WASHINGTON -- For its annual convention next year, the Food Marketing Institute here plans to double the size of its private-label exhibit to more than 12,000 square feet.
Nearly twice as many companies are expected to participate in the display area, to be called the Private Label Center. "We're projecting 30 exhibitors. There were 16 in 1995," said Edie Clark, director of media relations at FMI.
The private-label exhibit made its debut at this year's convention, where it was called the Private Label Pavilion.
"We saw an overwhelming response by the exhibitors and the supermarket community attending the convention this year," Clark said. "With the greater interest in the store-brand categories, we think that this [private-label] center is really going to help retailers and wholesalers further increase customer loyalty to store brands as well as provide value to consumers."
Last year total private-label dollar volume in supermarkets increased 3.1% to an all-time high of $31 billion, according to the Private Label Manufacturers Association, New York.
The FMI trade show, the International Supermarket Industry Convention and Educational Exposition, will be held May 5 to 8 at McCormick Place in Chicago. It will cover a total of 1 million square feet and is expected to draw about 34,000 attendees.