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

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"

PLMA’s Lunch and Learn September Speakers Announced

Generative AI. Digital marketing. Tariffs. PLMA gets down to post-Labor Day business with a three-pack of live, online Lunch and Learn programs at 12:30 PM ET on successive Thursdays -- September 11, 18, 25 -- that focus on the hottest issues facing the retail industry.

The sessions are:
Sep 11: Prompts, Plans, & Practical Uses for GenAl in CPG
Theo Schweitz, CEO, Drive Wheel Peer Groups, explores how generative AI is quickly becoming a powerful tool for sales, operations, and executive teams in the CPG industry. He'll cover real-world uses from crafting sharp emails to expediting research and drafting a POV. Attendees will learn specific prompts, smart frameworks, and a clear understanding of how to integrate GenAI into daily workflow with no technical background required.

Sep 18: Beyond Price: Elevating Private Brands in a Digital-First Marketplace
Parag Shah, Co-Founder and Partner, Think Blue; and Doug Baker, VP of Industry Relations, FMI, draw on insights from NielsenIQ’s Omnisales and Omnishopper data and shop-alongs with college students. They explore the evolving role of private brands as a strategic growth engine in retailing as well as how digital commerce is reshaping consumer behavior and unlocking opportunities for private label growth. The program provides takeaways for retailers and suppliers to move beyond transactional models and embrace transformational strategies that integrate digital infrastructure, retail media, and cross-functional accountability.

Sep 25: The Evolving Tariff Landscape/Update
Maria Pearman, CPA, Advisory Partner and a Food and Beverage Practice Leader, GHJ, updates on how the rollercoaster of tariff policy changes continues with U.S. businesses on the receiving end. As the rulemaking evolves, what can be done today to future-proof your company from the impacts of tariffs? This program covers practical operational changes that can be made today, and longer-term adjustments that can mitigate the risks of tariff volatility.

PLMA's Lunch and Learn suite of online professional development programs are offered throughout the year and designed for individuals involved in all aspects of the store brands industry.

Click here for more information.

Attracting and Engaging Tomorrow’s Workforce

For private label organizations, attracting the Next Gen workforce is an investment in the future of their businesses.

To help in this effort, PLMA hosts the University Outreach program at its annual Private Label Trade Show, held each November in Chicago. This year’s University Outreach program runs from Nov. 15-18.

By engaging with college students, businesses can identify potential hires and build a positive employer brand.

The mission of the program is to position the store brands industry as a potential career choice for college students once they graduate.

Students gain valuable insights into retail operations and private brand development. They participate in classroom instruction, store tours and mentorship opportunities, culminating in a chance to interact with industry professionals at PLMA’s 2025 Private Label Trade Show, Nov. 16-18.

What makes University Outreach so unique is that it connects each enrolled student one-on-one with both retail buyers and manufacturers exhibiting at the show.

One former student participant said: "I went into it without knowing much about private label. I did not understand how large the event would be or how retailers procure their products. It was cool to see that they buy products from many sources, which as a consumer you do not always understand."

Since its inception in 2016, more than 200 students and 20 universities have participated in the program.
This year’s University participants include:

Baruch College
Cal Poly
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Niagara University
St. Joseph’s University
Texas A&M
Tuskegee University
University of Georgia
University of Arkansas
University of Arizona
University of Florida
University of Mississippi
Western Michigan University

One college advisor said the program has been a coveted experience for students.

"Several have described it as transformative,” said the advisor, noting that some students who have graduated from the program have been subsequently hired by major companies like Clorox, Daymon, Rich Products, Rosina, Wegmans, Weis and Tops.

In the coming weeks, retailers may be approached to mentor a student for two hours on the show floor on November 18. If you are contacted and able to participate, PLMA, the students and their advisors would greatly appreciate your support.

For more information about the program, email unireach@plma.com.

Live Online PLMA Program Focuses on Enterprise Selling

PLMA is forming the next session of Mastering Enterprise Sales, a live, online, custom-curated, 12-week coaching cohort program, September 8-November 28, designed to teach executives of private brand manufacturers how to strengthen their relationship with key retail decision-makers.

Students develop a strategic sales plan to fit targeted partners, leverage data and market insights to build value propositions that resonate with chains, master complex buying organizations, and implement a sales process that cultivates growth.

SalesStar customized the curriculum for executive leaders and sales directors of private brand manufacturers and their teams.

Weekly classes are led by a high-performance coach and include live instruction and on-demand learning. Coursework demonstrates specific competency and skill sets essential to mastering enterprise selling.

As one graduate said, "We explored buyer pain points and learned how to sell better in an increasingly commoditized world."

Click here for more information.

Store Brand Beauty Business is Booming

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: press@plma.com

Store Brand Beauty Business is Booming

Skin care, hair care, fragrances are among thousands of products on exhibit at
PLMA’s 2025 “Store Brands Marketplace” Private Label Trade Show, Nov. 16-18

NEW YORK (August 5, 2025) - Private label beauty product sales are radiant, reaching $3.8 billion in sales in all outlets last year, a 4% increase from the previous year, according to PLMA’s Circana Unify+ data.
Store brand sales growth has continued well into this year. Dollar sales of women’s fragrances soared 53% to $161.8 million and units climbed 40% for the 52 weeks ending July 13 vs year-ago sales. For the same period, hair conditioner dollar sales jumped 81% to $44.3 million, while units grew 30%; and bath fragrances/bubble bath, +21% in dollars to $33.7 million, +32% in units. Skin care is up 7% in dollar sales to $288.5 million, while units moved +0.3%.

Lotions, oils, skin care products, fragrances, haircare, men’s grooming and many other new and trending nonfood categories will join thousands of foods, beverages and wine & spirts on display at PLMA’s 2025 “Store Brands Marketplace” Private Label Trade Show, Nov. 16-18 in Chicago. Registration is open at storebrandsmarketplace.com.

The Show will feature 35,000+ products, 3,100 booths, and 2,000 exhibitors from 65 countries, making it the largest event of its kind.

“Beyond food and beverages, visitors will see an exciting lineup of nonfood offerings at the Show, ranging from vitamins to kitchenware,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies.

Store brand HBC products are rising in popularity as shoppers seek out high-quality, convenient, innovative products at a reasonable cost. Examples of store brands include the new Real Root line by Sprouts, which includes premium body care, hair care and personal care items.

Also on the Show floor: Self-Care & Wellness products like facial masks, fragrances, suncare and essential oils to in-home spa products and much more.

Likewise, dietary supplements - vitamins, minerals, botanicals and probiotics - are more popular than ever. New store brands in this space include California Gold Nutrition hair multivitamins from online wellness retailer iHerb; and Premier Collagen beauty supplement line from GNC.

In other areas of nonfoods, there will be a focus on essentials like OTC medicine, skin and sun care, school and office supplies, baby food and accessories, kitchenware, household goods, general merchandise, first aid, nail care and much more.

And there will be plenty of products for Fido: Pet food, treats and accessories will be on display for our furry friends and other pets. New store brands in the pet department include Pure Wonder by Best Choice from AWG Brands, the private brands program of Associated Wholesale Grocers. The line includes food and essentials for dogs, cats, and birds.

CLICK HERE or visit storebrandsmarketplace.com for information about the Show.

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 5,200 member companies worldwide. In addition to the Annual Private Label Trade Show in Chicago and World of Private Label International Trade Show in Amsterdam, PLMA provides annual conferences, executive education and professional development opportunities. An advocate for the industry, PLMA created Store Brands Month, a nationwide collaboration of retailers, wholesalers, and private label suppliers, promoting store brand products to the country's grocery shoppers. The month-long event focuses on increasing consumer attention to the quality, value and innovation of store brand products across all categories within brick and mortar and online retail formats. For more information, visit plma.com, plmainternational.com, and follow PLMA:

First-Half 2025 Private Label Report: Sales Rise 4.4% in All Retail Outlets

NEW YORK (July 22, 2025) - For the six months ending June 15, private label dollar sales increased 4.4% in all outlets vs the same period last year, compared to an only 1.1% gain for national brands, according to Circana data provided exclusively to PLMA. In unit sales, store brands posted a 0.4% increase, while national brands fell 0.6%.

“It’s exciting to see store brands continue on a strong trajectory this year,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies. “Shoppers are clearly recognizing the unbeatable combination of quality, value, and innovation that store brands bring to the table.”

Overall, store brand market share for the first half of the year increased to 21.2% for dollars and 23.2% for units, both all-time highs.

Looking at departments, store brand dollar sales for the 52 weeks ending June 15 increased in seven of nine sections, led by Refrigerated, which was up 13%, followed by Beverages, (+4.8%), Frozen (+3.8%), General Food (+2.5%), Pet Care (+2%), Home Care (+1.4%), and Beauty (+1.1%). General Merchandise (-0.4%) and Health (-0.1%) were down.

In unit sales, store brands were ahead in all but one department, with Beverages (+4.2%) showing the way, followed by Home Care (+3.4%), Pet Care (+3.3%), Frozen (+2.1%), Refrigerated (+1.3%), General Food (+1.2%), Beauty (+0.4%), and Health (+0.3%). Only General Merchandise (-2.5%) was off.

PLMA projects total store brand sales for 2025 will approach $277 billion; in 2024, the figure was $271 billion, a record.

“Now is the time to lean in,” Davies said, adding that PLMA strongly encourages participation in PLMA’s Private Label Trade Show in November, as well as its online and in-person programs - like PLMA Live! presents Lunch and Learn, the Executive Education curriculum, and its unique Mastering Enterprise Sales program. Registration is now open for Executive Education and Mastering Enterprise Sales. Registration will open soon for PLMA's Meet the Retailers online speaker series. In October, speakers include Subject Matter Experts from AWG, Misfits Market and Thrive Market, with more to come.

“And with Store Brands Month coming again this January and the 2026 Leadership Conference in Bentonville on the horizon, the opportunities to connect, learn, and lead have never been more essential,” Davies said.

CLICK HERE to watch the PLMA Live! news report about First Half 2025 sales trends.

About PLMA

Step Into the ‘Store Brands Marketplace’ at PLMA’s 2025 Private Label Trade Show

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: press@plma.com

Step Into the ‘Store Brands Marketplace’ at PLMA’s 2025 Private Label Trade Show

Registration is open for PLMA’s Annual Private Label Trade Show, Nov. 16-18, Chicago

NEW YORK (July 17, 2025) - Registration is open for PLMA’s 2025 “Store Brands Marketplace” Private Label Trade Show, Nov. 16-18 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago.

CLICK HERE or visit plma.com for information about the Show.

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.

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 Private Label Trade Show will be an incredible hub of new products, ideas, innovation and connections,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies. “This is the premier event for the private label industry, uniting professionals from across the U.S. and around the globe to shape the future of store brands.”

The Show draws a broad range of retail formats, including major supermarkets, supercenters, drug chains, wholesale clubs, dollar stores, specialty stores, mass merchandisers, online retailers, and convenience stores/travel stops.

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 on 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.

About PLMA