New capability helps manufacturers tailor assortments to local demand, with pilots forecasting an average 19% increase in client product sales per store
CHICAGO, November 10, 2026 — NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ), a leading consumer intelligence company, today announced the U.S. launch of Shelf Architect Store Assortment, a new capability within the Shelf Architect platform. Designed for manufacturer teams, Shelf Architect Store Assortment provides store- and cluster-level assortment recommendations that reflect local demand and support retailer shelf execution.
Assortment decisions are often built around national plans and average-store assumptions, even though shopper demand varies significantly by location. Shelf Architect Store Assortment helps manufacturers address this gap with localized recommendations at the store and cluster level, creating more relevant assortments and stronger business outcomes. In pilots conducted across two retailers within a single category, the approach forecasted an average 19% increase per store in sales of the client’s products within that category.
“Retailers execute assortment decisions store by store, and manufacturers need recommendations that work the same way,” said Martin Hernandez, Global Commercial Leader, Analytics at NIQ. “Shelf Architect Store Assortment helps clients sharpen decisions with store-specific insights, execute on the shelf with confidence, and uncover opportunities that broader market-level approaches can miss. The result is a more localized, execution-ready path to growth.”
Store-level assortment helps retailers create a more relevant shopping experience by reflecting the needs and preferences of shoppers at each location. By making it easier for shoppers to find the products, brands and pack sizes that matter to them, retailers can improve satisfaction, encourage repeat visits, and reduce the need to shop elsewhere.
“As we collaborate with our retail business partners, a key challenge for manufacturers and retailers remains: How do we ensure we are locally relevant while retaining scale within our key categories? The answer: store-level, micro-clustered assortment,” said a representative of a leading global manufacturer. “Our partnership with NIQ has taken us down a unique path to better understand the nuances of individual stores within their precision markets and provide a unique assortment to each store. We are starting small but expect huge results as we develop a means to scale the capability. NIQ is a tremendous partner with new capabilities and new ways of thinking.”
Key benefits of capability:
- Localized recommendations: Generate store- and cluster-level assortment recommendations tailored to local demand patterns, supported by predictive forecasting and transparent recommendation logic.
- Shelf-planning integration: Move from strategy to activation with execution-ready outputs that connect into downstream shelf-planning workflows, including Spaceman automation.
- Opportunity identification: Identify opportunities that market-level approaches may overlook, helping manufacturers build more relevant assortments, improve SKU productivity, and identify growth opportunities store by store.
Shelf Architect Store Assortment is available in the U.S, with expansion to additional markets planned for 2027.
FAQs
What is NIQ Shelf Architect Store Assortment?
Shelf Architect Store Assortment is a new capability within NIQ’s Shelf Architect platform that helps manufacturers develop localized assortment recommendations for individual stores and groups of stores. It builds on Shelf Architect’s established assortment models with store-specific forecasting to help manufacturers align recommendations with local demand and retailer execution.
Who is Shelf Architect Store Assortment designed for?
The capability is designed for manufacturer teams developing assortment recommendations for retail partners. It helps them translate market-level strategies into localized plans that reflect how retailers plan and execute assortments.
How does Store Assortment extend Shelf Architect’s existing capabilities?
Store Assortment adds store-level precision to Shelf Architect’s market-level recommendations within a single platform. By accounting for demand differences across locations, it helps manufacturers uncover opportunities that broader market-level analysis may overlook.
Can recommendations reflect a retailer’s specific business requirements?
Yes. Recommendations can incorporate account-specific category definitions, competitive product sets and configurable rules that reflect retailer requirements. This helps manufacturers develop localized assortments that address shopper demand while working within agreed business parameters.
How does the capability connect assortment recommendations to shelf execution?
Store Assortment generates outputs compatible with planogram generation software; the layouts retailers use to organize products on shelves. These outputs connect into downstream shelf-planning workflows, including Spaceman automation, helping manufacturers provide recommendations that retail partners can act on.
What results did NIQ observe in pilots?
In pilots conducted across two retailers within a single category, the approach forecasted an average 19% increase per store in sales of the client’s products within that category. Store-level optimization produced a distinct plan for each store and revealed opportunities that the market-level view alone had not surfaced. These results are illustrative and vary by category, retailer and store.
How can localized assortments benefit retailers and shoppers?
Localized assortments help retailers offer products that better reflect shopper needs and preferences at each location. Making relevant products, brands and pack sizes easier to find can improve the shopping experience, encourage repeat visits and reduce the need to shop elsewhere.
Where is Shelf Architect Store Assortment available?
Shelf Architect Store Assortment is launching in the United States, with expansion to additional markets planned for 2027.
How can manufacturers learn more?
Manufacturers can contact their NIQ representative to learn more about Shelf Architect Store Assortment and discuss its application to their retail accounts. Learn more here: Category Management & Assortment Optimization Tools
About NIQ
NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ) is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete and trusted understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. By combining an unmatched global data footprint and granular consumer and retail measurement with decades of AI modeling expertise, NIQ builds decision systems that help companies turn complex data into confident action.
With operations in more than 90 countries, NIQ covers approximately 82% of the world’s population and more than $7.4 trillion in global consumer spend. Through cloud-based platforms, advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, NIQ delivers The Full View™—helping brands and retailers understand what consumers buy, why they buy it, and what to do next.
For more information, please visit www.niq.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release regarding NIQ’s launch of Shelf Architect Store Assortment may contain forward-looking statements regarding anticipated consumer behaviors, market trends, industry developments, future product availability, potential expansion into additional markets, and the expected benefits of the Shelf Architect Store Assortment capability. These statements reflect current expectations and projections based on available data, historical patterns, and various assumptions. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “believes,” “forecasts,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future outcomes and are subject to inherent uncertainties, including changes in consumer preferences, economic conditions, technological advancements, and competitive dynamics. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. While we strive to base our insights on reliable data and sound methodologies, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances, except to the extent required by applicable law.
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