Store Brands parent company acquires Path to Purchase Institute

New Canaan, Conn.-based RFE Investment Partners, parent company of Store Brands magazine, said it acquired the Path to Purchase Institute, Chicago, a global association serving the needs of omnichannel retailers, brands and solution providers along the path to purchase.

The Institute will continue to champion shopper-centric thinking to help define the ongoing evolution of consumer marketing and the overall shopping experience. It will operate in close collaboration with Stagnito Business Information + Edgell Communications also recently acquired by RFE.

The combination of these organizations under the RFE umbrella establishes a comprehensive and fully integrated suite of digital and print media, events, data/information services, research services and professional training. It creates the largest collective audience of influencers and decision-makers, across functions and markets, encompassing the $750 billion retail/CPG marketplace.

The brand strategy for businesses and assets acquired by RFE will be introduced in coming months. Both entities will operate independently under the direction of an executive board led by Executive Chairman Alan Glass. Peter Hoyt, CEO and executive director of the Path to Purchase Institute, and Kollin Stagnito, CEO and president of Stagnito + Edgell, will each report to Glass.

“The Path to Purchase Institute has earned industry-wide respect by helping its members and the industry at large understand insights and strategies for better connecting with shoppers,” said Glass. “The alignment of the Path to Purchase Institute with Stagnito + Edgell cements our position as the definitive business intelligence resource for the retail and consumer goods industries.”

RFE Investment Partners is a private equity investor with more than 30 years of experience investing in growth companies in partnership with strong management teams. Information on RFE can be found at http://rfeip.com/.