Press Room

SAN ANTONIO (March 21, 2024) - The Private Label Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place here last night at PLMA’s 2024 Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference.

The Class of 2024 consists of 16 individuals who are honored in four categories:

Lifetime Achievement

• Clay Dockery, Vice President, Private Label and Co-Manufacturing, Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA
• Peter Kroner, Managing Partner, Marketing Concepts Group
• Edward P. Salzano, President, EDNJ Associates
• John W. Solomon, The Kroger Co. (Retired)

Private Brand Champion

• Nils Clement, Founder and CEO, Euro Caps BV
• Pam Ofri, Senior Director of Own Brands, Wakefern Food Corp.
• Jac Ross, Vice President, Sprouts Brand, Sprouts Farmers Market
• Nick Scangas, President and Chief Operating Officer, Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods

Private Brand Innovator

• Pascale Courtemanche, R&D Director, Plats du Chef, C.H. Guenther & Son
• Jackie Li, Senior Vice President, Private Brands and Global Sourcing, Dollar General
• Dr. Rakesh Rathore, Chief Operating Officer, TrueChoicePack
• Brooke Rice, Senior Director of Own Brands, Southeastern Grocers

Next Gen Private Label Leader

• William Crosby, EVP, Crosby Foods Ltd.
• Hope Lenhart, Director of Brand Management for Essentials, Beauty and Hardlines, Target
• Chad Mallory, Senior Product Manager, Amazon Fresh Private Brand
• Mohan Valluri, Vice President of Sales and R&D, Alamance Foods

The Next Gen Private Label Leader category honors those who are under the age of 40 and have grown their businesses through innovative thinking; Private Brand Innovator, awards those who have demonstrated out-of-the-box decision making leading to a new way of doing business; Private Brand Champion, recognizes those with a track record of developing successful initiatives that lead to category growth and who have vision and determination that cut through barriers and obstacles; and Lifetime Achievement, pays tribute to those who, over the span of their careers, have distinguished themselves as a leader of store brand development and innovation.

“We’re thrilled to honor this incredible group of men and women for their excellence in these four important categories,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies. “They truly deserve this special recognition for going above and beyond in their contributions.”

Presented by PLMA and Store Brands, the Private Label Hall of Fame was created in 2006 to recognize high achievers and thought leaders who have made significant contributions in their own organizations, as well as those who have set standards of excellence and accomplishment throughout the industry.

Retailers, manufacturers and suppliers, wholesalers, members of the press, market researchers and consultants were among the potential candidates.

Profiles on all inductees will be featured on StoreBrands.com and posted in the Hall of Fame 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, and on social media:

NEW YORK (March 5, 2024) - PLMA today announced the April 4 launch of a series of powerful online interviews with top store brand executives.

Lunch with Leadership - a companion to PLMA’s popular Lunch and Learn speaker series - is noon-time conversations with corporate leaders and industry trailblazers. Each executive will provide a detailed view of their organization now and where they believe it fits in the future of American retailing and the store brand supplier community.

The April 4 kickoff session will feature Harry Overly, president and CEO of Flagstone Foods. Following Overly, other interview subjects include Ann O'Hara, President, Huhtamaki North America (April 11); Lou DeMent, owner and CEO of Giovanni Foods (April 18); Camilo Romero, CEO of Luker Chocolate (April 25); and Joe Mollica II, CEO of LNK International, Inc. (May 2).

“This new professional development program provides a unique opportunity to learn from the best in the business,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies. “We will explore the inner workings of a wide variety of PLMA member food and nonfood companies, particularly as they are described through the eyes of their CEOs.”

The overwhelmingly positive response to PLMA’s Lunch and Learn - now in its third year - was a motivating factor in the inception of Lunch with Leadership, Davies added.

The host of the new series is Michael Sansolo, formerly senior VP of the Food Marketing Institute, a well-known food industry speaker, author, writer and contributor to PLMA.

Each session will begin at 12:30pm ET and run about 15 minutes. Registration - which is free for PLMA members and retailers - is required.

Interviews will be made available on PLMA's website at Lunch with Leadership, throughout the year leading up to PLMA's 2024 Private Label Trade Show, November 17-19, in Chicago.

Click here for more details or contact PLMA at info@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, and on social media:

NEW YORK (February 27, 2024) – Sales of store brands increased $10.1 billion to a record $236.3 billion last year compared to 2022, according to PLMA’s just-released 2024 Private Label Report.

That represents a 4.7% rise in dollar sales in all outlets from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2023, versus the same period the prior year, according to the report. Store brands bested national brands, which grew 3.4% in dollar sales.

Compared to 2019, annual store brand dollar sales in 2023 increased by $60.2 billion, a 34% gain. Store brand dollar share rose 1.2 points to a record 18.9%.  During the four-year period, store brand unit sales were ahead by 500 million and unit share improved 0.8 points to 20.7%, also a new high.

The annual report analyzes store brand and national brand sales in unit and dollar sales in key categories. It is based on sales figures from the PLMA/Circana Unify+ market data portal, available free to PLMA members on plma.com.

The results show that today’s consumers are directing more of their budgets to private label items.

"Overall, the industry is healthier than ever," PLMA President Peggy Davies states in the report. "One of every five food or non-food grocery products sold across the U.S. carries the retailer’s name or own brand and was supplied by a store brand manufacturer."

According to the report, nine out of 10 departments that Circana tracks are showing growth over the year before. The outlier once again is tobacco, which continues to trend downward overall.

Departments with the highest dollar sales growth are Beauty, up 10.5% vs. 2022; General Food, +10%; Beverages, +8.9%; Home Care, +8.7%; Frozen, + 4.4%; and General Merchandise, + 4%. 

Click here for the full report.

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, and on social media:

PLMA Announces Albertsons’ Brandon Brown as Keynote Speaker of Conference, March 20-22
The PLMA 2024 Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference will also offer insights on Lidl and Aldi from dunnhumby; presentations from Cogknition Analytics, Daymon, McKinsey and more

NEW YORK (February 20, 2024) - Brandon Brown, Senior Vice President of Own Brands at Albertsons Companies, is the keynote speaker of the PLMA 2024 Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference, March 20-22 in San Antonio.

This cutting-edge event at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk will focus on trends, issues and provide an unparalleled opportunity to gain insights, knowledge and skills. The event brings together manufacturers, retailers and others for several days of presentations, panel discussions, workshops and networking. A highlight of the event is the Private Label Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the Class of 2024.

The conference is appropriately themed “Private Label IS a Brand!" This is clearly reflected in PLMA’s just-released 2024 Private Label Report, which shows that compared to 2019, annual store brand dollar sales in 2023 increased by $60.2 billion, a 34% gain. Store brand dollar share rose 1.2 points to a record 18.9%.  During the four-year period, store brand unit sales were ahead by 500 million and unit share improved 0.8 points to 20.7%, also a new high.

"The industry has become a star player in retailing, the quintessential brand when it comes to influence, quality, innovation, reliability and sales growth," said PLMA President Peggy Davies. “There’s no time for resting our on laurels. It’s more important to discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with this new and deeper responsibility."

Along with Brown of Albertsons, the powerhouse speaker lineup includes other top thought leaders and game changers:

• Arjun Chakravarti of Cogknition Analytics, with a presentation on “Seizing Opportunities: How Consumers Influence the Macroeconomic Outlook for Private Brands in 2024 and Beyond.”
• Erich Kahner and Joe Cook, dunnhumby, “Aldi, Lidl and the Right Competitive Response.”
• Scott Lucas, Sterling Brands Cincinatti, who will discuss how to make the most of the advantages private brands have over national brands.
• Amber Roberts, Threefold, “The Global Rise of Retail Media and How Private Brands Can Unlock its True Potential.”
• Brooke Feenstra-Swensen and Jocelyn Carter, Kerry, “Building Private Brands for The Evolving Consumer.”
• Brooke Daniels and Dave Fedewa, McKinsey & Company, “Innovate to Dominate: Unleashing the Power of Next-Gen Private Brands.”
• Jonathan Finch, Daymon, “Strong Foundations: Building Your Private Brand House for Long-Term Success.”
• A workshop by Market Performance Group, “Understand the Building Blocks for Establishing a Strategic Partnership.”
  There’s much more. Click here to view full agenda and register.

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, and on social media:

Private Label Hall of Fame: Call for Nominations

NEW YORK (January 16, 2024) - PLMA today announced a call for nominations for the 2024 Private Label Hall of Fame.

Nominations will be accepted through February 2, 2024. Click here to make a nomination.

“The Private Label Hall of Fame is an annual tradition that celebrates those who are contributing to and will make a lasting impact on the store brands industry,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies. “The inductees serve as role models for current and future generations of professionals in the private brand business.”

Honorees will be recognized in four categories:

• Lifetime Achievement (individuals with a minimum of 25 years of industry-related experience)
• Private Brand Champion
• Private Brand Innovator
• Next Gen Private Label Leader (individuals 40 years of age and under)

The induction ceremony for the Class of 2024 will be held at a special dinner on March 20 as part of PLMA’s 2024 Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference in San Antonio.

Presented by PLMA and Store Brands, the Private Label Hall of Fame was created in 2006 to recognize high achievers and thought leaders who have made significant contributions in their own organizations, as well as those who have set standards of excellence and accomplishment throughout the industry. Retailers, manufacturers and suppliers, wholesalers, members of the press, market researchers and consultants are among the potential candidates.

“At a time when private label is seeing tremendous growth, we’re excited at the opportunity to once again honor those who set a solid foundation for the industry, while also celebrating today’s stars who are driving the business forward,” said Greg Sleter, associate publisher and executive editor of Store Brands.

Profiles on all inductees will be featured on StoreBrands.com and posted in the Hall of Fame section of plma.com.

The Private Label Hall of Fame currently includes more than 80 men and women. Click here to see a list of members.

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, and on social media:

NEW YORK (NOVEMBER 16, 2023) – More than half of Gen Z grocery shoppers “always/frequently” choose a place to shop due to its store brands, according to new PLMA consumer research report, called “Gen Z Loves Store Brands: America’s Youngest Consumers Speak Out on Grocery Shopping, Stores and Brands.”

In the survey, 67% of Gen Z say they are “extremely/very” aware of store brands; 64% say they buy store brands “always/frequently;” 56% are “extremely likely/likely” to experiment with store brands to find “best value;” and 51% say they “always/frequently” choose a place to shop due to its store brands.

Among other findings:

• 53% of Gen Z say "Valuable" describes store brands "precisely/very much."
• 52% of Gen Z say "Reliable" describes store brands "precisely/very much."
• 50% of Gen Z say "Variety" describes store brands "precisely/very much."

Sara Williamson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Marketing at SUNY Old Westbury, analyzed the survey results and presented her findings at PLMA’s 2023 U.S. Private Label Trade Show in Chicago earlier this week.

“Gen Z store brand purchase frequency is most strongly driven by a perception that store brands are 'reliable,’” Williamson told PLMA. “Reliability perception is a stronger store brand purchase predictor than any other measure, including household income and monthly grocery spending."

The impact of store brand reliability is a solid indicator that the manufacturer-retailer relationship is more important than ever, she said.

“To succeed with Gen Z, retailers must establish a foundation of store brand suppliers who meet their customers' quality expectations," she added.

CLICK HERE for the full report.

NEW YORK (NOVEMBER 15, 2023) - PLMA’s 2023 Private Label Trade Show was a phenomenal success. A record 1,685 exhibitors showcased the hottest new products, flavors, packaging, ingredients and services.

More than 13,000 exhibitors, retailers and other visitors experienced the excitement of the largest event for store brands in North America. It was held Nov. 12-14 in Chicago.

The sold-out show floor had 2,740 booths featuring the latest innovations in food, beverages, health and beauty, baby care, household goods, kitchenware, general merchandise, wine and spirits, pet care, refrigerated and frozen foods, and much more.

“PLMA’s 2023 ‘THE STORE BRANDS PHENOMENON’ Private Label Trade Show provided unparalleled access to a wide assortment of products across all categories. We are enjoying a growth spurt with nearly 600 new exhibitors added to the show this year. And, within our non-food South Hall, a section was dedicated to Beauty & Cosmetics (including color, fragrances, skincare, and men’s grooming), as well as Kitchenware and Housewares,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies. “The event started with Opening Seminars on Sunday, and it was a networking palooza.”

Among the product trends spotted on the show floor:

Plant-Based Power - To elevate the plant-based dining experience, manufacturers are offering new options in ethnic meals as well as convenient handheld snacks: beefless Korean bulgogi, porkless carnitas, plant-based butter “chik’n” and alternative chicken fries, fish sticks mozzarella bites. 

Spicy Snacks - The global shift to spicy food options has found its way into the snack aisle, which is heating up with new flavor combinations featuring jalapeno, chili, habanero and other spicy peppers: Jalapeno cheddar trail mix; habanero pork rinds; spicy jalapeno sweet potato chips; habanero nacho sweet potato chips; and pineapple habanero honey roast sesame sticks.

Specialized Skincare - Responding to growing concerns about appearance among the aging population, suppliers have expanded product lines of skincare products marketed for their moisturizing and anti-aging properties, specialized formulas and ingredients: Serums with wrinkle-improving functions; hydrating facial cleansers with ceramides and hyaluronic acid; and glycolic acid cleansers.

Tropical Tastes - The popularity of plant-based diets coupled with increasing awareness about health benefits of coconut are driving growth of coconut-based baking food, snacks and beverages: Coconut water, coconut chips, coconut sugar, coconut pet treats, coconut flour and ube-filled coconut rolls.

Green Parenting - Parents are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of the baby products they buy. They are on the lookout for products made with biodegradable, compostable and reusable materials: Bamboo diapers and baby wipes; and biodegradable wipes. 

Innovations like these have contributed to the impressive performance of store brands. PLMA projects total U.S. store brand dollar sales for 2023 will reach $233 billion, an increase of about $4 billion over 2022, based on Circana data.

The power of private brands is reflected in significant increases in exhibitor participation at the Annual Private Label Trade Show. Nearly 600 exhibitors were new to show this year. 

The 2023 show was 20% larger than last year, resulting in an additional 435 exhibit booths. Non-food exhibitors alone have increased by 45%.  

There was a strong global presence: more than 45% of the exhibit floor was filled with food and nonfood suppliers from outside the U.S. About 760 specialty food and nonfood exhibitors from 60 countries are represented at the Show, including 40 country pavilions, such as Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Peru, Republic of Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom, among others. 

 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, and on social media:

Albertsons, Amazon, Giant Eagle, Walgreens, Walmart Are Among the Retailers Recognized for Store Brand Innovation

 CHICAGO (November 12, 2023) - Sweet potato pancake mix from Giant Eagle, cauliflower-crust pizza from Albertsons and potstickers from Amazon are among PLMA’s 2023 Salute to Excellence award winners for store brand innovation.

They join nearly 100 Salute to Excellence winners announced today at PLMA’s 2023 Private Label Trade Show here. Created in 1986, the annual 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.

This year, close to 750 product entries were submitted by 53 North American retailers.

“PLMA is thrilled to celebrate the winning retailers for their commitment to store brand product and packaging excellence,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies. “From innovations in flavors and ingredients to vitamin-enriched health and wellness products, the Salute to Excellence award winners underscore the important role of store brands.”

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.

Among the winners:

Gluten-Free Goodness:

 - Open Nature® Cauliflower Crust Garlic Chicken Alfredo Pizza from Albertsons Companies

- Nice!® Gluten-Free Vanilla Crème Cookies, Walgreens

Specialty Sauces, Rubs and Condiments:

 - Lowes Foods Premium Brown Bag “Truffle Your Feathers” Black Garlic Truffle Sauce, Lowes Foods

 - Great Value™ Blood Orange Balsamic Glaze with Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, Walmart Inc

- Bowl & Basket Specialty™ Smokey Candied Bacon Sriracha Rub, Wakefern Food Corp.

Fancy Breakfast Foods:

- Nature's Basket™ Sweet Potato Pancake and Waffle Mix, Giant Eagle

- Irresistibles Pina Colada-Flavoured Muffins, Metro Richelieu Inc.

- Thrive Market™ Organic Infused Maple Syrup, Warm Pumpkin Spice, Thrive Market

- Good & Gather™ Blueberry Muffins with Zucchini and Oats, Target

Global Tastes:

- Aplenty Asian-Style Chicken and Vegetable Potstickers, Amazon

- Yesway® Chamoy Chili Peach Rings (candy), Yesway Convenience Stores

- SE Grocers Naturally Better Organic Mexican-Style Street Corn-Flavored Corn Chips, Southeastern Grocers

- Crav’n Flavor™ Single-Serve Miso Chicken Ramen Soup Bowl, Topco Associates LLC

Wellness Cleanses/Powders:

- Sprouts Farmers Market® Regenerative Organic Liver Cleanse, Sprouts Farmers Market

- 365 by Whole Foods Market Effervescent Vitamin C Powder, Kiwi-Strawberry, Whole Foods Market

The winning products are on display at PLMA’s 2023 “THE STORE BRANDS PHENOMENON” Private Label Trade Show, which opened today and runs through Nov. 14 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. The full list of winners can be viewed at www.plmawinners.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, and on social media:

Authentic Specialty Products from 50 Countries at PLMA’s 2023 Private Label Trade Show, Nov. 12-14 in Chicago

NEW YORK (September 14, 2023) – At a time when consumers are on the hunt for authentic global foods, flavors and ingredients, 45% of the exhibit floor at PLMA’s 2023 Private Label Trade Show will be filled with companies from outside the U.S.

More than 700 specialty food and nonfood exhibitors from nearly 60 countries in Europe, South America and Asia will be featured in over 30 national pavilions and elsewhere on the show floor at the largest event for store brands in North America, November 12-14 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago.

“The 2023 Private Label Trade Show will reflect the rise in popularity of international cuisine by including an expanded assortment of ethnic foods, beverages, wine, confections and nonfoods,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies.

New pavilions this year include Belgium (Wallonia Region),Brazil, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, South Korea, Thailand, Ukraine and the U.K.

They join expanded pavilions for Canada, Italy, France, Australia, Turkey and Serbia, along with pavilions for Belgium (Flanders region), Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Greece, Guatemala, Israel, Jordan, Peru, South Africa and Spain.

Among products on display:

• Wines from South Africa
• Flavored liqueurs from Portugal
• Frozen and refrigerated meals
• Belgian chocolates
• Fruits from Chile
• Rice from Thailand and Brazil
• Greek olives and more

In addition to food and beverages, a large number of international nonfoods will be showcased. In fact, the international presence of nonfoods at the show has grown by 75% over last year. This includes cookware from Italy; beauty and cosmetic products from South Korea; laundry detergents from Turkey; skincare from Spain, and household wipes from China.

The focus on international products comes at a time when retailers are expanding their ethnic private brand product lines. Among the examples: Hy-Vee has a full line of authentic Italian pasta, sauce, oils and other products under the Gustare Vita private brand, while Lidl sells authentic Belgian chocolate as part of its Preferred Selection line. And Aldi has launched new Specially Selected wines from Argentina, Italy, France, New Zealand and Spain.

Along with authentic international products, PLMA’s 2023 "THE STORE BRANDS PHENOMENON” Private Label Trade Show will feature dozens of other product categories, including wine and spirits; baby care essentials; shelf-stable groceries; plant-based foods, beverages; fresh, frozen and refrigerated products; organics; foodservice products; beauty and cosmetics; pet care; personal and self-care; household and laundry; OTC pharmaceuticals; vitamins and supplements; paper and plastics; kitchenware and general merchandise.

This year’s show will have more than 1,600 exhibitors, a record number, and 5,000 attendees.

For more information on "THE STORE BRANDS PHENOMENON" trade show, contact PLMA at +1 212 972-3131, email info@plma.com or visit www.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, and on social media: