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By / Irene tortore lla

If you are looking to immerse yourself in truly unique, well-provided, traditional retail in Korea, look no further than E-mart, Homeplus and LotteMart. Korea’s three major discount chains offer everything from the ubiquitous soju (distilled beverage made from rice, usually drunk neat) to ready-to-cook heamultang (spicy seafood soup).

Their private label products represent more than 25% of sales and occupy prominent areas in the stores around the Korean peninsula. Lotte Chilsung Cider (the first soft drink produced in Korea in 1950 by the Dongbang Beverage Partnership) already topped Sprite and 7up sales, it’s now time to see if Korean colas will outpace the beloved Coca Cola in the near future.

I think E-mart cola, when consumed with green tea crust Korean pizza from Pizza Maru, tastes much better than Coke. I swear it’s true. I know you’re now asking yourself how an Italian can enjoy eating Korean pizza with corn, sweet potatoes and sweeter sauce, but, you know, pizza is always pizza especially if outside the crew hotel it’s minus 10 and you don’t fancy tteokbokki –incredibly spicy rice cakes – before your well deserved sleep. (The publisher strongly disagrees me with on this!)

For those looking for private label processed food, electronics, fashion items, baby products and ajumma brimmed hats for avoiding the sun during Korean summer there is no shortage of stock at E-mart stores. E-mart is absolutely a pioneer in private label retailing and has satisfied Korean customers (and now expats) since 1993.

Major supermarkets in U.S. such as Whole Foods, Walmart and Safeway have begun to stock Korean food products on their shelves, but I wonder why the global popularity and demand for them have grown so much. Is it just to satisfy the millions of Korean people abroad or because Korean food is healthy and tasty? Or because Korean food is healthy and tasty? Or perhaps it’s the Korean wave of popularity thanks to a certain singer? Few Koreans would ever want a meal without kimchi (fermented spicy cabbage based side dish). Startling to many foreigners at first but incredibly addictive once you get used to it, kimchi is full of more than 200 types of lactic acid bacteria, helping Koreans prevent high blood pressure and obesity for more than 2000 years.

My mother is 60 years old, attentive to skin care and my trusted doctor; she visited me in Seoul in 2010 and claimed that Korean women’s perfect skin secret was kimchi itself. Certainly South Korean Cosmetic private labels like Tony Moly, Missha, Nature Republic, Holika Holika and Skin Food played their own parts in this, providing good quality products at affordable prices.

Beans Box, a Korean brand dedicated to finding and sharing the world’s best coffee, is offering to the environmentally conscious in South Korea the opportunity to enjoy organic coffee and organic cosmetics at the same time. Each month the company selects a special coffee producer around the world and team that up with a organic cosmetics brand to provide four of its best products. In short, two of the Korean people’s favorite goods together make the perfect customer deal. Whilst stocks last.

By / Koen de Jong, Managing Director at International Private La bel Consult (IPLC)

Over the past two decades, private label food products have grown substantially in sales and often directly compete for market share with national brands. Competition between private labels and national brands within the store (intra-store competition) generates consumer welfare through lower overall prices and greater choice for shoppers in the supermarkets.

The average consumer does most of its shopping on auto-pilot. Statistics show that only 18% of shoppers have a list, meaning 82% of purchases are done from memory or prompted when in store. This makes it all the more important for a retailer to invest in attractive and consistent packaging design. Attractive to allow for effective competition with the national brands and consistent to navigate the consumer in his decision making when in the store thus reducing shopper stress. At ’the zero moment of truth’ when the product is about to be taken off the shelf, appealing pack design may be critically important.

More interesting is it to note that Private Label also has a strategic role in the competition between stores (inter-store competition). It allows the retailer to differentiate from other supermarkets as the assortment, prices, product quality and packaging can all be tailored to retailers’ specific needs, allowing them to offer something unique.

A while ago I met with a relatively small sized retailer in the Netherlands insisting on having a unique private label of its own. I argued that product volumes to be sourced would be very modest due to the limited number of stores. Therefore, buying conditions probably would appear to be unattractive making a launch not viable. I was surprised by his answer as he explained that although he realized buying prices would by considerably higher his company still wanted to move ahead as the overall objective was to have a unique private label range thus allowing for an independent pricing strategy of its own.

The opportunity to differentiate from the competition was considered of strategic importance for which he was willing to pay a price. We have supported this retailer as our client and launched a limited number of SKU’s in selected categories. With a packaging design carrying the store banner brand and in line with the store identity the products really stand out on the shelf and are easily recognized by the shopper. It is yet too early to evaluate but the first results seem to prove that this retailer is doing the right thing.

By / Yujun Qiu, Retail Analyst, Planet Retail Continue Reading

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26-27 February in London

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The Italian Trade Commission is pleased to feature the following production of 25 leading Italian manufacturers of private label products (food and non-food). learn more at www.italianprivatelabel.com.

Acetificio Varvello Since 1921

Booth: F1835
Contact: Leo Nucera, [email protected], www.acetovarvello.com

Aceticifio Varvello was the first vinegar manufacturer in Turin to capitalize on the winemaking tradition of the region. The basis of our quality lies in the blend of taste and knowledge: a combination that nowadays is refined in the biggest vinegar cellar in the world using timber vats where we produce aged wine vinegar such as Aceto Balsamico di Modena GPI, flowered vinegar, apple vinegar, dressing and balsamic glaze. Varvello produces and distributes under its own brand names “Aceto Reale” Varvello Gold & Red line. Our other great “house specialties” include an industrial supply and production of vinegar for third parties using their private labels.

Certifications: ISO, IFS, Organic, BRC, ISO 50001 and Energy Saving thanks to the production of renewable energy with a new photovoltaic installation. (By now more than 60% of its needs)

Agritalia

Booth: F2035
Contact: Leo Nucera, [email protected], www.agritalia.com

Pasta, olive oil and tomatoes are the pillars on which Agritalia was originally founded in 1987. The company then expanded to other categories, no less important, such as balsamic vinegar (aceto balsamico di Modena), gnocchi, rice, couscous, polenta, sauces and frozen products (pizzas and snacks). Agritalia is specialized in products that are Made in Italy, but we are also able to satisfy any request for products related to the entire Mediterranean area. In the US, Agritalia has achieved the following certifications: Bio/Organic, Kosher, Halal and NON-GMO.

Bertagni 1882

Booth:bF1922
Contact: Leo Nucera, [email protected], www.bertagni.it

Founded in 1882 in Bologna, Italy by Luigi Bertagni. Bertagni is the oldest filled pasta producer in Italy and today, as always, Bertagni products are made according to classic recipes of Italian regional cooking. Our products contain no artificial ingredients, and we use carefully selected, top quality cheeses, vegetables and made with 30% egg in the pasta. Bertagni packs for the most recognized Private Label brands, and we specialize in top tier private label products.

• BRC Approved – Higher Level
• IFS Approved – Higher Level
• Approved for US Armed Forces Procurement
• BIOs
• WCA

Bocon

Booth: F1927
Contact: Paola Moroni, [email protected], www.bocon.it

Bocon’s mission is to make people savor the real flavor of traditional Italian dishes. Our products are made following the original recipe, using carefully selected local raw materials, with no addition of glutamate, thickeners or artificial flavorings, blending the experience of home-made food with the needs of a healthy and modern diet. At Bocon, we like to see ourselves as cooking artisans, but with professional production facilities: state-of-the-art blast chillers and ovens, constantly updated freezing technology and meticulous quality controls. BRC, IFS and ISO 9001-2008 certifications. Bocon can quickly adapt to new production requirements, speeding up processes and switching easily from one product to the next without disrupting the productivity rate. For this reason, the production of comparatively small batches is not regarded as a big issue, but neither is that of very large orders.

Canuti Tradizione Italiana

Booth: F1736
Contact: Giovanni Toffano, [email protected], www.canuti.com

Producer of fresh frozen pasta, which includes filled pasta, short pasta, long pasta, oven ready lasagna, cannelloni and frozen gnocchi. Egg pasta (5 eggs per kg) made with wheat flour “00” and durumwheat semolina. Carefully selected raw materials, without the addition of food coloring or preservatives. All egg pasta is bronze wire drawn, which ensures the necessary characteristic roughness to perfectly absorb sauces and condiments. Certifications: UNI EN ISO 9001:2008, BRC Global Standards for Food Safety, IFS International Food Standard, compliance with HACCP Standards.

Clean Paper

Booth: H3305
Contact: Maria Grazia Salvadori, [email protected], www.cleanpaper.it

Founded in 1994, Clean Paper Srl is a young and dynamic company specialized in the production of pure cellulose pocket tissues. The factory is situated in Lucca, occupying a total area of 5000 sqm, where our offices, production area, raw materials and finished products’ warehouses are housed. Today, we have 3 pocket tissue production lines, a facial tissue machine as well as a line for the production of refreshing /detergent individually packed wet-wipes. Clean Paper’s principal objective has always been to offer highly specialized products of superior quality at all times. Significant research and investments have always been dictated by this primary concern.

Drogheria e Alimentari

Booth: F1936
Contact: Giacinto Carapelli, [email protected], www.drogheria.com

The original firm was founded in 1880 in Florence, Tuscany. Drogheria & Alimentari’s core business has always been the trade of spices and colonial products. The company is IFS, BRC, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, Kosher and SA 8000 certified. The HACCP system is operative since June 1998. Since 1880, D&A has selected and produced the most precious spices, herbs, salts and infused oils from all over the world – guaranteeing the highest standards of quality and safety of production and packaging.We have been satisfying and supporting customers for years in 60 countries worldwide. Drogheria & Alimentari’s Private Label System offers infinite possibilities to transform ideas into reality choosing from a variety of jars and colored caps of different materials.

F.B.F.

Booth: F1833
Contact: Luca Nava, [email protected], www.fbfspa.it

F.B.F. is a company within the Bauli Group, one of Italy’s leading companies in the snack sector and a leader in the production of naturally leavened pastry products. F.B.F. produces croissants, fagottini and trecce, as well as more recent specialties like sugar free croissants, sweet breads with chocolate and Fagottini with double layers. Together with the production of private labels, F.B.F., with the Casalini brand, offers itself on the market as an alternative for first price and quality.

FARMO

Booth: F2034
Contact: Andrea Giai, [email protected], www.farmo.com

FARMO Gluten Free Manufacturer operates 2 “fully dedicated” Gluten Free manufacturing plants in Italy, and is focused entirely on the development and production of Gluten Free food products (pasta of various blends, mixes and bakery products).

•  Mixes: Bread Mix, Pizza Mix, Cake Mix, Pasta Mix, Gnocchi Mix and Low Protein Mix
• Pasta: Short, Long Cuts and Corn & Rice
• Cookies: Butter, Chocolate Chip, Coconut and Dark Chocolate
• Cakes: Choco Muffin, Butter Cakes and Panettone
• Salty Snacks: Breadsticks and Crackers

Certifications: Gluten Free, GFCO, BRC, IFS, Organic, HACCP, Kosher and Fair Trade.

Fattorie Giacobazzi

Booth: F2027
Contact: Italo Verzellesi, [email protected], www.fattoriegiacobazzi.it

100% Organic NOP balsamic vinegar of Modena PGI, OU Kosher balsamic vinegar of Modena PGI, white balsamic condiment, balsamic vinegar of Modena PGI, organic balsamic sauce, flavored balsamic sauce and specialty vinegar. Certifications: IFS, BRC, CSQA, Bioagricert (Organic), USDA Organic, CERMET, Kosher and on request, Halal.

Firma Italia

Booth: F1935
Contact: Marcantonio Varinelli, [email protected], www.firmaitalia.it

Firma Italia produces a large range of dehydrated ready meals with typical Italian recipes: pasta, risotto, gnocchi, tortellini, soups, polenta, lasagna, and dry sauces. The Firma Italia production for recipes under own label or private labels, takes place in accordance with the EC laws that regulate the food market. The whole production process is certified BRC and IFS at higher level. Firma Italia exports over 70% of its production all over the world.

Fudex Group

Booth: F1836
Contact: Roberto Benadì, [email protected], www.fudex.com

With thirty years’ experience in the manufacture of extruded products, Fudex is the right partner for innovative, healthy and natural products under its customers’ brands. Our products are sold in Supermarkets, Healthy & Organic Shops, Vending Machines, Discount Stores, Drugstores, Pharmacies, etc. in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, UK, USA, Australia and many other markets. We have one production line 100% Gluten Free with dedicated warehouse, production and packaging line. Our facility, located in Torino (Northwestern Italy), is certified BRC, ISO14001, IFS, BIO 834, NOP for USA and COR for Canada.

Ghigi Industria Agroalimentare

Booth: F1933
Contact: Lino Laudiero, (703) 392-3744, www.ghigi.eu

The “Ghigi” plant was built in 1870 by an artisan baker, in a small village of Emilia Romagna, in Northern Italy. Overtime, after Barilla and De Cecco, it became the third largest pasta manufacturer in Italy. In 2008, after 137 years of business, the company was purchased by a consortium of 4200 farmers, who control the whole chain, from seed to the finished packet. The new plant was completed in June 2011, through an investment exceeding 50 million Euros. The automatic warehouse contains up to 7000 pallets, the production capacity is 80.000 tons of pasta/year. The modern plant lies in San Clemente, a small town 17km far from Rimini. The new plant and the mill (foreseen to be completed in 2014) cover an area of 100.000 square meters and will be fully compliant with HACCP and the main official Quality Standards.

Industrie Rolli Alimentari

Booth: F1734
Contact: Marco Principato, [email protected], www.rolli.it

Founded in 1958, the Rolli is a direct producer of an entire range of frozen vegetables, pizzas, snacks, ready meals, IQF stir fry pasta, rice and side dishes. Rolli has two plants, one is located in Roseto degli Abruzzi (Teramo) and the second is located in Noceto (Parma), which produces over 90,000 tons equaling 20% of the Italian production. Rolli also produces an organic and low calorie line. Certifications: ISO 50001, BRC, IFS and BIO.

Master Italian Potato Gnocchi

Booth: F2032
Contact: Alex Zanetti, [email protected], www.gnocchimaster.com

Master’s story originates from its founders’ passion for good cooking. Inspired by their genuine love for tradition, they created what has now become an important food manufacturing company producing fresh gnocchi. Master has made a name for itself on the domestic market, as well in the international market, thanks to the constant investments it makes in research and technology. Master utilizes cutting-edge systems that guarantee absolute quality and extend the shelf-life of the products with no additives or preservatives.

Certifications: UNI EN ISO 22000, BRC, IFS and ICEA.

Molino & Pastificio Tomasello

Booth: F1733
Contact: Peter Bonfanti, [email protected], www.pastatomasello.it

Molino & Pastificio Tomasello has been producing excellent durum wheat pasta grown under the Sicilian sun since 1910.

• Three production lines for short pasta
• Two production lines for long pasta
• One production line for coiled pasta Productive capacity per day: 160 tons.

Certificates: ISO 9001/2000, Kosher, and BRC, grade A. frozen top quality product from Italy

Nutkao

Booth: F2030
Contact: Tiziana Massarone, [email protected], www.nutkao.com

Nutkao S.r.l., founded in 1982 by Giuseppe Braida, produces cocoa and hazelnut spreads and semi-finished products for the sweet industry. The production factory is at Canove di Govone (province of Cuneo) in a modern building constructed in 2001. In 2012, Nutkao employed about 160 staff, with a turnover of about 100 million Euros, of which exports accounted for 45%. The company is an international leader in the production of spreads in the Private Label segment.
Certifications: ISO 9001:2000, ISO 22000, IFS version 6 and BRC version 6.

Pastificio F.Lli Cellino

Booth: F1735
Contact: Alessia Fois, [email protected], www.disardegna.it

The Cellino Group was founded in the 1960’s by Ercole Cellino. Modern milling systems ensure that the Group meets market demands with a yearly production capacity of 250,000 tons of durum and soft flour. Nowadays, the primary activities are still the processing and selling of flour, in which the Group excels by reason of volume and quality. Pastificio F.lli Cellino now produces 44 appreciated durum wheat normal shapes and 12 durum wheat bronze die shapes, each of them created to satisfy the most demanding palates. Our products and systems are GSFS (BRC Global Standard 5), IFS (International Food Standard) and ISO 9001:08 certified.

Pedon

Booth: F1930
Contact: Paolo Pedon, [email protected], www.pedon.it

Pedon S.p.A. is a well-established, Italian, family-run company involved in endprocessing, packing and distribution. Today, Pedon is present in all sales channels either with its own-brand products or private labels in grocery chains with more than 100 ranges corresponding to about 2,500 items. The company’s business areas are grains and legumes, conventional and organic as well as cakes and baked goods, dried mushrooms and gluten-free products.
Certifications: BRC ‘A grade’, IFS ‘Higher level’, Organic UE and USDA, Gluten-Free, PGI and KOSHER.

Ponzini

Booth: H3405
Contact: Pierluigi Prada, [email protected], www.ponzini.com

Founded in 1862, Ponzini S.p.A. can justly claim to be among the leading European manufacturers of brushes. This achievement can be largely attributed to the Company’s high Standards of technological know-how, consolidated experience and marketing skills. Over recent years, substantial investments have been made in the areas of research and development, implementation of the productive structure, quality control and human resources. This ambitious policy has permitted us to maximize production flexibility, while assuring quality, service and cost effectiveness. Particular attention is dedicated to the functionality and design.

Roncadin

Booth: F2022
Contact: Elisa Piccinin, [email protected], www.roncadin.it

Roncadin is the Italian leading manufacturer of high- quality frozen pizzas and snacks. Wood-fired and stone-baked products, 100% made in Italy with selected ingredients and an original patented process. Pizza production is entirely environmentally friendly. Certifications: Bio, NOP and BRC.

Tamma Industrie Alimentari Di Capitanata

Booth: F1924
Contact: Annamaria Tamma, [email protected], www.tamma.it

Tamma is proud of its century long pasta production history. We believe progress is truly positive only if it is capable of learning from the past and respecting its heritage. Our pasta, although produced with highly advanced and modern systems, has a unique and unmistakable taste: each bite wraps inside all of Tamma’s century long tradition of great tasting pasta. Special presses and a particular drying technology not only give it that special taste, but also a color and consistency that make it one of a kind. A taste, color and smell that will take you right back in time. Certifications: ISO, BRC, IFS, Kosher, Whole Grain Council.

Tonitto 1939

Booth: F1834
Contact: Thomas Cuberli, [email protected], www.tonitto.com

Tonitto has produced traditional Italian ice cream for three generations. Available in a variety of flavors and sizes, sorbets, soy ice cream, low calorie and sugar free ice cream product lines, either for food-service or for supermarket chains. We export to over 20 countries in Europe, Norway, Korea, etc. Tonitto’s ice creams & sorbets, made with first-quality ingredients of which Italian origin is guaranteed, are produced following the classical recipe and according to criterions of high quality allowing us to achieve BRC and IFS Certifications. No GMO, no hydrogenated fats and no artificial colors.

TOPAN

Booth: F1932
Contact: Elizabeth Garrity, [email protected], www.topan.it

TOPAN srl, based in Treviso in Northern Italy, is specialized in manufacturing value-added authentic Italian frozen & chilled foods for the foodservice, industrial manufacturing and retail sales channels. Our goal is to provide unique & healthy recipe solutions to the international market, without sacrificing flavor, nutrition and authenticity. Our products range from traditional Mediterranean savory veggies & sauces, gourmet sides & appetizers including Venetian stuffed polenta (plain or custom flavor fillings), ready-meals (risottos, soups) to products that have a more international feel including fritattas & scrambled eggs as well as dessert “granita” style milkshakes.

Valpizza

Booth: F1934
Contact: Patricia Preli, [email protected], www.valpizza.it

Valpizza has a production capacity of 60 million pieces per year with 2 Production lines and a production rate of 6,500 pcs/h on each line: total output 13,000 pcs/h. Our pizzas are baked on refractory stone in a wood-fired oven that uses state-of-the-art technology. The oven is automatically fed with 100% environment-friendly, certified and sanitized logs, all having the same size and weight, and are guaranteed of: hygiene, safety, reliability and a high quality finished product. We develop more than 300 projects a year for our customers! Our Certifications: USDA Organic, BRC, IFS, Halal, Kosher, JAS, BIO and NOP (Organic).

By / Phillip Russo Continue Reading

By / Matthias Queck, Research Director, Planet Retail Continue Reading