From specialty heirloom eggs to cold-pressed juice and key lime pie-flavored dark chocolate, hundreds of new and innovative private label products were put to the test this month during PLMA’s 2024 Salute to Excellence Awards competition.
The prestigious awards program recognizes outstanding food and nonfood products introduced within the last year by North American supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchandisers, convenience stores, online retailers and wholesalers.
More than 760 products were submitted for consideration this year, a record. Fifty-two retailers nominated products.
Over the course of several days this month, product entries were sampled and evaluated by a panel of professional and consumer judges on several criteria, including taste, product concept, packaging, and value for money.
Among the trends: specialty sweets like dark chocolate with key lime pie-flavored filling; ethically sourced products; fiber-rich snacks like blueberry pomegranate trail mix bites; keto-friendly cookies; better-for-you bottled beverages like oat smoothies and cold pressed juice; and ethnic flavors like tikka masala curry simmer sauce.
The much-anticipated list of winners will be officially announced at PLMA’s “The Store Brands Phenomenon 2024 – Empowering the Retail Industry” Private Label Trade Show, November 17-19 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Chicago. There will also be a special display of winning products at the Show.