PLMA e-Scanner – February 2021

PLMALive! Presents Private Label Week was the industry's first online trade show, held from Feb 1-5, 2021. Nearly 5000 people logged in to see the show, over 1000 retail executives from 390 companies visited to communicate with more than 800 exhibiting companies. One of the highlights of the event were the video reports featured from retailers, industry experts and business journalists. Among them, Kara Sheesley, Nielsen IQ VP of Retail Engagement and U.S. Industry Relations speaks on shopper trends during the pandemic.  Click here to play video. 

The trade show will remain open through April 30 for retailers and exhibitors.

As retailers respond to changing consumer behavior, they look to revive their loyalty programs with an emphasis on private brands. Carol Angrisani showcases the retailers who are leading the way in promoting store brand loyalty that will last far beyond the pandemic. Click here to play video.

Albertsons offered advice to potential suppliers in a presentation during PLMALive’s Private Label Week—be flexible. Albertsons' Own Brands Leadership Team led by Chad Coester, Senior VP Own Brands spoke with PLMA's Suzanne Caputo. The Own Brands Team comprised of Alice Chan, vice president, sales and marketing, Don Davidson, Vice President, Strategic Sourcing, Nancy Cota, Vice President, Innovation & Brand Management, and Beto Galvan, Vice President, Innovation and Product Management. 

The pandemic is creating an important opportunity for store brands at Walgreens. Speaking at PLMALive’s Private Label Week, Andrea Collaro, senior director of owned brands health and wellness, said shoppers increasingly want products that offer both preventive care for themselves and their families as well as value.

Walgreens is putting a high priority on differentiation of its private label products. She explained that being equivalent and slightly better than the national brand is a critical component of differentiation as well, noting that there are areas where Walgreens’ private brands go beyond what the national brand offers. The retailer is looking for suppliers to play a key role in this process. “As you think about your product portfolios and what you have today, do you have any customer-led innovation in the healthcare space, unique offerings or ideas?” she asked.

Walmart is getting serious about its advertising business. The retailer is launching advertising technology that lets brands use Walmart data to buy ads outside its digital platforms. Walmart will also start selling ad space on checkout and display screens, with the goal of eventually letting advertisers buy personalized ads that target shoppers. The retailer is revamping its ad sales group, adding new advertising technology for brands and selling ad space on its in-store checkout and display screens to reach consumers in stores.

The changes at Walmart Media Group, which will be renamed Walmart Connect, signal the company’s growing ambitions to diversify revenue and become a top 10 ad company in the next few years. 

Online food and beverage sales, including grocery plus restaurant online delivery, climbed 125% to $106 billion over the 52 weeks ended Nov. 30, accounting for 12% of overall dollars spent in those categories, NielsenIQ data shows. Food and beverages have become the largest online CPG segment, representing 44% of dollar sales over the 52-week period. That compares with 38% for health and beauty, 8% for home and kitchen, 8% for pet supplies and 2% for baby care. In the total “online food universe,” CPG food and beverages were a $66 billion market versus $40 billion for restaurant delivery. Beverages rank first among edible consumables categories in terms of absolute e-commerce dollar growth, followed by wine, coffee, candy/gum/mints, health and performance, salty snacks, cheese, cookies and crackers, spirits, and cereal and granola.