PLMA announced the 2023’s PLMA’s Salute to Excellence Awards winners at the trade show and the winners come from a wide variety of retailers and products selected from nearly 750 products submitted by 53 leading retailers. Nearly 100 products featuring the best-of-the-best in the world of private label were honored.
Created in 1986, the annual awards program recognizes outstanding food and nonfood products introduced within the past year by supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchandisers, convenience stores, online retailers, wholesalers and more.
“PLMA is thrilled to celebrate the winning retailers for their commitment to store brand product and packaging excellence,” said Peggy Davies, president of PLMA. “From innovations in flavors and ingredients to vitamin-enriched health and wellness products, the Salute to Excellence award winners underscore the important role of store brands.”
Submissions were sampled and evaluated by a panel of professional and consumer judges on several criteria, including taste, product concept, packaging, and value for money. Some of the winning products included:
- Gluten-free goodness:
- Open Nature Cauliflower Crust Garlic Chicken Alfredo Pizza from Albertsons Companies; and
- Nice! Gluten-Free Vanilla Crème Cookies from Walgreens.
- Specialty sauces, rubs and condiments:
- Lowes Foods’ Premium Brown Bag “Truffle Your Feathers” Black Garlic Truffle Sauce.
- Great Value Blood Orange Balsamic Glaze with Balsamic Vinegar of Modena from Walmart Inc.; and
- Wakefern Food Corp.’s Bowl & Basket Specialty Smokey Candied Bacon Sriracha Rub.
- Breakfast foods:
- Nature’s Basket Sweet Potato Pancake and Waffle Mix from Giant Eagle.
- Irresistibles Pina Colada-Flavoured Muffins from Metro Richelieu Inc.
- Thrive Market’s Organic Infused Maple Syrup, Warm Pumpkin Spice; and
- Good & Gather Blueberry Muffins with Zucchini and Oats from Target.
- Global tastes:
- Aplenty Asian-Style Chicken and Vegetable Potstickers from Amazon.
- Yesway’s Chamoy Chili Peach Rings.
- SE Grocers Naturally Better Organic Mexican-Style Street Corn-Flavored Corn Chips; and
- Crav’n Flavor Single-Serve Miso Chicken Ramen Soup Bowl from Topco Associates LLC.
- Wellness cleanses and powders:
- Sprouts Farmers Market’s Regenerative Organic Liver Cleanse; and
- 365 by Whole Foods Market Effervescent Vitamin C Powder, Kiwi-Strawberry.