The move will mean a multimillion-euro investment over the next several years in key markets in the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Portugal as part of the company's global consumer panel expansion strategy.
The expansion will take the company's total European panel coverage from approximately 45,000 to just under 70,000 households by the end of 2006.
It will include the introduction of an individual consumer panel that captures consumers' out-of-home consumption of convenience and "on the go" purchases.
Retailers and manufacturers of packaged and fresh foods, personal care and household products use ACNielsen's scanning-based consumer panels to uncover consumer insights and data, including purchasing patterns, consumption trends and changes in consumer behaviour.
ACNielsen estimates the global consumer panel business to be worth around €380m (£265m), with over €180m contributed by Western Europe.
In 2004, the company initiated a two-year expansion of its Homescan consumer panel in the US from 65,000 to more than 120,000 households and is also expanding its panel base across Asia Pacific and Brazil.
Roger Martell, chief operating officer ACNielson and senior vice-president VNU marketing information, said: "In today's increasingly crowded and competitive marketplace, understanding today's complex consumer has never been more challenging.
"The integration of consumer insights -- including scan data from major retailers -- and proprietary customised products is the only effective way for manufacturers to obtain a complete 360 degree understanding of their consumers' purchasing and consumption habits, and how they change over time."
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