Nonfoods to be highlight at PLMA trade show

PLMA's sold-out 2022 Private Label Trade Show, Nov. 13-15 in Chicago, will have a strong exhibitor presence of nonfood suppliers of everyday essentials, such as OTC medicine, baby care, personal care, health and wellness, pet care and household goods, among others. 

More than 500 booths devoted to nonfoods will be on display at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. The South Hall of the venue will be dedicated to nonfood products. 

Retail buyers are eager to walk the floor and find new products to meet their shoppers’ needs.

"Private brands at Weis Markets are more important than ever,” said John Evans, Director of Private Brands, HBC, GM, and Non-Foods at Weis Markets, a Sunbury, Pa.-based Mid-Atlantic retailer. “With inflation at 40-year highs and prices continuing to rise, our brands are able to help customers take care of their families with great quality products at affordable prices." 

The Private Label Trade Show is the ideal opportunity to discover innovation from existing and new vendors, added Evans. 

“It is great to be back in-person, as our private brands are in a great position to grow share," said Evans.

The Private Label Trade Show is the largest event for store brands in North America, featuring nearly 1,400 exhibitors and nearly 2,300 exhibit booths. 

Christine Heffernan, SVP, Sourcing & Supply Chain at Topco Associates LLC, Elk Grove Village, Ill., said her company looks forward to attending the show and meeting in-person with existing and new suppliers. Heffernan represents Topco’s Center Store private brand sourcing program.

“Like many in the industry, we haven’t been able to meet all of the demand our members have been ordering from our current suppliers,” she explained. "So, this is a great opportunity to seek out additional suppliers to fill that void. Quality of product is a key element for a successful private brand program. If I find something I like, I ensure my team stops at the booth to have a conversation about the company's capabilities."

Themed “Consumers Are Back in Charge,” the show will feature the latest innovations from exhibitors around the world. 

Featured nonfood categories include OTC Medicine, Baby Care, Personal Care, Health and Wellness, Pet Care and Household Goods, Vitamins & Supplements, Hair Care, Cosmetics & Fragrances, Beauty & Grooming, First Aid, Household Cleaners, Paper & Tissue Products, Wet Wipes, Kitchenware and General Merchandise. The nonfood exhibitors range from small start-up companies to well-established multinational firms.

"Retailers know that, to help them cope with inflation, their consumers are not only turning to store brand food products, but also private brand nonfood items," noted Peggy Davies, PLMA President.

Along with nonfoods, categories also include shelf-stable groceries; beverages; fresh, frozen and refrigerated products; organic; foodservice; health and wellness; and much more. 

The show will have dedicated areas for wine and spirits, plant-based meats and entrees, hemp-derived CBD products, and nonfoods.

For additional show information, visit plma.com.

About PLMA:  

The Private Label Manufacturers Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1979 to promote the store brands industry. It is the only trade group of its kind, representing 3,800 member companies in more than 75 countries. In addition to annual, industry-defining trade shows in Chicago and Amsterdam, PLMA offers its members the annual Leadership conference, executive education and professional development programs, original consumer and market research, as well as digital media platforms, including exclusive news coverage from PLMA Live and the e-Scanner industry newsletter. Follow PLMA on plma.com, Twitter and LinkedIn.