ACNielsen Announces Category Business Planner Agreement With H-E-B.

Business Editors

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2002

Grocer Becomes Latest Retailer to Sign On For

New Category Management Intelligence System

ACNielsen U.S., an operating unit of ACNielsen, a VNU company, today announced that its recently launched category management tool, Category Business Planner (CBP), will soon contain product sales information from H-E-B. The grocer, which operates 277 stores in Texas, Louisiana and Mexico, joins a fast-growing list of retailers who have agreed to make their information available on the CBP system. Participating retailers include Meijer, SUPERVALU, Walgreens, Bruno's, Hannaford Bros., CVS, Eckerd, Longs Drug Stores, Winn-Dixie and Ahold USA.

"We're very excited about Category Business Planner," said Duncan MacNaughton, vice president for H-E-B. "The tool should save us a considerable amount of time and help us make better category management decisions."

Dan Sacco, ACNielsen senior vice president, Retail Services and Business Development, welcomed the news about H-E-B, winner of the 2000 Category Master of the Year award by a vote of the manufacturer community. "H-E-B is one of the most respected and forward-thinking retailers. It is truly an honor to receive the company's endorsement and commitment to utilize Category Business Planner in its business decision process. I am delighted that H-E-B has joined the growing list of retailers who recognize the value of a one-number system as well as the insight and value CBP brings to the category management process. Our ACNielsen team looks forward to working with H-E-B and its partners in utilizing the insights now available from our new category management tool."

Category Business Planner brings new levels of clarity and efficiency to category management. Currently, manufacturers within the same category often define the category differently. Complicating matters further, retailers may use yet another category definition. With the agreement of its manufacturer and retailer advisory boards, ACNielsen designed CBP to provide product sales information on a retailer-by-retailer basis according to how each retailer defines each product category, its operating territory, and the other channels of trade it competes against. This makes it easier than ever for manufacturers and retailers to collaborate on the development of category plans because both can now work from the exact same information. It is the only such information tool available in the consumer packaged goods industry. CBP also automates the information analysis process, providing users with key category performance indicators in the form of "news headlines." Clicking on each headline provides more detailed information.

ACNielsen, a VNU company, is the world's leading marketing information company. Offering services in more than 100 countries, the company provides measurement and analysis of marketplace dynamics and consumer attitudes and behavior. Clients rely on ACNielsen's market research, proprietary products, analytical tools and professional service to understand competitive performance, to uncover new opportunities and to raise the profitability of their marketing and sales campaigns.

Note to Editors: Look for this press release and other ACNielsen news on the Internet at http://acnielsen.com/news. More information about Category Business Planner can be found at www.acnielsen.com/cbp.