PLMA is forming the next session of Mastering Enterprise Sales, a live, online, custom-curated, 12-week coaching cohort program, September 8-November 28, designed to teach executives of private brand manufacturers how to strengthen their relationship with key retail decision-makers.

Students develop a strategic sales plan to fit targeted partners, leverage data and market insights to build value propositions that resonate with chains, master complex buying organizations, and implement a sales process that cultivates growth.

SalesStar customized the curriculum for executive leaders and sales directors of private brand manufacturers and their teams.

Weekly classes are led by a high-performance coach and include live instruction and on-demand learning. Coursework demonstrates specific competency and skill sets essential to mastering enterprise selling.

As one graduate said, "We explored buyer pain points and learned how to sell better in an increasingly commoditized world."

Click here for more information.

Back-to-school season is here, and retailers are promoting their store brand school supplies and lunchbox favorites.

Target has expanded its value-priced “dealworthy” brand to include school supplies such as notebooks starting at $0.35, composition books starting at $0.50, lunch sacks at $3 and backpacks at $5.

And Kroger has launched the “Back to School List,” an online tool that gives parents access to supply lists issued by teachers from local schools across the United States. Kroger is promoting its store brands for school lunches in what it calls “Big Deal!” packs.

They include:

• Kroger Oven Roasted Turkey Breast or Black Forest Ham, 16 ounces, and Kroger Brand Soft Wheat Sandwich Bread
• Kroger Creamy Peanut Butter, 64 ounces
• Kroger Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars, 36-count package

According to a national survey from VTEX, 71% of consumers have shopped online for groceries, with 50% doing so at least once a month. However, many shoppers are holding back from deeper digital engagement due to persistent friction in the experience.
Shoppers prefer to buy from a grocer’s owned digital channels (52%), expect loyalty programs to be accessible via mobile apps (45%) and want personalization that reflects household needs (65%). Yet fees, poor visibility and lack of control over fresh product selection remain top deterrents.

Key findings include:

• Consumers trust grocers’ digital channels over third parties: 52% shop through the grocers’ own apps or websites, compared to 27% using national delivery apps.
• Shoppers are already digital, just not fully converted: 69 % of respondents shop online for groceries at least occasionally, and 30% do up to a quarter of all grocery shopping online.
• Price and fees remain major deterrents: 54% cite service fees as a major deterrent, and 49% are discouraged by unexpected costs at checkout.
• Loyalty lives online: 79% of shoppers use loyalty or rewards programs, and nearly half prefer digital versions.
• Personalization is expected: 65 % are interested in online grocery experiences based on their needs or history.

Commissioned by VTEX and conducted by Dynata in July 2025, the survey is based on responses from 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. 
 

At the seven-month mark of 2025, store brands continued to outpace national brands on year-to-date sales with a healthy gain of 4.2%, vs only a 1.2% uptick for national brands, according to July 13 data provided exclusively to PLMA by Circana.

Store brand dollar sales have grown every month this year, outdistancing national brand increases each time.

In unit sales, store brands are also ahead of national brands at plus 0.5% for store brands vs a -0.6% loss for national brands, compared to the same period a year ago.

The July unit sales performance for store brands, up 0.2%, represents a return to growth after two negative months, while national brands experienced a third straight month of declining units. National brands lost units in five of the seven months while store brands eased in two.

Across all U.S. retail outlets, store brand market shares came in at 21.1% for dollars and 23.1% for units.

The Refrigerated department jumped 12.6% in store brand dollar sales, followed by Beverages, up 4.6% and Frozen, plus 3.7%, for the 52 weeks ending July 13. In store brand unit sales, Beverages was up 3.9%, then Pet Care (+3.5%) and Home Care (+3.2%), for the year-over-year period. 

Aldi is dropping free bachelorette party bundles for brides-to-be in New Orleans, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Nashville and Miami. The bundles can be reserved at XOALDI.com while supplies last. They can be delivered to hotels and rental houses.

The kits are filled with Aldi’s private label products, including PurAqua Hydration Sticks, Summit Popz, Summit Waves, Elevation Only Bars, Clancy’s Flavored Popcorn, Clancy’s Kettle Variety Pack, and Benton’s Cookie Thins. 

By 2026, it is estimated that 18.4% of Gen Z’s total CPG & General Merchandise spend will be spent on private label, according to Numerator. In comparison, Boomers are expected to spend 18.3%, Millennials 17.5%, and Gen X 17.2%.

From 2019 to 2025, Gen Z’s spend on premium tier private label products grew from 25% to 30%, the highest increase among all generations (+5 points).

“We have seen remarkable increased interest from South American countries eager to exhibit.”

-Enriketa Beluli, PLMA’s Manager of Global Pavilions, said in an article in Abasto about PLMA's 2025 Private Label Trade Show in Chicago, November 16-18.

The Show will feature 35,000+ products, 3,100 booths, and 2,000 exhibitors from 65 countries, making it the largest event of its kind. Click here for registration information.

Registration is open for PLMA’s 2025 “Store Brands Marketplace” Private Label Trade Show, Nov. 16-18 in Chicago. In this pre-Show report, Jodi Daley shares trends in OTC medicine, beauty care, home goods and housewares, school supplies and other nonfood categories.