MARKET research giant Kantar Millward Brown's Belfast office in Stranmillis is facing possible closure, it has emerged.
The company, which employs 30,000 people in 100 countries, confirmed that it has entered a period of consultation with its staff, which will run until June 15.
It is understood around 20 permanent employees and at least twice as many more agency workers could be impacted.
Only the global firm's Belfast operation has come under scrutiny, and the shock decision was revealed to staff when senior Kantar managers convened a meeting last month.
However, the Irish News understands that the viable Northern Ireland wing of the business could yet be the subject of a management buy-out, which would save most or all of the staff from being made redundant.
According to Companies House, Millward Brown Ulster Ltd has two directors - Catherine Toner (60) and Alan Lobo (55) - and has assets of more than £1 million.
Kantar Millward Brown is the world’s leading data, insight and consultancy company, gathering information on how people live, feel, shop, vote and watch.
Locally, it has worked with broadcasters and the print media on gathering data for polls around elections and Brexit, and on issues like consumer spending habits and confidence.
The company's roots go back to the 1970s, when it was known as Ulster Marketing Surveys under managing director Richard Moore.
It was acquired in 2002 by Millard Brown, which in turn came under the control of Kantar.
A source within the company's Belfast operation told the Irish News: "This decision to put us on notice came totally out of the blue.
"In fairness the company is a great place to work, utilising not just students but more mature agents, and it paid salaries well above the minimum wage.
"Indeed during the winter, when the really horrendous weather meant we either couldn't get in to the office or were sent home, they still paid us our wages. It was a lovely place."
The source added: "We had absolutely no idea anything was up until a couple of senior people came across to speak to the contract workers and break this news to us.
"It seems the type of market research we do - phoning people personally to ask them questions - is becoming too expensive. We were informed that online is a cheaper way to gather data, and as a result we could be out of a job."
Kantar Millward Brown has one of the largest interviewing resources in the UK with a panel of hundreds of expertly trained face-to-face interviewers, though online data collection has been growing in recent years.
The company said: "We will not be making any comment until the end of the consultation period."
