The growing importance of private label for retailers as online shopping becomes more popular will be in the spotlight at PLMA’s 2019 “World of Private Label” which will take place 21-22 May at the RAI Exhibition Center.

The quality and innovation in retailer brands will be on display with the announcement of PLMA’s 2019 International Salute to Excellence Awards. The Awards, which honour retailers for excellence in private label products and packaging introduced within the past year, will be announced at the pre-show seminar programme on Monday 20 May at the RAI Center.

This year’s International Salute to Excellence Awards enjoyed record numbers once again during judging in early April at the Amsterdam Hilton. In total, 519 products were reviewed compared to 430 in 2018. Food products increased to 363 vs. 308 and Non-Food increased to 156 from 122. There were 45 Food Categories and 19 Non-Food. More than 88 retailers from 23 countries participated.

Judges noted a marked increase in the number of sustainable, household goods entered. In food, retailer entries featured Gourmet, Luxury, Premium as well as Ethnic Tastes. The most unusual product, by far, was from Migros. Their own brand of edible crickets and insects was, let’s say, a standout.

In wine, the number of entries necessitated the need for a third panel of judges. Each panel was led by a Master of Wine and included international professionals and journalists, including David McIntyre, Wine Columnist from the Washington Post and Jeff Siegel, The Wine Curmudgeon.

25 Categroies included 350 wines, from 40 retailers, in 11 countries. Of them, 40 were winners in either Best Quality or Best Value and 5 received both.

Following the International Salute to Excellence Awards, two seminar presentations will focus on the changing retail marketplace:

PRESENTATION 2
The Future of Traditional Retailers
New strategies for bricks-and-mortar retailers and their suppliers to succeed against online competitors.
Speaker: Ben Miller, Global Insight Director, IGD

PRESENTATION 3
Beyond China
Alibaba’s new retail concept could change the way retailers sell to consumers.
Speaker: Lidia Palubina, Senior Consultant Ecommerce and Omnichannel, Kantar Consulting

The trade show floor opens 21 May. The event will feature nearly 2,700 exhibiting companies from around 70 countries, including nearly 60 national and regional pavilions. It is expected that the trade show will attract more than 16,000 visitors from 120 countries.

A special trade show attraction is PLMA’s Idea Supermarket, where visitors can see displays of the products from retailers around the world as well as the products recognised in PLMA’s 2019 International Salute to Excellence Awards.

Nearby is PLMA’s New Product Expo, displaying more than 600 products presented for the first time on the trade show floor.

Products displayed on the exhibition floor include fresh, frozen and refrigerated foods, dry grocery, and beverages as well as non-food categories, including cosmetics, health and beauty, household and kitchen, auto aftercare, garden, and housewares and DIY. Featured on the trade show floor are national and regional pavilions, promoting their countries and spotlighting the products they make.

PLMA’s 2019 “World of Private Label” International Trade Show at a Glance

Organiser:
Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA), www.plmainternational.com

Members:
4,400 manufacturers and suppliers from 70 countries

Show Venue:
RAI Exhibition Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Show Dates:
Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 May 2019, pre-show seminars 20 May afternoon

Show Opening Hours:
from 09.00 to 18.30 hrs (Wednesday until 16.30 hrs)

Exhibitor Profile:
Manufacturers and suppliers of private label FMCG food and non-food products from more than 70 countries.

Pavilions:
Nearly 60 national and regional pavilions will be presenting their products, with new pavilions from Israel, Dubai, Egypt, Latvia, Canada and South Africa.

Number of Exhibiting Companies:
Nearly 2.700

Visitor Profiles:
More than 16,000 trade professionals from 120 countries, including retailers representing supermarkets, hypermarkets, discounters, drugstores and department stores, as well as importers and exporters, manufacturers, consultants, sales agents and packaging & design experts.

Halls:
The exhibition area covers 14 exhibit halls in the RAI, divided over two main complexes. The Europa Complex is devoted to food products, the Holland Complex has exhibitors displaying non-food products, Park Complex accommodates both food and non-food exhibitors.

Next Year’s Dates: 26-27 May 2020

Remaining 2019 Events

PLMA’s 2019 Private Label Trade Show
Chicago – USA: 17 – 19 November 2019

Shanghai Private Label Fair
China: 10 – 12 December 2019