Private Label Enjoys Strong Growth Across Europe

Private label sales grew to a total of €302 billion across the 17 European countries surveyed by NielsenIQ for PLMA’s annual Private Label Yearbook.

In 2022, private label sales grew in all but one of the 17 countries that NielsenIQ analyzed. The highest growth countries in private label share are the Czech Republic (+3.5), Portugal (+2.9), Spain (+2.2) and Hungary (+2.2). Only Switzerland saw a slight decline of 0.5 point. At the same time, it is the country with the highest private label share in Europe, an impressive 52% in value.

Runner up is the Netherlands with an overall value share of 44%. Spain and the UK follow with 43%, Germany (40%) and Portugal (39%). Belgium’s share is 38%, Austria 35%, Denmark 34%, Poland and France 32%. Share is under thirty percent in six of the surveyed countries: Italy and Hungary (28%), Sweden (27%), Greece (23%), Czech Republic (22%) and Norway (21%).

European markets remain some of the biggest Private Label markets globally: compared to 2021, the value share grew by 1.2 percentage point to a record of 37% of the total market.

According to NielsenIQ data, perishable and frozen food, paper products, and ambient food are the top three categories of Private Label value share with an average of 50%. This represents approximately €212.8 billion in sales across the 17 European countries tracked.

This performance demonstrates why PLMA’s “World of Private Label” International Trade Show continues to have record attendance. This year the show will be held May 23-24 at the RAI Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam.

Some 25,000 professionals from more than 120 countries are expected to participate. Products on display will include fresh, frozen and refrigerated foods, dry grocery, and beverages as well as non-food categories, including cosmetics, health and beauty, household and kitchen, auto aftercare, garden, and housewares & DIY. The show will also present more than 2,500 exhibiting companies including 50 national and regional pavilions.