Match Marketing Group Acquires Convergence Marketing

TORONTO, Oct. 3, 2013 /CNW/ - Match Marketing Group continues its rapid two-year growth with the acquisition of retail merchandising agency Convergence Marketing Inc. of Baltimore, Maryland.

The addition of Convergence, the eighth acquisition in less than two years, is part of Match MG's plan to become the most effective and integrated retail marketing agency in North America.

Convergence is the leading cosmetics and beauty care merchandising solutions company in the U.S with 5,000 field staff, working with marketers such as Procter & Gamble and L'Oreal and retailer names such as Wal-Mart and Kroger. Last spring it implemented programs in more than 17,000 stores nationally. Convergence is also a major in-store service supplier across a variety of other categories including candy, gift cards and apparel.

"We have long respected Convergence Marketing for its ability to create top retail programs and we are delighted that they will contribute to what we offer our clients," says Brett Farren, CEO of Match. "There is no agency in North America that can do what Convergence does when it comes to implementing brand visual presentation on the store floor. Convergence is simply the best at what they do. The success of our end-to-end shopper marketing concept has allowed us to double in size and provides us with the ability to take a client's brand from concept through the path to purchase and final sale on a North American basis."

Today Match employs more than 500 people in eight offices with annual revenues approaching $200-million.

Match MG offers clients a unique start-to-finish service offering - from research and insights to integrated campaign development to digital, in-store, experiential and event marketing.

"We have wanted for some time to be able to provide our clients with more services and bring in more expertise, joining the Match network allows us to do just that," says Chris Miller, CEO of Convergence. "Convergence is now part of a North American agency that shares the same client-first beliefs and values that we have throughout our history."

"We continue to stay true to our original vision, which is to assist our clients in successfully engaging consumers with their brands, from research through special events to the store floor and the final transaction," says Perry Miele, Chairman of Match.

The addition of Convergence is the latest, but not likely the last, of a series of acquisitions which have made Match MG a leading shopper marketing agency. In just over one year Match has added Action Marketing of Boulder, CO, Marketing Drive and Marketing Weld Digital (based in Boston and Norwalk, CT) and SVM Marketing of Montreal.

About Convergence
Founded in 2001, Convergence has carved out an enviable niche providing retail merchandising solutions and services to both retailers and consumer product manufacturers, recording double-digit revenue growth throughout its history. Convergence was named on Inc. 5000's Fastest Growing company list, as well as Smart CEO's Future 50 Awards program in Baltimore.

About Match Marketing Group
Match MG is North America's leading shopper marketing agency. Match as been delivering innovative marketing, sales and retail solutions to North America's leading brands for more than a decade. Its client roster comprises Fortune 100 companies across all major industry categories.

SOURCE: Match Marketing Group

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Paul Brent
416-300-8459
[email protected]

Chantel Buscema
647-992-2426
[email protected]