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 Scroll down to read the latest press information from PLMA member companies or click PLMA News for current press releases from PLMA. |
CASCADES TISSUE INTRODUCES PREMIUM TOWELS AND TISSUES
(Eau Claire, Wisc.)—Cascades Tissue Group has introduced a line of ultra-grade paper towels and premium-caliber bath tissue. The products, which will be initially sold through private label in the United States, have begun shipping in all industry-standard sheet counts and roll sizes. The bath tissue line offers a bright-white look and performs as well as or better than comparable competitors’ products in the areas of softness, absorbency, thickness, strength and appearance, while the paper towels’ absorbency is attributable to an advanced technology.
BOYER CANDY INTRODUCES LARGE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS
(Altoona, Pa.)—Boyer Candy Company has introduced a Giant Size 4 cup (net weight 3.2oz per bar) peanut butter bar, available in counter display for immediate delivery. The peanut butter cup bars, which are made in the U.S., are available in an assortment of shipper displays. The company also is offering “value bags” to its line of Fun Bite products. The 4-1/2 oz. bags are available in both mallo and peanut butter cups. For more information please visit www.boyercandies.com
AGOSTONI CHOCOLATE OPENS NORTH AMERICAN OFFICE
(Los Angeles)—Agostoni Chocolate, based in Lecco, Italy, has opened a North American sales office here. The company will be working directly with North American retailers to develop premium chocolate products based on a proven private label service model that offers a wide range of stock and custom options. Carla Baroni, head of export for the company, said the decision to open a direct sales office in the U.S. was based on “our strong impression that North American consumers have become very sensitive to chocolate product quality.” In 2009, the Agostoni factory produced nearly 7,000 tons of private label product, the equivalent of 70 million 100g chocolate bars.
STR HIRES PRESIDENT OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIVISION
(Enfield, Conn.)— Specialized Technology Resources, Inc. (STR) announced that Mark A. Duffy has joined the company as President of its Quality Assurance Division. He will report directly to Dennis Jilot, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of STR. Mr. Duffy will have full responsibility for all strategic and operational plans for STR’s Quality Assurance Division, which has laboratories and offices in over 30 countries across six continents. Mr. Duffy has 25 years of experience in a wide range of consumer products and food ingredients businesses. Most recently, Mr. Duffy spent seven years as President of Griffith Laboratories USA. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of Sales, North America for the Johnson Wax Professional (now JohnsonDiversey), a division of SC Johnson.
RALCORP ACQUIRES HARVEST MANOR FARMS
(St. Louis)—Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. has acquired Harvest Manor Farms, a leading manufacturer of private label and branded snack nuts with annual net sales of approximately $180 million. Harvest Manor Farms will continue its operations in El Paso, Texas. Ralcorp anticipates the transaction will be slightly accretive during the remainder of its 2009 fiscal year. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Kevin J. Hunt, Co-Chief Executive Officer and President of Ralcorp Holdings, said, “Harvest Manor Farms will become a key part of our snack nut business and will enhance Ralcorp's snack nut product offerings and nationwide manufacturing footprint.”
NOW FOODS EXPANDS MANUFACTURING FACILITY
(Bloomingdale, Ill.)—NOW Foods, Inc., celebrating its 40th year manufacturing natural products, is in the final stages of expanding its state-of-the-art Bloomingdale, Illinois GMP certified manufacturing facility to 250,000 sq. ft. The expansion includes enlargement of NOW’s laboratory in staffing and capability for the more complex testing. The company also announces that it has introduced 3 SKUs of Organic Stevia to its product range. |
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NEW YORK - Private label scored strong gains across all major U.S. retail channels in 2009 as consumers increasingly switched from national brands and drove store brands to all-time highs in both volume and total revenue, as well as market share, according to latest industry statistics published in PLMA’s 2010 Private Label Yearbook. On the heels of a powerful growth surge for store brands in 2008, sales of the products increased again last year by +1.8 billion units while national brand units were down -2.1 billion. Along with the conversion of a full percentage point in unit share from national brands to the private label column, store brands added $2.7 billion in value to reach $86.4 billion in total sales. National brand sales increased by $1.6 billion, but those gains were largely, if not entirely, the result of higher prices. While overall sales for the nation’s retail chains reflected the sluggishness of the economy in general – dollar growth in all three mainstream channels, supermarkets, drug chains and mass merchandisers -- was a lackluster +0.8 and unit sales declined -0.2% – store brands were far and away the industry’s star performers. In supermarkets, store brands reached an historic high of 23.7% in unit share. Private label units were up +6.4% for the year compared to a decline of -1.7% for national brands. The growth in store brand units (+1.7 billion) more than offset the erosion of national brands (-1.5 billion), resulting in a net gain for the channel as a whole and stemming a multi-year trend of overall unit losses in U.S. supermarkets. On the revenue side, store brands accounted for 90% of all gains in supermarkets, adding $1.5 billion in new sales (+2.9%), while national brands were virtually flat (+0.1%). Moreover, the decline in national brand units suggests that even their modest sales gain of $200 million was a result of price inflation. Overall, store brands sales in supermarkets reached $55.5 billion and dollar market share climbed to 18.7%; both figures were new all-time highs. In drug chains, market share in units reached 16.3% as volume grew by +4.0%. National brands recorded a loss of -3.9% in units. As in supermarkets, the absolute growth of 461 million store brand units across all departments more than made up for the channel’s loss of national brand volume (-378 million). Store brands were responsible for 52% of the total sales growth in drug chains, adding close to a half billion dollars in new sales. Store brand revenue grew at a vigorous +8.8%, while national brands tacked on only +1.2% in sales. The total value of store brands sales in drug chains was $6.1 billion, and dollar market share was 14.1%; both figures were also record. “First published in 1992, the PLMA’s annual Yearbook’s coverage has grown from fewer than 200 product categories to more than 700, reflecting the expansion and penetration of private label products in the marketplace,” said Brian Sharoff, PLMA president. “The past year has even greater significance since it is the first full year of the impact of the recession. Not surprisingly, the statistics document the amazing increases in store brand popularity. But as most market researchers know, the growth of store brands is by no means a recessionary phenomenon. Its success began years before the current downturn and is rooted in increasing assortment, quality ingredients, innovative product concepts, and retailer commitment,” he added. Data for the Yearbook was compiled by The Nielsen Company for the 52 weeks ending December 26, 2009. The 2010 Private Label Yearbook is annually to association members at no charge. In addition, PLMA publishes quarterly sales and store brand market share statistics from The Nielsen Company online at www.plma.com. Recognized retailers and wholesalers may request a complimentary copy of the print publication by calling 212-972-3131. It is also available for purchase by non-members at a cost of $1,500. The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) represents more than 3,000 companies around the world and offers trade shows, programs and services for its members and retailers. For more information about the association, contact PLMA at (212) 972-3131.
private label and store brand trends may be arranged by calling PLMA’s press representative at (212) 972-3131. |
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