PLMA e-scanner October 10, 2026

The global footprint of PLMA's Private Label Trade Show continues to grow, with exhibitors from more than 60 countries and regions set to participate this year.

Nearly 50 international pavilions will bring together suppliers from around the world, offering buyers an opportunity to explore a diverse range of products, categories, and private label opportunities under one roof.

"You know have had a very successful PLMA show when you just walked through 60 countries and you got out with a passport full of contacts, ideas, and networks that you did not have when you walked in," said Enriketa Beluli, PLMA’s Senior Manager of Exhibitor Relations and International Pavilions.

In a special news report, Beluli and other top PLMA officials share the latest details about the Show. Watch here:

Click here to register. 

Increased demand for convenient meal options at home continues to have a positive effect on private label frozen food sales.

Among other frozen food categories posting impressive sales growth, dollar sales of prepared vegetables soared 43%, while unit sales climbed 33% for the 52 weeks ending September 6 vs. the same period the previous year, according to the Unify+ market data platform from Circana/PLMA.

Additionally, dollar sales of frozen side dishes rose 22%, while unit sales increased 14%.

Click here to access Unify+.

The pet category is witnessing rising store brand sales.

Among departments tracked by Circana, Pet Care has experienced strong unit sales growth, climbing 4.5% in all outlets for the 52 weeks ending August 9, while dollar sales grew 3.4% for the same period.

Retailers are offering innovative store brand products to meet the needs of pet owners, such as Chewy’s Get Real dog food line, which features human grade meals made with 10 ingredients or less.

More than 900 products were nominated this year for PLMA's 2026 Salute to Excellence Awards®. This renowned industry-wide competition celebrates store brand innovation and excellence.

The winners will be announced soon and will be on display at PLMA’s 2026 “Store Brands Marketplace” Private Label Trade Show next month.

In exclusive interviews, judges commended the nominees for flavor, packaging and other innovations.

Nearly eight in 10 U.S. personal care shoppers purchased at least one store brand product during the past six months. Yet store brands reach only about one-third of the personal care categories these shoppers buy, revealing significant room for growth.

PLMA’s inaugural Shopper Intelligence study surveyed 1,501 shoppers across 14 categories. Among the findings:

• Store brand trial was highest in first aid at 64%, followed by incontinence at 47% and body wash, soap and bath at 35%.
• Performance was the leading trial motivator: 64% said store brands perform as well as national brands, compared with 42% citing lower price.

The study also explores where shoppers hesitate, what could encourage trial and which category relationships may support broader adoption.

The findings debuted during PLMA’s October 1 Lunch and Learn. Click here to view the presentation. The Show’s Opening Seminars in November will provide an overview of topline results and expand on their managerial implications.

In a challenging retail environment where American consumers are carefully scrutinizing their grocery purchases, store brands outperformed national brands in unit sales over the first nine months of the year by a full percentage point - up 0.2% for store brands vs down 0.8% for national brands.

Store brand unit sales increased in five of the nine reporting periods so far this year, according to Circana, PLMA's exclusive provider of sales data, and outpaced national brands in seven of the nine. As a result of this steady performance, store brand unit share has risen to 23.6%, a new record.

Generative AI is rapidly becoming part of the shopper journey, with 34% of shoppers using AI tools to shop and nearly half of Gen Z shoppers influenced by AI in recent purchase decisions, according to a new Acosta Group study.

“Success requires brands to build new or elevated pathways for their products to be understood, recommended, compared and selected by any AI,” said John Carroll, president of Connected Commerce for Acosta Group.

Gen AI has moved into the mainstream, garnering broad use by Gen Z and millennial shoppers (74%), and a fast-rising 45% of boomers. ChatGPT and Google Gemini are shoppers’ preferred tools, with Gemini already routinely used by 25% of shoppers when searching online for products.

How grocery shoppers perceive value at Costco vs Aldi shifts significantly based on generation according to YouGov BrandIndex, a brand and competitor tracking tool.

Costco was named the overall No. 1 retailer for value for money wins the with a net score of 38 among U.S. adults, while Aldi had a score of 35.

Gen Z posted the greatest gap between the two retail brands. Between January and August 2026, Costco recorded a Value score of 44 among Gen Z adults, compared with 32 for Aldi – a 12-point difference in net score.

Ethnic simmer sauces provide quick-and-easy way to bring global flavors to life. Kowalski’s Markets has a full line of Indian store brand simmer sauces: Korma Simmer Sauce, Tikka Masala, Tandori Grill Sauce and Vindaloo Marinade.

Stay ahead of the issues that matter. PLMA's PolicyWatch® Newsletter covers the latest government, legislative, and regulatory developments affecting the U.S. store brands industry. PLMA has announced that PolicyWatch® is now a registered trademark in the United States.

Read PolicyWatch®

Retailers are celebrating the fall season with an array of pumpkin spice private label products. Among the offerings:

• From H-E-B: Pumpkin Spice granola.
• From Price Chopper: Pumpkin Spice Whipped Topping.
• From Target:  Harvest Pumpkin Spice Mini Cupcakes and Frozen Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream Bites.

"Our goal is to simplify and enhance our customers’ grocery shopping experiences while also bringing them extraordinary quality at an affordable price."

- Tim Horton, Vice President of Center Store, Schnuck Markets, said about the launch of Culinaria Italian Table - a private label line of super-premium, authentic Italian culinary products now available to customers at all Schnucks stores. Sourced directly from Italy, the line includes more than 40 different products spanning pastas, sauces, olive oils, and vinegars with more to follow.

Store brands make fall baking easy. Find out what's on the shelves at Dollar General, Price Chopper, Safeway, Stop & Shop and Wegmans.

Watch our report here:

Jennifer Linke Named VP, Association Relations

Jennifer Linke has been appointed as Vice President, Association Relations, a newly created executive leadership position.

In this role, Linke will lead PLMA’s member and retailer engagement, marketing and communications, and programs and events, with a focus on strengthening industry collaboration and expanding the year-round value PLMA delivers to its members.