

3. InsightsNow

InsightsNow is a consumer behavior research company with a team of behavioral experts that help CPG (and especially food) brands better understand their customers and market, leading them to create and market better concepts. Their methods combine qualitative and quantitative research to reveal deeper insights into human behavior, leading to more informed product innovation and market strategy.

Services:

• Behavioral science-driven research
• Qualitative and quantitative research
• Product and concept testing
• Shopper insights and brand strategy

Best for:

• Companies looking for deep consumer behavior insights
• CPG brands focused on product innovation
• Businesses wanting a custom research partner for in-depth consumer research

Rating: N/A

Founded: 2003

4. VideoMining

VideoMining offers a unique approach to market research by combining AI-driven video analytics with traditional consumer insights to deliver a comprehensive view of shopper behaviors. It all began in an Artificial Intelligence Research Laboratory directed by Dr. Rajeev Sharma at Pennsylvania State University. Now the company provides the CPG and retail industry with actionable insights on how consumers navigate retail environments, interact with products, and make purchase decisions. This helps CPG brands optimize store layouts, product placements, marketing strategies, and much more.

Services:

• AI-driven video analytics
• Shopper behavior analysis
• Retail and CPG insights
• Customer experience optimization

Best for:

• Retailers and CPG brands focused on in-store optimization
• Companies wanting detailed shopper insights to improve sales performance
• Brands looking to leverage AI and predictive analytics in their market research

Rating: N/A

Founded: 2008

5. Highlight

Highlight is a powerful in-home product testing platform designed to simplify the testing of physical products and getting consumer feedback, which is incredibly useful for CPG brands. They offer everything from recruitment to shipping and surveys, and everything in between. This gives CPG an intuitive, streamlined approach to conducting qualitative research.

Services:

• Consumer panels and focus groups
• Product testing
• Packaging and marketing message testing
• Online surveys and real-time feedback

Best for:

• Brands seeking quick, actionable feedback
• CPG companies focused on product innovation
• Companies looking for cost-effective research solutions

Rating: 4.5 on G2

Founded: 2020

6. SmashBrand

SmashBrand is a branding and packaging design Agency that combines market research, branding, and packaging design to help consumer goods companies create products that resonate with their target audience. With an emphasis on data-driven design and product innovation, they provide valuable insights that help brands improve product-market fit, drive customer engagement, and boost sales performance.

Services:

• On-shelf testing
• Brand Fit & perception
• Simulated buying
• Packaging optimization
• Purchase intent

Best for:

• Brands looking for a full-service agency that can combine packaging design and market research
• CPG businesses focused on innovating their packaging
• Companies seeking design guidance and based on consumer insights

Rating: 5.0/5 on Clutch.co

Founded: 2009

7. Antedote

Antedote has worked for a range of big names in CPG. They’re a market research and consulting firm that helps brands uncover valuable consumer insights through advanced analytics and data-driven strategies. With tools like predictive analytics they help CPG brands anticipate market trends and align their products with consumer needs. Their services are designed to drive business growth and help brands stay competitive, even when supermarket shelves are changing every day.

Services:

• Consumer insights and behavioral analysis
• Predictive analytics for market trends
• Need identification
• Innovation testing and growth hacking

Best for:

• CPG companies seeking in-depth consumer insights
• Brands looking to leverage predictive analytics for product launches
• CPG brands that need to infuse their strategies with more data analytics

Rating: 5.0/5 on Crunch.co

Founded: 2012

8. C+R Research

C+R Research is a ”full-service custom qualitative and quantitative integrated insights agency”, aka, a great place to be if you want to outsource your CPG market research. They focus on helping brands gain a deeper understanding of their market, to improve not just their products but also their messaging.

Services:

• Qualitative and quantitative research
• Consumer behavior analysis
• Brand strategy and development
• Shopper insights and product testing

Best for:

• CPG brands needing comprehensive consumer research
• Companies looking for both qualitative and quantitative insights
• Businesses focused on brand strategy and shopper behavior

Rating: 4.6/5 on Google Reviews

Founded: 1959

9. Curion Insights

Curion Insights is known for its expertise in consumer packaged goods and sensory research. They specialize in gathering rich consumer data through their own tools, such as the Curion Score™ which evaluates product performance within their category context, or the XP Framework which guides the development process based on consumer research. They also have their own consumer centers, for even more thorough testing.

Services:

• Sensory testing and analysis
• Product testing and optimization
• Consumer panels for CPG brands
• Shopper insights and brand strategy

Best for:

• CPG companies focused on food and beverage products
• Brands that rely on sensory feedback for product refinement
• Businesses seeking product testing for optimization

Rating: N/A

Founded: 2017

10. Decision Analyst

Decision Analyst is a full-service market research company that provides advanced quantitative and qualitative research methods for the CPG industry. With a focus on driving business growth through data-driven insights, they help brands understand market trends, consumer preferences, and how to position their products for success.

Services:

• Analytical consulting
• Brand name testing
• Concept testing
• Packaging research
• Pricing research

Best for:

• Companies focused on consumer insights to drive business growth
• CPG brands needing predictive analytics and custom research
• Businesses looking for strategic market research to improve sales performance

Rating: N/A

Founded: 1978

11. NielsenIQ

NielsenIQ is a global leader in market research and data analytics, specializing in helping CPG companies understand consumer behavior. They offer a range of solutions including consumer insights, retail measurement, and market segmentation. Their vast datasets help companies to get richer insights into sales performance and consumer trends, enabling them to craft marketing strategies that increase market share and optimize product innovation.

Services:

• Retail and sales performance analytics
• Market segmentation and consumer insights
• Data-driven marketing strategies

Best for:

• Large CPG companies looking for global consumer research
• Brands needing insights into sales performance and market segmentation
• Companies focused on data analytics for business growth

Rating: 4.6/5

Founded: 1923

12. Kantar

Kantar is a well-established market research company offering services specifically tailored to the consumer packaged goods industry. Their expertise spans qualitative research, brand strategy, and advertising effectiveness. Kantar helps CPG companies understand the consumer journey, assess brand health, and analyze media performance.

Services:

• Brand strategy and advertising effectiveness
• Consumer journey insights
• Media and ad performance analysis

Best for:

• Brands focused on brand strategy and advertising effectiveness
• Companies looking to understand the consumer journey
• CPG businesses needing to assess media performance

Rating: N/A

Founded: 1992

13. Ipsos

Ipsos is a global market research company known for its focus on consumer insights and brand strategy. They work closely with CPG companies to help them understand consumer behaviors, shopper insights, and trends in product innovation. Ipsos combines qualitative research with advanced analytics to help brands fine-tune their market strategies and gain a deeper understanding of their target customers.

Services:

• Consumer insights and shopper insights
• Product innovation and market strategy
• Qualitative research and data analytics

Best for:

• Brands focusing on consumer behavior insights
• Companies looking to drive product innovation
• CPG businesses interested in deep market strategy development

Rating: N/A

Founded: 1975

14. Euromonitor International

Euromonitor International offers in-depth market research services, helping CPG brands stay ahead of market trends and understand their target audience. They specialize in delivering strategic solutions to help brands innovate and optimize their product offerings. Euromonitor’s reports and consumer insights provide actionable insights that can drive business growth by guiding marketing strategies and product innovation.

Services:

• Strategic market analysis
• Product innovation and brand strategy
• Consumer insights and market trends

Best for:

• Brands looking for strategic market insights
• CPG companies focusing on product innovation
• Businesses aiming to stay ahead of market trends

Rating: N/A

Founded: 1972

15. Circana

Circana is a leading market research and analytics company, focusing on consumer packaged goods (CPG) and retail industries. They provide comprehensive insights into consumer behavior, market trends, and sales performance by combining data analytics with industry expertise. Formerly known as IRI, Circana offers innovative tools that help companies in the CPG industry make data-driven decisions, drive growth, and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly changing market.

Their services range from predictive analytics and shopper insights to consumer panel data and market research services, allowing clients to make informed decisions. Circana is particularly well-known for their advanced technology platforms, which integrate business intelligence and AI-driven analytics to provide actionable insights for businesses looking to optimize their marketing and product innovation strategies.

Services:

• Consumer behavior insights and market trends analysis
• Predictive analytics and AI-driven insights
• Shopper insights and sales performance data
• Business intelligence and advanced analytics platforms

Best for:

• Brands needing in-depth consumer insights
• CPG companies looking to leverage AI and predictive analytics
• Businesses focusing on data-driven decision-making and market trends

Rating: N/A

Founded: 2023 (Circana’s former entity IRI was founded in 1979)

Choose Attest for CPG market research

Attest empowers you with quick, reliable, and in-depth results—all conducted in-house. Every user, regardless of the plan, gets access to a dedicated research expert to ensure you’re supported at every stage of your market research.

This combination of expert guidance and powerful data tools allows you to uncover actionable insights fast, optimizing your strategies for meaningful business growth. Ready to enhance your CPG market research efforts? Choose Attest to get the data that matters most.