PLMA trade show shines a light on UK upper tiers

Gone are the days when own label was just a cheaper, poorer-quality version of brands. Own-label prices are now higher than brands in four sectors (ready meals, light bulbs, snacks and cheese), up from three last year [IRI].

The shift is partly explained by deepening deals on brands, according to IRI. Another factor is the development of premium-tier ranges and improvements in the general quality of own label, says Private Label Manufacturers Association president Brian Sharoff.

“The assortment goes up, the quality goes up, the price goes up,” he says, adding that premiumisation of UK own label will be a key talking point at the PLMA’s World of Private Label Show in Amsterdam next month.

UK players will be drawing the crowds during the show, he predicts. “The UK is so far ahead of everyone else,” he says. “Things that may seem to be taken for granted in the UK are not necessarily being done elsewhere.”

With more than 10,000 visitors from more than 100 countries expected to descend on the RAI Exhibition Centre for this year’s show, UK exhibitors will have the chance to share their expertise and win new business in less developed own-label markets overseas.

The show will bring together nearly 4,000 exhibitors and feature more than 50 national and regional pavilions in which the latest developments in a range of categories - from health & beauty and household to drinks, fresh and frozen food - will be showcased.

Prior to the event, visitors will be able to take advantage of a packed seminar programme and during the show they’ll be able to visit the PLMA’s Ideas supermarket, a mocked-up store stocked with own-label lines from across the world, and the New Product Expo, showing exhibitors’ NPD.

For more information about the show and the PLMA, log on to plmainternational.com.