The first quarter of 2025 was a good one for store brands.

Mirroring trends that have taken place over the last few years, store brands dominated national brands by outperforming their counterparts in dollar and unit sales across all U.S. retail outlets, per Circana Unify+ and PLMA.

Store brand dollar sales gained 5% and unit sales rose 0.9%, compared to national brands, which were up 0.8% in dollars and down 1.1% in units, during the quarter ending March 23, vs the same period a year ago.

Store brand market shares came in at 21.5% for dollars and 23.7% for units, reflecting private label's superior, multiyear performance vs brands at checkout. In every one of Circana's last 30 monthly reports to PLMA, store brands finished ahead of national brands when it came to results in dollar and unit sales compared to the prior year.

Drilling down, all 10 food and nonedible departments showed store brand dollar sales growth for the trailing 52 weeks ending March 23, 2025. Refrigerated improved the most, up 11.5%, followed by Beverages (+4.7%) and Frozen (+3.5%). In store brand unit sales, nine departments increased. Top gainers were Beverages (+4.6%), Pet Care (+3.8%) and Home Care (+3.5%).

For total store brand dollar sales for the 52-week period, Refrigerated led all departments at $59.8 billion, followed by General Food ($52 billion), General Merchandise ($25.5 billion) and Frozen ($21.8 billion). In store brand unit sales, General Food set the pace at 19.8 billion, then Refrigerated (15 billion), Beverages (5 billion), General Merchandise (4.9 billion) and Frozen (4.6 billion).

Consumers want snacks that align with their dietary and wellness goals, according to a Circana report, entitled, "Snack Unwrap: The Insatiable Craving for Growth."

About 64.1% actively look for snacks perceived as "good for them," marking a 7.4% increase since 2020. Categories like yogurt, natural cheese chunks, and high-protein options are experiencing robust growth due to their nutritional appeal.

Among other insights from the Circana report:

•    Snacking Frequency Remains High: Nearly half of Americans (48.8%) snack three or more times a day, a 2.7% increase year-over-year, with younger demographics (ages 18-44) leading the charge. 
•    Rising concerns about inflation and cost have led to more strategic purchasing practices. Consumers are still turning to multipack and variety options. In addition, sales growth of private-label snacks is outpacing branded products in several core categories.
•    From functional snacks with health benefits to indulgent treats with nostalgic twists, brands are successfully appealing to diverse consumption needs. Viral flavor profiles such as ube, peri peri, and matcha are fostering curiosity, while collaborations between brands are creating buzz-worthy products.
•    Online sales of snacks continue to climb, with nearly 50% of consumers stating they are purchasing snacks online in 2024. Convenience, flexible delivery options, and price-surfing behaviors have all contributed to the growing prominence of e-commerce in the snacking sector.

Snack foods will be in the spotlight at PLMA’s 2025 “Store Brands Marketplace” Private Label Trade Show, Nov. 16-18 at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago.

The exhibit floor will be filled with thousands of new and trending products under one roof.  Along with snack foods, there will be a wide array of food, beverages, wine and spirits, ingredients, authentic international foods and nonfoods, refrigerated and frozen foods, foodservice items, sustainable packaging,  beauty and cosmetic 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.

Click here for registration information for PLMA’s 2025 Annual “Store Brands Marketplace” Private Label Trade Show

- BP’s epic goods private brand includes gummy confections, nuts, pretzels, alkaline water and more. It’s available at its U.S. convenience stores: ampm, Thorntons and TravelCenters of America.

- Natural Grocers’ new Peruvian Chips are offered in three flavors: sea salt sweet potato, sea salt kettle potato, and sea salt cassava. The products are non-GMO, vegan-friendly, Kosher, and made without artificial flavorings, additives, preservatives, or synthetic colors.

- Trader Joe’s goat cheese is a customer favorite. It’s available in several varieties, including classic creamy, chèvre, crumbles, and in an herb-rolled log.

Albertsons Companies has unveiled a new limited-edition collection of lemon-inspired Own Brands products to celebrate the arrival of spring. Available through May 9, the line includes Overjoyed-brand lemon-flavored wafer rolls, mini cookies, sandwich sugar cookies; Signature Select lemon potato chips, lemon pepper cashews and raspberry lemon crispy rice treats; Soleil “Prickly Pear Lemon” sparkling water.

At Walmart, 21 private brands generate over $1 billion a year in sales, and five do over $5 billion, John Furner, CEO, Walmart U.S, said during Walmart’s 2025 Investment Community Meeting on April 9.

“We’ve crafted a line that combines the trusted quality of the Best Choice brand with pet products designed to meet the needs of pets and their owners - without compromising on value.”

- Emily Detwiler, AWG Brands Vice President, said about the launch of Pure Wonder by Best Choice™, a new brand of pet products, including food and essentials for dogs, cats, and birds.

Michael Sansolo shares a recap of PLMA’s 2025 Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference, held April 2-4 in Scottsdale: