Private Label Trade Show returns to Chicago

The Private Label Trade Show kicks off Sunday in Chicago, with a record number of more than 1,650 exhibitors this year, according to its organizer, the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA).

The trade show runs through Tuesday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

Demand for booth space was so high this year, organizers added an additional show hall to accommodate 20% more exhibitors than last year, the PLMA said, adding that non-food exhibitors have increased by more than 40%.

IGA President and CEO John Ross will present a keynote breakfast address Monday, discussing global economic trends in the grocery industry.

Other sessions will include presentations on the future of private-label food, consumer trends and more.

But the biggest draw of the annual show is the trade show floor, where private-label product representatives from everything from snack-makers to office products manufacturers will show their products, answer questions and make deals with buyers.

Private label’s popularity has soared as food prices have climbed in recent years. Store brands have grown into a $230 billion industry in the U.S., accounting for nearly 30% of all new dollar sales in the retail sector last year, according to the PLMA.

The trade show comes as private-label products continue to see significant growth at most food retailers, even as inflation moderates.

Related:Private label is huge right now. Here are the trendiest categories.

Forty-four percent of shoppers are buying more private brands than they did a year ago and 34% say they plan to buy more store brands in 2024, according to a new survey from private-brand development firm Daymon.

The report also found that 92% of consumers trust private brands as much or more than national labels, up three percentage points from Daymon’s 2021 study.

As they increase their consumption of store brands, consumers are especially interested in three things, Daymon found. They’re looking for health-focused foods and seek help in making healthier choices; they are interested in functional foods as well as diet-specific private-label offerings; and they are on the hunt for personalized, novel flavor experiences—especially when it comes to impulse purchases.

“More than three out of four shoppers have a positive perception of private brands that launch new flavors and limited-time offerings, with these respondents saying new flavors are exciting, contribute to their enjoyment of the in-store experience and even keep them coming back,” Daymon noted.