“It’s a great time to get back to a live show, and it’s a great time to be in the retailer brands business,” added Davies.

Store brand sales demonstrate how the industry is growing. Over the first five months of 2022, retailer brands have increased 7.8% in dollar sales vs. the same period a year ago, according to IRI. By comparison, national brands are up only 5%.

In May, dollar sales grew 8.7%; in April, +9.5%; March, +8.9%; in February, +6.8%; and in January, +5%. Store brands also outpaced national brands in terms of unit sales. 

During the month of May alone, 13 of the 17 food and non-food departments that IRI tracks for PLMA showed store brand dollar growth, with double-digit gains in Deli Prepared Foods, Beverages, Bakery, Produce, Liquor, Refrigerated and Deli Meat. Floral, General food, Frozen, Meat, General Merchandise and Health also advanced.

Overall grocery store sales are also rising. Consumers have maintained their ability to spend in the face of record-level inflation, supply chain issues and geopolitical unrest. They’re adapting and shopping smarter for themselves and their families, a “trend that always accrues to store brands’ favor,” suggested Davies.

This strong year-to-date performance comes on the heels of a record $200 billion in sales last year, when store brands accounted for one of every five products sold across all U.S. channels.

Davies also cited the overwhelming success of PLMA’s 2022 “World of Private Label” International Trade Show, which was held May 31- June 1 in Amsterdam, as an encouraging sign for the association’s Chicago event. “It was a record-setting show. We had about 4,300 exhibit stands and more than 15,000 visitors altogether, including some 4,000 retailers.”

“But more than the numbers,” she said, “the enthusiasm and the buzz generated on the trade show floor as colleagues were able to gather in-person for the first time in three years was very gratifying. I have every reason to believe that the same spirit will be present in November.” 

The Chicago Show is expected to attract more than 5,000 visitors from major supermarkets, supercenters, wholesale clubs, drug chains, mass merchandisers, specialty chains, dollar stores, e-commerce retailers, importers, exporters, and distributors, among other buyers.

The 2022 PLMA Show will put special emphasis on food and non-food areas where store brands innovation is exploding. These include plant-based and free-from; new flavors & ingredients; wines & spirits; fresh, frozen & refrigerated; restaurant-style cuisine at home; hemp-derived CBD; self-care; health & wellness; beauty & cosmetics; kitchenware essentials, tools & gadgets; pet care; food & non-food products with an international flair, and sustainable, clean label & packaging.

“Whether you are a small- or medium-sized independent company or part of a large, multi-national manufacturing organization, the PLMA Show can connect you with key retail executives who are responsible for their chain’s store brand purchasing,” said Davies. “Come to Chicago and build your business by finding great retail partners.”  

Health and wellness have become paramount concerns for post-pandemic consumers, who are more informed and better educated on what they buy due to changing needs and tastes, adherence to the latest diet and health regimens, and greater awareness of the effects of allergens and the impact of their behavior on the environment. As a result, product attributes, qualities and features have never been more important.

For more information about exhibiting please call us at +1 212 972-3131 or e-mail exhibit@plma.com. For information to attending, visit plma.com or email us at info@plma.com 

Presenters will include Jac Ross, Vice President for Own Brands at Sprouts Supermarkets, who will discuss innovations in products and packaging; John Evans, Director of Private Brands, GM, HBC, and Non-Foods at Weis Markets, who will examine the role of the retailer in the private label industry; and Kelly McGolrick, Vice President of Private Label Sales Development for Lassonde Pappas & Company, who will address the role of the manufacturer.

Since the program’s inception in 2001, more than 2,000 men and women from all sectors of the industry have graduated. Classes are perfect for new hires, those who built their careers working for national brands, or any professional in the field who is looking to refresh their knowledge, broaden focus and sharpen the ability to think and interact strategically.

To register or receive more information about the program, visit PLMA.com or contact Julia Meehan at education@plma.com

DataWeave’s survey found a strong online demand for beauty CPGs, with top brands offering more low and mid-tier priced products. The report also found a strengthening digital brand presence was a key element to improving sales.

DataWeave analysts predict that these trends are likely to continue as shoppers make choices in the months ahead on spending as price increases across consumer categories impact their budgets.

The skincare category in particular could be impacted positively especially if U.S. beauty shoppers choose skincare products over cosmetics, the report authors suggested that retailers prioritize their skincare inventory.

“Availability and affordability were buzzwords for top beauty brands, who maintained superior in-stock availability through 2021 and into 2022,” said Krishnan Thyagarajan, president and COO of DataWeave.

“Across the major beauty brands and retailers, we analyzed, the defining trends we identified are a shift toward producing more low and mid-tier items and an expansion of investments in tech-driven consumer marketing.”

According to the report, in 2021 sales, Walmart, with $488 billion in sales, and Amazon, with $398.8 billion in sales, were the biggest U.S. chain retailers, followed by The Kroger Co. ($146.7 billion) and Costco Wholesale ($140.8 billion). Rounding out the top 10 were The Home Depot ($137.6 billion), Walgreens ($117.4 billion), Target ($107.5 billion), CVS Health ($105.5 billion), Lowe’s ($92.2 billion) and Albertsons Cos. ($74.6 billion). 

Of the top six retailers aside from Walmart and Amazon, companies projected to grow their share of chain retail sales over the next five years include Costco (from 3.8% to 4.4%) and Home Depot (from 3.7% to 3.9%), the study said. Walgreens’ share is expected to remain at 3.2% and Kroger’s to dip from 4% to 3.7%.

Edge by Ascential also reported the U.S. e-grocery market will increase by $34.7 billion from 2021 to 2026. Last year, online edible grocery sales totaled $54.8 billion, an increase of 117% from 2019, before the pandemic. Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Costco accounted for about half of U.S. online edible grocery penetration in 2021, which is expected to increase from to 8.8% from 6.5% by 2026. At the same time, online grocery’s five-year compound annual growth rate is forecast to drop from 38.9% in 2021 to 10.3% in 2026.

The system is a fleet of fully autonomous robots and AI-powered software that will cut the time it takes to unload, sort and stock freight in Walmart stores while also boosting warehouse capacity, according to Symbotic.

Other benefits include making the process simpler and safer and creating new, tech-enabled jobs which offer widely applicable skills in robotics and technology, Symbotic said.

According to the companies, the installation of the platform in all 42 sites is expected to be completed over the next eight years. Walmart said it has already begun embedding Symbotic’s technology in selected regional DCs throughout its network.

Walmart has been increasing its supply chain capacity, including the use of automation, to help meet rising demand, improve the customer experience, and raise productivity.

“The need for accuracy and speed in the supply chain has never been more visible, and we’re confident that now is the time to move even faster by scaling Symbotic’s technology to our entire regional distribution center network,” David Guggina, senior vice president of innovation and automation at Walmart U.S. said in a statement. “Using high-speed robotics and intelligent software to organize and optimize inventory, the Symbotic System helps us get products to our customers quickly and seamlessly by revolutionizing how we receive and distribute products to stores.”

Kohl’s officials said the company is also working on modernizing stores to help provide convenient services such as store pick up, drive-up, self-pick up and Amazon returns to help make its stores an inviting experience for its customers.

Kohl’s will also introduce “dedicated zones,” designed to allow shoppers to discover new products and help find cross-category items and brands. The retailer is also making major investments in technology by rolling out self-serve buy online, pick up in store which will soon be available in all stores. Kohl’s is also continuing to evaluate self-serve returns, currently in more than 100 stores, with more planned throughout the next 18 months.

“As we shared last week during our annual shareholder meeting, we still have more work in front of us to get to where we ultimately want to be in our consumer business,” Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said in the memo. “To that end, we’re trying to be thoughtful in our plans for Dave’s succession and any changes we make. I expect to be ready with an update for you over the next few weeks.”

Clark has served as Amazon’s worldwide consumer CEO since January 2021 after spending over eight years as senior vice president of worldwide operations. He has also held the positions of director of the Amazon Customer Excellence System, regional vice president of North American operations and engineering, vice president of North American operations and vice president of global customer fulfillment.

"As Americans move on from COVID, they are looking at corporate reputation through a more practical lens," John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll, said in a release. "Companies delivering on time and keeping their promises despite supply-chain issues are being held in high regard. Businesses that also do their part to create a better world—whether through sustainability or taking a stand on authentic social issues—also are being rewarded.”

Trader Joe’s is a newcomer to the list this year and ranked first with a score of 82.4. H-E-B was not far behind, with a score of 82 to take the second spot. Wegmans came in at No. 5 with a score of 80.6.

Completing the top 5 were Patagonia and The Hershey Co. at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. Publix was at No. 19 with a 78.8 score, while The Kroger Co. was No. 25 with a 78.4. Costco (No. 26), Target (No. 32) and Walmart (No. 77) also made the list.

The list is based on a survey of 34,000 Americans in a nationally representative sample conducted March 11-April 3.

Closed Loop Partners manage the reusable bag pilot program along with the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag. In 2021, the company Goatote and tech partner 99Bridges won the Consortium’s “Beyond the Bag Challenge,” which also includes founding partners Target Corp., CVS and Walmart, sector leads The Kroger Co. and Dollar General and supporting partners Albertsons Cos., Ahold Delhaize, and H-E-B, among others.

Amanda Nusz, SVP, corporate responsibility at Target, commended the project. "Our guests are feeling the growing burden of waste, and that includes single-use plastic retail bags," she remarked. "Thanks to Beyond the Bag pilot innovators like Goatote, and the collective efforts of this consortium, we're able to build circular capabilities in this space and bring our guests along with us, asking them to help co-create the sustainable and affordable solutions we know we need."

Research conducted by PowerReviews revealed that 81% of in-store grocery shoppers are at least somewhat interested in being able to access ratings and reviews content, and 29% will contact a friend or family member for their thoughts and opinions on products.

“Customer-generated ratings and reviews empower purchase decisions,” Jill Pavlovich, senior vice president of digital customer experience at Albertsons Cos., said in a statement. “We’re proud to be one of the first grocers to offer this authentic conversation with our shoppers about their favorite products.”

Albertsons is the nation’s second-largest supermarket company and operates 2,276 food and drug stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under the Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Kings Food Markets, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, and Balducci’s banners.