PLMA News

PLMA's 2023 Trade Show to Hail 'The Store Brands Phenomenon'

The largest event for store brands in North America is set for November 12-14 in Chicago

NEW YORK (April 24, 2023) - At a time when store brands have grown to become a $230 billion industry in the U.S., PLMA has announced a fitting theme for its 2023 Private Label Trade Show: “The Store Brands Phenomenon.”

The show will be held November 12-14 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago.

"'The Store Brands Phenomenon' theme is appropriate in many ways," said PLMA President Peggy Davies. "Hailed as dynamic, innovative and pervasive, store brands offer boundless opportunities for retailers, manufacturers and trade suppliers."

The growth of store brands has been strong and steady. By the end of 2022, PLMA calculates that annual store brand sales had increased by 40% over a five-year period. Last year's double-digit gains continued through the first quarter of 2023, according to Circana. Sales and dollar and unit market shares are at all-time highs.

They are the shopper’s best friend, offering innovation, performance and quality. Store brands accounted for nearly one-third of all new sales flowing into U.S. retailing last year.

And there's more to come. Every day, store brand products are moving into new categories, new chains, new channels, and new platforms.

“Store brands are a powerful retailer component that provides important points of differentiation, competitive advantage and builds consumer loyalty," added Davies.

The 2023 Private Label Trade Show will reflect this expansion. PLMA expects that over 1,500 companies will be exhibiting and 5,000 individuals attending.

"For more than 40 years, PLMA has provided supermarkets, supercenters, drug chains, wholesale clubs, dollar and specialty stores, mass merchandisers, importers and exporters, and e-commerce retailers an exclusive venue to discover the latest food and non-food products, ingredients, flavors, fragrances, and packaging,” Davies said.

For more information on "The Store Brands Phenomenon" trade show, contact PLMA at +1 212 972-3131, email info@plma.com or click here for more information.

About PLMA

The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) is a non-profit trade organization founded in 1979 to promote the store brands industry. With executive offices in New York and International Council offices in Amsterdam, PLMA represents more than 4,000 member companies worldwide. In addition to the Annual Private Label Trade Show in Chicago and its World of Private Label Trade Show in Amsterdam, PLMA provides annual conferences, executive education and professional development opportunities. Follow PLMA on plma.com, plmainternational.com, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Store Brand Beverage Numbers Deserve a Toast!

Featured in PLMA’s e-Scanner March 25, 2023 newsletter, created by Tom Prendergast, Director, Research Services

Throughout store brands' steady double-digit gains of 2022, which has continued through the first two months of this year, fully 16 of the 17 departments tracked by IRI showed store brand improvement.

One department demonstrated particularly strong sales performance -- Beverages -- a section once considered impenetrable for store brands due to the powerhouse national brands that inhabit it.

But that dominance may be changing. In this extremely competitive department, store brands have been growing at a faster pace than brands for the past 4, 12 and 52 weeks, reported IRI Unify exclusively to PLMA.

The numbers deserve a toast. Total private label beverage sales in 2022 were $12 billion and dollar sales grew by 19.3%. Double digit growth continued into the new year as dollar sales over the past four weeks totaled 18.6%, only a slight dip from the 20% sales growth in the past three months.

The Beverages department is the third largest of the 17 tracked by IRI when it comes to national brand and store brand dollar sales ($130B) and second largest in unit sales with over 40 billion in sales.

The largest category in beverages is bottled water. The category has sales of $6.8 billion in 2022 and dollar sales growth of 23.1%. While dollar sales did slow, from 21.3% over 12 weeks to 20.3% in the past four weeks, it remains the largest dollar sales category in the department.

Water is not the only growth category in this department. When you take a closer look at other areas you see while not everyone is showing growth but the ones gaining sales are especially strong.

For instance, carbonated beverages have increased from 15.8%-dollar sales growth last year to 32.4% in February and 28.9% over the past three months. This growth is also reflected in unit sales, as sales for carbonated beverages grew 4% in the past 4 weeks and 1.2% over the past 12 weeks. While unit sales did dip 2.5% last year, like dollar sales, sales of units of carbonated beverages continued to advance.

Two other growing categories over this period were refrigerated tea/coffee and tea bags. Refrigerated tea/coffee grew from 8.2% in dollar sales last year to 10.7% in the past four weeks. Tea bags had even more dramatic results, as dollar sales went from 5% in 2022 to 12.3% in the past three months to 17.5% in the past four weeks.

Other categories also stood out. These include bottled juices (10%), coffee (15.4%) and ready to drink tea/coffee (15.8%); all had double digit growth in 2022. In the past four weeks, while growth has slowed, it remains positive, ranging from 66.8% for ready to drink tea and coffee to 13.9% for coffee and 10.2% for bottled juices.

Unit sales improvements were also striking. Ready to drink tea/coffee saw units rise from 10.4% in 2022 to 84% over the past 3 months and 75.7% in the past 4 weeks. Coffee unit sales were up 2.8% last year but kept most of that growth in the past four weeks with a 2.5%-unit sales growth.

After decades of being a bottom shelf afterthought in a strong national branded department, store brands are evolving to become a presence if not a player in many parts of the huge Beverages sector.

To find out more IRI Unify data is available to all PLMA members and can be found at plma.com where these statistics and sales of 317 categories and 967 subcategories can be found.

PLMA Announces 2023 Private Label Hall of Fame Inductees

NEW YORK (March 23, 2023) - The Private Label Hall of Fame Class of 2023 was inducted last night during PLMA’s Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference in Orlando.

Presented by PLMA and Store Brands magazine, the Private Label Hall of Fame was created in 2006 to recognize the men and women who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the global private brand industry.

This year, the Hall of Fame honors 16 individuals in four categories: Next Gen Private Label Leader, Private Brand Innovator, Private Brand Champion, and Lifetime Achievement.

“We proudly celebrate the outstanding achievements of these proven leaders and innovators,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies. “Their hard work and dedication are instrumental to the success of the store brands business.”

Private Label Hall of Fame Class of 2023

Next Gen Private Label Leader:

Anthony Cera III, Own Brands Manager, Perishables, SpartanNash
Colleen Kangas, President, Purcell International
Angela LePore, Senior Manager, Private Brands Product Development, Simmons Pet Food, Inc.
Kristin Provost, Senior Manager, Category Insights, Topco Associates, LLC

Private Brand Innovator:
Alicia Cook, Category Director, Save A Lot
Casey Creegan, Manager of Merchandising, Love’s Travel Stops
Roger Scommegna, CEO, Flying Blue Imports
Guido Tremolini, President/Co-Owner, G.S. Gelato

Private Brand Champion:

Shane Brown, Director, Own Brand Sourcing, Giant Eagle, Inc.
Jill Clark, VP, Sales and Marketing, Dutch Gold Honey, Inc.
Andrea Collaro, Senior Director, Owned Brands, Brand Management/Product Development, Walgreens Co.
Kristie Nicolosi, CEO, The Kingswood Company

Lifetime Achievement:

Brenda Lord, Vice President, Private Brands, CVS Health
Nancy Ragozzino, President, Ragozzino Foods, Inc.
Andy Russick, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Pacific Coast Producers
Jill Sando, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer, Target

“The 16 honorees represent the best of the best from across the world of private label and showcase the depth of talent the industry has to offer,” said Store Brands magazine Executive Editor & Associate Publisher Greg Sleter. “This august group of retailers and suppliers have had a major impact on the private label business and will continue to do so in the years ahead.”

Profiles on all inductees will be featured in the May/June issue of Store Brands magazine, featured on StoreBrands.com, and posted in a special section of plma.com.

About PLMA

The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) is a non-profit trade organization founded in 1979 to promote the store brands industry. With executive offices in New York and International Council offices in Amsterdam, PLMA represents more than 4,000 member companies worldwide. In addition to the Annual Private Label Trade Show in Chicago and its World of Private Label Trade Show in Amsterdam, PLMA provides annual conferences, executive education and professional development opportunities. Follow PLMA on plma.com, plmainternational.com, Twitter and LinkedIn.

"How Private Label Packaging Strategies Influence Shoppers Intent to Purchase"

World of Private Label Trade Show, May 20-21

PLMA’s 2025 World of Private Label show will be held May 20-21 at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre, The Netherlands.

Products on display will include fresh, frozen and refrigerated foods, dry grocery, and beverages as well as non-food categories, including cosmetics, health and beauty, household and kitchen, auto aftercare, garden, housewares and DIY.

The show floor is divided into nine food halls and five non-food halls to help visitorake the most of their time.

Click here for more information.

2024 Private Label Trade Show Breaks Attendance Records

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Contact: press@plma.com

2024 Private Label Trade Show Breaks Attendance Records

Standing Room Only for Keynote from Aldi’s Dave Rinaldo; Hot Honey, Truffles, Protein-Rich Foods Among Trends Spotted at “The Store Brands Phenomenon 2024” Private Label Trade Show in Chicago

NEW YORK (November 26, 2024) - PLMA’s 2024 Private Label Trade Show, the premier event for store brands, closed with a record number of attendees. The sold-out show floor at “The Store Brands Phenomenon 2024 - Empowering the Retail Industry” Private Label Trade Show, held Nov. 17-19 in Chicago, featured 1,821 exhibitors from 60 countries. What’s more, there were 700 first-time exhibitors.

In all, some 14,000 retailers, visitors, exhibitors, and others from the store brand and retailing industries attended.

It was standing room only for the keynote from Dave Rinaldo, President at Aldi. It was the largest crowd ever for any PLMA event.

Rinaldo’s main points were an introduction to Aldi, how the company collaborates with suppliers, the industry’s opportunity to drive shopper trust and the impact the industry can make beyond the bottom line through the support of foundations such as Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation to raise money for childhood cancer research.

During his keynote, Rinaldo thanked PLMA for inviting him and stressed his appreciation for the association and the Private Label Trade Show.

Rinaldo said he was honored to deliver the keynote because of the growth opportunities that exist for Aldi and the private label industry as a whole. He cited how more and more consumers are trying and switching to private label.

After Rinaldo’s keynote, the Show floor opened, featuring a record 54 country and regional pavilions from North and South America, Europe and Asia to help buyers to source new and innovative products for today’s global consumer.

“The annual Private Label Trade Show provided an unparalleled opportunity to discover the best and most innovative private label products from around the world, including food, beverages, wine and spirits, health and beauty care, general merchandise and much more,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies.

Among the trends spotted on the Show floor:

Hot Honey - Hot honey is a spicy condiment that is being used as a dip, as well as drizzled on pizza and more. Products found on the Show floor: hot honey, hot honey corn, hot honey hummus and hot honey dip.

Kitchen Supplies that Make Clean-up Easier - Consumers are seeking out supplies that simplify their cooking routines. Products found on the Show floor: pre-cut parchment paper and aluminum sheets; roasting bags; air fryer liners and slow cooker bags.

Tempting Truffles - The unique aroma and flavor of truffles can be found in an increasing number of packaged goods. Products found on the Show floor: truffle hot sauce, truffle honey; and soy sauce with four truffles.

Premium Pet Treats - Pet treats made with one single ingredient or limited clean ingredients are available to reward our furry friends. Products found on the Show floor: turmeric cheese chews; freeze-dried lamb bites and meatball-style dog treats.

Pumped with Protein - Snack foods with lower net carbs and higher protein appeal to those taking GLP-1 medicine or who are simply looking for a better-for-you snack. Products found on the Show floor: pea-protein based cheddar crackers with 10 grams of protein per serving: brown rice and spirulina spaghetti with 9 grams of protein; high-protein bread.

About PLMA

The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) is a non-profit trade organization founded in 1979 to promote the store brands industry. With executive offices in New York and International Council offices in Amsterdam, PLMA represents more than 4,500 member companies worldwide. In addition to the Annual Private Label Trade Show in Chicago and its World of Private Label International Trade Show in Amsterdam, PLMA provides annual conferences, executive education and professional development opportunities. Follow PLMA on plma.com, plmainternational.com, and on social media:

PLMA Announces January 2025 as Store Brands Month

Editor's Note: Visit the PLMA press room for Show logos and photos.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: press@plma.com

PLMA Announces January 2025 as Store Brands Month

The partnership between retailers and manufacturers aims to drive consumer trial of store brands

CHICAGO (November 19, 2024) - PLMA has announced that January 2025 will be celebrated as the inaugural Store Brands Month.

The month-long, direct-to-consumer program is a partnership between retailers and manufacturers to promote the quality, value and excellence of store brands to shoppers.

PLMA President Peggy Davies shared highlights of the new industry collaboration at “The Store Brands Phenomenon 2024 - Empowering the Retail Industry” Private Label Trade Show here. The sold-out, record-breaking Show began Nov. 17 and runs through today.

The goal of Store Brands Month is to increase consumer trial by focusing attention on the positive attributes and practical factors of store brands - including value, digital convenience, ethical considerations, innovation and budget awareness - across all product categories in both brick-and-mortar and online retail formats.

Retailers have voiced strong support for the initiative, which is planned to be an annual event. Pam Ofri, Wakefern Food Corp.’s Director of Product Development and Operations, Own Brands, said Store Brands Month will help promote and celebrate Wakefern’s Own Brands portfolio, a collection of 5,000+ products under the Bowl & Basket, Wholesome Pantry and Paperbird labels.

“Store Brands Month provides an amazing opportunity to elevate the conversation around store brands and encourage more shoppers to explore these valuable options,” Ofri said.

Along with Wakefern, many large national retailers from coast to coast have signed on to support Store Brands Month.

Promotional strategies will be developed by participating retailers and executed both in-store and through a variety of digital and social media platforms.

“The time is right to bring greater visibility among consumers to our thriving industry,” Davies said. “By coming together with our partners during a month-long campaign, we have an opportunity to further expand the presence and strength of the largest CPG brand in the store: private brands.”

Annual sales of store brands have risen by 41% over the past five years. PLMA is projecting that sales for 2024 will surpass a quarter trillion dollars, setting a record for annual revenue.

Store brands are ubiquitous in the U.S. grocery space. One in every four grocery products sold across the U.S. carries the store's name or brand.

PLMA is providing a Store Brands Month toolkit for retailers. Additionally, PLMA manufacturers, brokers and supplier members can access their own toolkit and more information through the members only portal on PLMA.com.

For more information, email storebrandsmonth@plma.com.

About PLMA

The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) is a non-profit trade organization founded in 1979 to promote the store brands industry. With executive offices in New York and International Council offices in Amsterdam, PLMA represents more than 4,500 member companies worldwide. In addition to the Annual Private Label Trade Show in Chicago and its World of Private Label International Trade Show in Amsterdam, PLMA provides annual conferences, executive education and professional development opportunities. Follow PLMA on plma.com, plmainternational.com, and on social media:

PLMA’s 2024 Salute to Excellence Awards® Announced

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Contact: press@plma.com

PLMA’s 2024 Salute to Excellence Awards® Announced

Walmart leads the list of retailers honored for private label innovation. Albertsons, Amazon, Kroger Co.,
Southeastern Grocers, Target, Topco, Whole Foods among many other winners

CHICAGO (November 17, 2024) - Walmart tops the list of winners of PLMA’s 2024 Salute to Excellence Awards®. The retail giant received a total of 18 awards for outstanding store brands.

Of these, nine awards went to Walmart’s new bettergoods™ line of chef-inspired products: Ricotta and Lemon Ravioli; Cheesy Spinach Potatoes au Gratin; Salted Caramel Pistachio Ice Cream; Pineapple Upside Down Cake Greek Yogurt; Hibiscus Glaze with Grape Must; Spicy Pineapple Habanero BBQ Sauce; Strawberry Champagne Vinaigrette Salad Dressing; Raspberry, Cardamom & Rose Fruit Spread and Extra Creamy Oatmilk.

Walmart’s Clear American, Equate, Great Value, Marketside and Vibrant Life store brands were also recognized.

They join dozens of other Salute to Excellence winners announced today at PLMA’s “The Store Brands Phenomenon 2024 - Empowering the Retail Industry” Private Label Trade Show here.

Among this year’s award-winning trends:

Salted Caramel Bliss - Caramel provides a small indulgence that today’s consumers crave. Winning products include Basically™ Salted Caramel Cookie Bites from Gopuff; Favorite Day™ Salted Caramel Cold Foam, Target; and Know & Love Dairy-Free Caramel Sea Salt Gelato, Southeastern Grocers.

Pickle Perfection - The tangy taste of pickles can be found far beyond the condiment aisle. Winners include Private Selection™ Dill Pickle Pretzels Twists, Kroger Co.; and Well Market™ Zesty Dill Pickle Flavor-Infused Sprouted Almonds, CVS Pharmacy.

Citrus Craze - Lemon, lime and other citrus fruits have created refreshing new flavor profiles. Winners include Amazon Kitchen Grilled Pork with Chipotle Lime Sauce, Amazon; and bettergoods™ Ricotta and Lemon Ravioli, Walmart.

Green Clean - Household cleaning products made with biodegradable ingredients and/or without harsh chemicals are in demand. Winners include True Goodness™ Lavender & Pear All-Purpose Cleaner, Meijer; Rosey™ Garbage Disposal Cleaning Packs, Thrive Market.

Rise and Shine! - New breakfast foods cater to shoppers who prioritize convenience, animal welfare and savings. Winners include Giant Eagle™ Shake and Pour Pancake Mix; Whole Foods Market Pasture-Raised Non-GMO Large Brown Eggs; and Always Save® Marshmallow Glitters cereal, Associated Wholesale Grocers

PLMA’s annual Salute to Excellence Awards® program recognizes outstanding food and nonfood products introduced within the last year by supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchandisers, convenience stores, online retailers, wholesalers and more. Submissions were sampled and evaluated by a panel of professional and consumer judges on several criteria, including taste, product concept, packaging, and value for money.

This year, more than 760 products were submitted by 52 North American retailers, which is the highest number of submissions ever received.

Click here to view the full list of winners.

About PLMA

The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) is a non-profit trade organization founded in 1979 to promote the store brands industry. With executive offices in New York and International Council offices in Amsterdam, PLMA represents more than 4,500 member companies worldwide. In addition to the Annual Private Label Trade Show in Chicago and its World of Private Label International Trade Show in Amsterdam, PLMA provides annual conferences, executive education and professional development opportunities. Follow PLMA on plma.com, plmainternational.com, and on social media:

The PLMA Show: Discovery, Innovation and Education

PLMA’s “The Store Brands Phenomenon 2024 - Empowering the Retail Industry” Private Label Trade Show will be held November 17-19 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Chicago.

This includes a record 1,800+ exhibitors and more than 3,000 booths. The event has consistently received a prestigious Gold 100 ranking as a top U.S. trade show. Some 60 countries are represented by exhibitors on the floor.

The sold-out Show provides visitors and retailers of all types with one-stop-shopping on the bustling show floor, which will feature the latest innovations in foods, beverages, flavors, ingredients, authentic international foods and nonfoods, refrigerated and frozen foods, sustainable packaging, pet care and foods, self-care, baby care, household goods, general merchandise, and much more.

Click here for more information.

The 2024 Private Label Trade Show: Meet the Speakers

PLMA’s “The Store Brands Phenomenon 2024 - Empowering the Retail Industry” Private Label Trade Show, which opens tomorrow and runs through Nov. 19 in Chicago, will be a major, record-breaking event. The sold-out show floor will be filled with 1,800+ exhibitors and more than 3,000 booths.

Along with the expansive exhibit hall, the Show offers a high-impact speaker lineup.

Notably, Dave Rinaldo, President at ALDI, will deliver the keynote address on Monday, Nov. 18.

“PLMA’s 2024 Trade Show provides an exceptional opportunity to learn from industry leaders,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies. “This event promises to inspire and inform participants about the evolving landscape of store brands.”

Rinaldo headlines the dynamic panel of speakers who will share thought-provoking insights on hot topics and emerging trends:

Sunday, Nov. 17, 2 p.m.
Opening Seminars

“Unlocking the $100 Billion Opportunity: The Future of Private Labels” - Randy Burt, Partner & Managing Director; and Matt Hamory, Partner & Managing Director, Alix Partners
"Generative AI: A Force to Increase Productivity” - Conor Grennan, Chief AI Architect, NYU Stern School of Business
“Top Trends for 2025” - Tom Vierhile, VP, Strategic Insights, North America, Innova Market Insights
“The Best Story Wins” - Tim Pollard, CEO, Oratium

Monday, Nov. 18, 8 a.m.
Keynote Breakfast

“Hungry for Value: How Retailers and Manufacturers Can Fuel the Private Label Boom” - Dave Rinaldo, President at ALDI

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 8 a.m.
Retail Trends Breakfast

“Why She Buys: Grow Sales and Market Share with the World’s Most Powerful Consumers” - Bridget Brennan, Founder & CEO, Female Factor

Click here for more details about the presentations.

In total, the Show is expected to draw about 15,000 attendees, including retailers, exhibitors and visitors.

There will be many special on-site displays, including: PLMA’s Idea Supermarket®, featuring the latest product and packaging trends from around the globe.

A new addition this year is a display of wines that won a PLMA 2024 Salute to Excellence Award® for quality and value. The wine awards were announced this past spring at PLMA’s World of Private Label International Trade Show in Amsterdam.

Also located inside the Idea Supermarket is the New Product Expo, a showcase of product and packaging innovations from companies exhibiting at the show.

The New Product Expo features hundreds of new foods, beverages, household goods, personal care products and much more. Both domestic and international exhibitors submitted items for consideration. Products were selected based on the level of innovation, sourcing, sustainability and packaging.

Additionally, in the lobby of the convention center, attendees can view a display of retailer store brand foods and non-foods that won a prestigious 2024 PLMA Salute to Excellence Award® for product innovation.

All registrants have access to Show Navigator, a mobile-friendly tool that provides comprehensive information about the show. Available now, Show Navigator has details about exhibitors, speakers, product announcements, trade show facts, the show floor map, show schedule and much more.

Click here for more details about the Show.