ACNielsen Introduces Next Generation in Pricing Software; Expanded PRICEMAN Program Provides Additional Power, Flexibility


    NEW ORLEANS--Feb. 19, 2001--ACNielsen U.S., an operating unit of ACNielsen, today announced during the FMI Marketechnics convention the release of PRICEMAN(TM) 3.0, a significantly enhanced version of its already industry leading strategic pricing software.
    The newest version of PRICEMAN, which helps retailers manage their many product pricing decisions, includes over 30 upgrades. New features include a true 32-bit Windows-based environment and the flexibility to use PRICEMAN as a stand-alone product or to network it on a client's server.
    "ACNielsen has always offered the best pricing software solution," said Michael Nicholson, director of pricing for Phar-Mor, Inc., a drugstore chain. "The company did an excellent job of understanding our needs and then translating that understanding into an even better version of PRICEMAN. I'm very excited about the software's new capabilities."
    Other PRICEMAN upgrades include 20 viewable pricing zones--up from six in the previous version. This allows users to make pricing decisions based on a comparison to many more competitive stores covering a wider geography. The new product's rule-based pricing models also give users more power. For example, clients can write rules into the program to set prices that are within a certain amount of a competitor's prices but never below the client's product costs. With the upgraded version of PRICEMAN, reports can now be automatically exported into an Excel format as well.
    "ACNielsen has worked hard to make PRICEMAN the industry standard," said Gary Ritzert, vice president of retail consulting for ACNielsen. "We're very proud of this new version. We've worked closely with our many PRICEMAN clients to create what is truly the most powerful and user-friendly pricing software available to the consumer packaged goods industry."
    PRICEMAN is endorsed by the Professional Pricing Society. Version 3.0 is available now.

    ACNielsen, a company of VNU N.V., is the world's leading market research firm, offering measurement and analysis of marketplace dynamics, consumer attitudes and behavior and new and traditional media in more than 100 countries. Clients include leading consumer product manufacturers and retailers, service firms, media and entertainment companies and the Internet community.

    Note to editors: Look for this press release and other ACNielsen news on the Internet at acnielsen.com/news/us.

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