More than 13,000 exhibitors, retailers and other industry professionals are expected to attend PLMA’s “The Store Brands Phenomenon 2024” Private Label Trade Show, November 17-19 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Chicago.

This includes more than 1,700 exhibitors, 2,800 booths and thousands of retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and other visitors. The event is the largest of its kind and has received a prestigious Gold 100 ranking as a top U.S. trade show.

The premier event for store brands will showcase thousands of on-trend products, including a special focus on beauty and cosmetics and wine & spirits. Plus, there’s educational programming, networking opportunities and more.

The show’s tagline - “Empowering the Retail Industry” - perfectly describes how store brands are an essential part of the retail business model and a key element for success.

“Store brands and the PLMA Show empower retailers to thrive,” stressed Anthony Aloia, PLMA Corporate Vice President. Aloia noted how this extends beyond traditional chains to specialty retail, department stores, convenience, online retailers, food service providers and many other formats.

“The Changing Retail Landscape” and “How Turbulent Economic Times Impact Your Company” are among the many engaging presentations on the agenda for PLMA’s annual Executive Education program, June 11-12, at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Among other topics on the info-packed schedule:

• Product and Packaging Innovation
• Matching Supply with Demand: Data-Driven Methods in Supply Chain Analytics
• AI and Businesses: Great Potential and Great Challenges

Chris Skyers, former VP, Own Brands at Wakefern and now EVP, Sales Strategy Services, Grocery Channel Lead, at Market Performance Group, is among the retail store brand experts who will speak at the program. Other instructors include Theo Schweitz, former director of private brand food at Target and now CEO of Drive Wheel Peer Groups; and Brian Gornall, whose experience includes Albertsons and Amazon.

Click here to get more details and register.

Store brands recorded unprecedented highs in both unit and dollar market shares during the first four months of 2024. Dollar share advanced to 20.5% and unit share moved up to 23.1%, as of April 21, reports PLMA, based on exclusive data received from Circana.

The new share standards have come on the strength of store brands' outstanding performance versus national brands during the period.  Store brand dollar sales were up 2% vs a gain of 1.1% for national brands, while in unit sales the difference was even greater, as store brands improved by 2.5% while national brands fell by 1%.

As a potential indicator of even higher market shares to come in the months ahead, the separation between store brands and national brands sales results expanded during the most recent reporting period. In the 30 days ending April 21, store brands outgained national brands in dollar sales by 2.1% vs only 0.4%, and far outpaced national brands in unit sales with a plus 2.2% compared to a minus 1.6%.

More than half of Americans (55%) say they’re more likely to try a new product if it’s marketed as being aligned with a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle, according to a new consumer sentiment survey commissioned by NCSolutions (NCS).

Additionally, 59% recently purchased a new product because of its health benefits. Nearly half (47%) of consumers say they’ve specifically purchased a food or beverage product in the last 30 days to get more vitamins or nutrients, while 33% buy to improve sleep and 29% to support gut health. More than one in four Americans (27%) purchased a new product because it is good for the environment.

Younger generations are more likely to consider the effect of their food or beverage product choices on the environment than older generations. Forty-eight percent of Gen Z and 44% of millennials consider this effect always or often, compared to 33% of Gen X and 29% of boomers. Likewise, younger consumers factor in the effect on the environment of their choice of laundry or cleaning products more often than older consumers. Fifty-one percent of Gen Z and 41% of millennials consider this effect always or often, compared to 33% of Gen X and 35% of boomers.

“The movement toward a ‘healthier you, healthier Earth’ has only accelerated over the last decade, driven by factors such as an aging population, consumers’ growing interest in convenience and advances in nutrition,” Alan Miles, CEO, NCSolutions, said in a statement.
 

Walmart was named the top retailer for CPG spending, according to new Numerator data looking at retailer CPG omnichannel purchase and promotional trends across the four US census regions (Northeast, Midwest, South and West).

Across the U.S., the top five retailers for CPG spending are Walmart (21.2%), Costco (7.8%), Kroger (6.9%), Amazon (5.3%), and Albertsons (4.3%).

Among other results:

• Walmart is the most popular retailer in three of the four regions; however, it falls to Costco (16.4% vs. 15.5% of CPG spending) in the West. For the entire U.S., 56% of CPG spend goes to food and mass retailers.
• In the Western U.S., 19% of CPG spend goes to the Club channel.
• Southerners over-index at dollar stores (Index 132 vs. Total U.S.).
• Consumers in the Northwest spend 7% of their dollars at liquor stores.
• Publix is the #2 retailer in the South (Index 243), and Ahold Delhaize is the #2 retailer in the Northeast.
• Walgreens is the top promoter of CPG products nationally, accounting for 16.4% of promotional voice. CVS comes in second in all regions except the West, where Kroger takes the second spot.
   

Consumers largely blame government policies for high grocery prices, according to a new consumer survey from The Feedback Group.

Supermarket shoppers rated a variety of entities and factors, using a five-point scale where five is “highly responsible” and one “not at all responsible” as to their degree of responsibility for higher prices in supermarkets.

Government policies and actions received the highest mean score (3.86), and thereby were viewed as the most responsible. Product manufacturers and suppliers scored second most responsible (3.75), followed more distantly by wars and worldwide political conflicts (3.42), supermarket retailers (3.40), and labor supply shortages (3.23). Factors viewed as least responsible were climate change factors (2.85) and farmers and growers (2.78).

“In this politically charged environment, supermarket shoppers believe that government policies are the leading influence on higher supermarket prices,” Doug Madenberg, chief listening officer of The Feedback Group, said in a statement.

Store brand beverage mixers help consumers craft the perfect cocktail or mocktail in the comfort of their own homes. Take the line of beverage mixers from Twin Cities grocery chain Lunds & Byerlys. They can be mixed with vodka, whiskey and other spirits or club soda for an alcohol-free drink. Among the flavors: Cranberry Ginger Lemon, Hibiscus Pink Grapefruit, Watermelon Mint and Mango Jalapeno Margarita Mix. Lunds & Byerlys also sells store brand mixers, including a margarita mix.

Price Chopper has introduced PICS-brand frozen skillet meals that can be quickly cooked on the stove. They come in two flavors: Pesto Rotini and Four Cheese Gnocchi. In other Price Chopper news, the retailer is now selling vegetable seed packets under its Market 32 brand. Selections include Snap Peas, Zucchini and Bell Pepper.

One of the best-selling items at Kowalski’s Markets in the Twin Cities is its private label fresh juices. Squeezed daily by its local produce partner, the lineup includes orange juice, grapefruit juice, tangerine juice and citrus splash.

Leah McGrath, registered dietitian at Ingles Markets, Asheville, N.C., promotes Ingles products and services and healthy living by writing columns for news publications. For instance, one column in the Asheville Citizen Times focused on yogurt and how the Food and Drug Administration is now allowing a qualified health claim on dairy-based yogurts – as long as they meet the standard of identity for yogurt.

“Today’s customers expect more from the private brands they purchase – they want affordable, quality products to elevate their overall food experience.”

- Scott Morris, senior vice president, private brands, food and consumables, Walmart, about the launch of bettergoods, a line of chef-inspired food. Bettergoods is Walmart’s largest private brand food launch in 20 years and the fastest food private brand Walmart has brought to market. The line currently features about 300 items, including frozens, dairy, snacks, beverages, pasta, soups, coffee, chocolate and more. 

$860 billion

Convenience stores sales in 2023, of which $327.6 billion were from in-store purchases. The average basket - what customers spent per visit - increased 3.7% to $7.80, according to newly released data from the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).
 

Lou DeMent, Owner and CEO of Giovanni Food Co., discussed his third-generation, family-owned business in a recent PLMA Lunch with Leadership session.

Previous Lunch with Leadership guests included Harry Overly, President & CEO of private label snack manufacturer Flagstone Foods; Ann O’Hara, Huhtamaki North America; Camilo Romero, CEO, Luker Chocolate; and Joe Mollica, CEO, LNK International, Inc. 

Click here to watch the rest of the interviews.