Welcome to PLMA’s e-scanner newsletter – News, Insights, Inspiration and Happenings

By Carol Angrisani, Editor and PLMA Content Producer

Store Brands Month
NEWS ROUNDUP
International Salute to Excellence Award Winners Revealed

Body scrub bars from Hema in the Netherlands and monkfish fillets from Musgrave Retail Partners in Ireland are among 91 winners of 2025 PLMA International Salute to Excellence Awards for outstanding private label innovation.

More than 500 new private label items from 65 retailers in 25 countries were nominated. An international panel of expert judges evaluated and selected the winners.

"Top-shelf quality, absolutely delicious.  I want more!" one judge said of Musgrave’s monkfish, sold under the SuperValu Signature Tastes brand. "Tasty and convenient, perfect for any occasion.”

In all, products introduced by 36 retailers from 18 countries won prizes. The most award-winning private labels (20) were introduced in Germany, followed by Italy with 11. Denmark, Poland and The Netherlands share third place in the ranking with seven winners each, and Portugal was fourth with six. 

Retailers in the Czech Republic, Ireland, Spain and – the first non-European country in the ranking – South Africa round out the Top 5 with five Salute-winning items per country. Combined, the 10 countries representing the Top 5 account for 78 Salute-winners. The other awards were divided between retailers from Belgium, Latvia, Norway, South Korea, Türkiye, Sweden, Thailand and Ukraine.

The top three retailers - Dirk Rossmann and REWE Group from Germany, and Biedronka/Jeronimo Martins Polska from Poland - won 10, 8, and 6 awards, respectively. 

One judge commented on how packaging design is increasingly creative and consumer-focused. 
“I saw several appealing examples of refillable packaging in non-food,” the judge said. “From a packaging perspective, they need to seize every opportunity to reduce packaging, use recyclable material and design refill options. That really caters to shoppers needs.”

Click here to view all the winners.

5 Things to Know About Private Label Trade Show

PLMA is gearing up for its 2025 “Store Brands Marketplace” Private Label Trade Show, Nov. 16-18 at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago. More than 1,800 exhibitors from 60+ countries are expected to participate.

Click here for registration information.

Here are five things to know about the Show:

  1. The exhibit floor will be filled with thousands of the latest products, including food, beverages, wine and spirits, ingredients, authentic international foods and nonfoods, refrigerated and frozen foods, foodservice items, sustainable packaging, snack foods, beauty products, pet products, self-care, baby care, health and wellness, household goods, kitchenware, general merchandise, convenience foods and grab-and-go items and much more. Exhibitors will showcase products with multi-generational appeal, such as sustainable packaging for Gen Z, functional beverages for Baby Boomers, ethnic-inspired offerings, as well as vegan, organic, and specialty products.
  2. Attendees will have access to exclusive insights through opening seminars, plus a keynote breakfast on both show days.
  3. PLMA’s Idea Supermarket®, a special display featuring the latest product and packaging trends from around the globe.
  4. New Product Expo, a showcase of select product and packaging innovations from companies exhibiting at the show.
  5. PLMA 2025 Salute to Excellence Awards®, a display of retailer food and non-food product innovations chosen best private label product in their categories by industry and consumer judges.

It’s truly a global event. Hundreds of exhibitors from Europe, Latin America and Asia will be showcased. Aisles and aisles of the show floor will be filled with international suppliers exhibiting food and nonfood product offerings throughout the North, South and Sky Halls. Gourmet and specialty food, ethnic products, authentic flavors and unique ingredients from their country of origin will be displayed for buyers seeking to satisfy the changing wants, needs and tastes of today’s global consumer.

Store Brands Maintain Sales Lead Over National Brands

Through mid-May, store brands held a sizable lead over national brands in YTD dollar and unit sales gains. Compared to the same period a year ago, store brand dollar sales were ahead by 4.7% and unit sales were up 0.7%, according to PLMA’s Circana Unify+ data. By comparison, national brand dollar sales rose 1.1% and unit sales fell 0.7%. Store brand market shares through mid-May were robust at 21.2% for dollars and 23.3% for units.

In the Beverages department, store brands performed particularly well. For the 52 weeks ending May 18, dollar sales in the section increased by 4.9% to $14.7 billion and unit sales moved up 4.6% to 5 billion. Store brands in the Beverages department now account for double-digit market shares in both dollar and unit sales.

IDEAS AND INSPIRATION: Spicy Potato Chips at Casey’s, Cumberland Farms, Kroger

Private labels are driving new product launches in potato chips and tortillas, with 31% of U.S. consumers increasing their purchase of private label products compared to the past year, according to Innova Market Insights. Along with BBQ, Sea Salt, Sour Cream and Onion, one of the top flavors is Jalapeno.

Store brands that tap into this trend: 
- Cumberland Farms Garden Fresh Jalapeno potato chips
- Kroger® Jalapeño Kettle Cooked Potato Chips
- Casey’s Jalapeno kettle potato chips.

TREND ALERT: Pizza Mashups

Pizza mashups are creating excitement in the frozen food aisle. Take cheeseburger pizza from Lowes Foods. It’s made with a mozzarella-cheddar cheese blend, hamburger meat, fire roasted tomatoes and uncured bacon - on a French fry crust!

DATA POINTS: Bottled Water Sales

$8.1 B

This is the amount of store brand bottled water sales in all U.S. outlets for the 52 weeks ending May 18, a 4.8% increase over the same period the prior year, according to PLMA’s Circana Unify+ data.

NOTABLE QUOTABLE: Chef Antonia Lofaso

“I am excited to see a national grocer making it easier and more accessible for everyone to explore new, adventurous flavors and recipes, celebrating the joy of culinary exploration and fine eating.”

- Chef and TV personality Antonia Lofaso said of Albertsons’ new Chef’s Counter store brand line of marinated meats. Lofaso serves as the brand’s first ambassador. 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Trends from PLMA's International Trade Show

PLMA's 2025 World of Private Label International Trade Show, held May 20-21 in Amsterdam, featured 3,150+ exhibitors from 75 countries. In all, more than 32,000 trade professionals - including retailers, exhibitors and other visitors from 125 countries - attended the event.

Judith Kolenburg reports on trends she found in the Idea Supermarket®, a special showcase featuring the latest product and packaging trends from around the globe. Among the products Kolenburg profiles: items for new moms and babies from Boots and dm-drogerie markt; and sports nutrition from Auchan and Aldi.

Events