WPP invests further in image recognition firm Planorama

Advertising and media giant WPP said on Thursday that it has invested further in French image recognition technology firm Planorama as it expands its services to retailers and FMCG companies.

WPP agency Kantar Retail made the investment in CVDM Solutions, which trades as the Planorama Group, but did not disclose what how big a stake it acquired.

Fellow WPP company Smollan had also bought an interest in Planorama back in January.

The business, founded in 2009, offers customers technology that transforms images captured in-store into usable commercial and marketing data.

"The investment in Planorama is the latest example of Kantar Retail's commitment to providing an unrivalled consulting and retail execution service to the world's leading retailers and FMCG companies," WPP said.

France already accounts for $800m of WPP's $17.3bn annual revenues, where the company employs 5,000 people.