PLMA e-scanner July 12, 2025

Welcome to PLMA’s e-scanner newsletter – News, Insights, Inspiration and Happenings

By Carol Angrisani, Editor and PLMA Content Producer

Store Brands Month
NEWS ROUNDUP
Private Label Sales Up 4.4% in First Half of 2025

For the six months ending June 15, dollar sales of private label products increased 4.4% vs the same period a year ago, vs only a 1.1% gain for national brands, according to just-released six-month data from Circana and PLMA.

Private label dollar share of the market is 21.2%, which represents total store brand sales of $128 billion halfway through the year.

In unit sales, store brands posted a 0.4% increase while national brands fell 0.6%.

Private label unit share is at 23.2%. This represents growth over the last few years. Unit share was 20.5% two years ago and rose to 22.9% last year.

The biggest climbers in dollar sales for the 12 weeks ending June 15 were Refrigerated Foods (+10.6%), Frozen Foods (+ 2%) Beverages (+4 %), Pet Care (+2%) and Beauty (+ 1.6%).

In unit sales, store brands were up in eight of the nine departments over the past 52 weeks.

What Not to Miss at PLMA’s Annual Private Label Trade Show

Visitors will step into the “‘Store Brands Marketplace” at PLMA’s 2025 Private Label Trade Show, Nov. 16-18 in Chicago.

The Show is set to be the largest event of its kind, bringing together thousands of innovative store brand products and solutions under one roof. From food and beverages to health, beauty, and household goods, the Show spans a wide range of categories - including wine & spirits, refrigerated and frozen foods, sustainable packaging, functional beverages, self-care and wellness, snack items, baby products, pet care, kitchenware, convenience foods and grab-and-go items, and much more.

Click here for registration information.

Some 2,000 exhibitors from 65 countries are expected to participate, making this a must-attend event for anyone involved in the private label industry. This year’s theme - “Store Brands Marketplace” - reflects an industry that is increasingly collaborative, innovative, and global.

The well-organized exhibition is divided into separate halls for food and beverage, and home and health. Exhibitors will showcase products with multi-generational appeal, such as sustainable packaging for Gen Z, functional beverages for Baby Boomers, ethnic-inspired offerings, as well as vegan, organic, and specialty products.

Attendees can gain high-value insights into vital industry developments during Sunday’s opening seminars, Monday’s keynote breakfast, and a retail trends breakfast that kicks off on the second day of the Show on Tuesday.

What’s more, attendees can experience product and packaging innovations first-hand by visiting the valuable on-site displays:

  • PLMA’s Idea Supermarket®, featuring the latest product and packaging trends from around the globe.
  • New Product Expo, a showcase of select product and packaging innovations from companies exhibiting at the show.
  • PLMA's 2025 Salute to Excellence Award® Winners, an exhibit of retailer food and non-food product innovations chosen as best private label product in their categories by industry and consumer judges.

To make the most of their time at the event, attendees can use the mobile-friendly Show Navigator - an essential tool offering an interactive map, a detailed exhibitor listing, information on PLMA’s New Product Expo, Idea Supermarket and much more.

“Store Brands Marketplace” reflects an industry coming together to engage in mutually beneficial commerce; discover new store brand products, packaging, and marketing concepts; learn from industry experts; and attend valuable networking events.

Category Update: Store Band Snacks Shine in C-Stores

Some of the largest snack categories in convenience stores are well-represented by store brands, including pretzels (35% private label share of all units sold) and pork rinds (16%), along with potato chips (6%) and snack nuts (5%). Store brand sales for the 52 weeks ending June 15 in popular snack sectors were potato chips ($95m), pretzels ($85m), pork rinds ($31m), and snack nuts ($29m).

Store brands are also big players in other c-store categories and departments. Store brands owned a 34% share of all products sold in the Refrigerated section and 19% of selections in Frozen, for the 52 weeks ending June 15, per Circana. Total store brand sales in those departments amounted to $1.5 billion.

Store brands also accounted for 6% of General Food items and 3% of Beverages sold in the channel, producing another $2.2 billion in revenue.

Travel stops and convenience stores are popular destinations for summer travelers in search of food, drinks and snacks. In our new PLMA Live! news report, we share details on the latest store brand offerings for summer travelers at Wawa, 7-Eleven, BP and Buc-ee's. Watch here:

Trend Alert: Seasonal Ice Cream Flavors

Shoppers are cooling off this summer with limited-time summer ice cream flavors. Kroger, for instance, has launched four limited-time selections:

- Italian Style Summer Fizz (blood orange sherbet with candy clusters)
- Fireside Nights (toasted marshmallow ice cream with s’mores bits and an orange swirl)
- Sandy Shores (coconut ice cream with sweet and salty pretzel crunch)
- Poolside Tan Lines (a blend of vanilla bean, chocolate, and coffee ice creams).
 

Ideas and Inspiration: Costco, D&W, Wegmans

-    Wegmans Food Markets’ “Seasoning Shak’rs” are shakable herbs and spices. Flavors include Cajun, Garlic Parmesan and Everything Bagel.

-    D&W Fresh Market’s Finest Reserve gourmet pizza sauces are imported from Italy. Varieties include Spicy Arrabbiata and Classic Napoli.

-    Costco has introduced Kirkland Signature™ Sonoma County Cabernet wine at select locations.

In Case You Missed It: The Evolving Tariff Landscape

Changing tariff policies were addressed in a recent PLMA webinar. Maria Pearman of GHJ discussed what can be done to future-proof businesses from the impact of ever-changing tariffs.

Watch here:
 

 

Events

Where do you go to learn about developing and marketing store brands? The answer for more than 1,900 graduates has been PLMA’s annual Executive Education Program.

Store Brands Month is a nationwide collaboration of retailers, wholesalers, and private label suppliers, promoting store brand products to the country's grocery shoppers.