Insight and Opinion

PRESS RELEASE: The Local Data Company Group acquires Edge Analytics

Written by Local Data Company | 11 April 2022

Contact name: Lucy Stainton, LDC Commercial Director
Organisation: The Local Data Company
Phone number: 07889591487
Email: press@localdatacompany.com

 

The Local Data Company Group acquires Edge Analytics

Retail data and insight business The Local Data Company Group announced today the acquisition of Edge Analytics, the data science business specialising in demographic data analysis.


The acquisition brings together Edge Analytics' expertise in geography, data science and forecasting methods and The Local Data Company’s expertise in data and insights for the physical retail market.


The Local Data Company (LDC) is the UK’s most accurate retail location insight company. They physically track every retail and leisure business across the country. LDC’s data powers strategy and decision making for clients working across retail, leisure, local government, out-of-home media, investment, property and financial services.

The addition of Edge Analytics data, insights and expertise expands LDC’s insight proposition to now include:


• Demographic Forecasting & Analysis
• Pupil Projections
• Housing Needs Toolkit
• Resource & Area Optimisation


Following the acquisition, LDC will be investing further in the Edge Analytics office in Leeds and their headcount as they look to build the business.

 

Barnaby Oswald, co-founder and CEO of The Local Data Company Group, commented:

“We are thrilled to be bringing the Edge Analytics business and all of its data science and forecasting expertise into the Local Data Company Group fold. The acquisition will allow us to significantly develop our forecasting capabilities and deliver much more advanced demographics to our clients. The capabilities of the Edge Analytics team perfectly complement our current strengths and match our exacting standards for data accuracy.

The pandemic has led to a dramatic change in the shape of the high street, driven by shifts in the home/office working habits of consumers and an exodus from many city centres. In addition, Brexit has impacted the volume of people migrating to the UK, which in turn is changing the UK’s demographics.

Going forwards, we will be able to support clients with both the supply side of retail (with the location of every store across the country) and the demand side, including demographic forecasting and analysis.

I would like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome all Edge Analytics clients and employees.”

 

Dr Peter Boden, founder of Edge Analytics, commented:

“In a new and very exciting phase of its development, Edge Analytics is very pleased to announce that it has joined the Local Data Company (LDC) Group, integrating its specialist data science expertise with the UK’s leading provider of retail location solutions.

The move is an ideal and timely match of product technology, data and expertise; the latest step in LDC’s development as a multi-faceted provider of data solutions to UK businesses. This is great news for both staff and existing clients, providing a platform for long-term growth and development within a unique, ambitious and innovative data and data science business.

As the economy continues its recovery post-COVID, and with the imminent release of new Census evidence on the UK’s population, robust and reliable data, analytics and forecasting will be ever-more critical for product and service planning across all industry sectors. LDC and Edge Analytics are perfectly positioned to meet this need.

Edge Analytics will provide LDC with a presence in Leeds, reinforcing a commitment to the thriving Nexus community and its long-standing relationship with the University of Leeds.”

 

ENDS

 

Notes for editors

Please contact the LDC Press Office with any additional data or interview requests at press@localdatacompany.com or 07889591487.

About the Local Data Company

The Local Data Company is the UK’s most accurate retail location insight company. We track openings and closures activity for every retail and leisure business across the country. Our data, analytics and insights power strategy and decision-making for businesses working across retail, leisure, out-of-home media, investment, property and financial services.

We employ a team of field researchers who physically audit the occupancy status of every business at frequent intervals, which enables us to capture live information about how the market is changing in real time. The ability to collect such accurate data is strengthened through our proprietary technology stack, developed in-house, which supports our field research and quality control processes. We employ the most innovative development techniques to constantly improve our products and services, be that the core data on over 680,000 businesses, our location insight dashboards or our analytics and consultancy arm.

For more information, please see www.localdatacompany.com

About Edge Analytics

Edge Analytics specialises in demographic data analysis, with a unique blend of expertise in geography, data science and forecasting methods.

They are committed to the research, development and application of innovative data science methods, which combine data, technology and analytical models to aid decision making. As a business, they seek to deliver these methods in the most effective and accessible manner, whilst demonstrating genuine enthusiasm for their chosen field of expertise.

For more information, please see www.edgeanalytics.co.uk