Retailers and private label manufacturers continue to develop exciting and innovative products, with bold flavour combinations, such as bubble tea in yoghurt, mango ice with chili sauce, and caper-flavoured potato chips, capturing the attention of the 11 judges who had the challenging task of selecting the best products for the International Salute to Excellence Awards.
In this year’s International Salute to Excellence Awards, nearly 600 food and non-food products from 67 retailers across 27 countries were evaluated by an expert international jury during two dynamic days of testing and tasting, assessing concept, taste, aroma, packaging & presentation, and overall value proposition.
Judges note that private labels continue to grow in quality and are now strong competitors to national brands, increasingly leading innovation rather than just offering alternatives.
What the judges say on packaging
Packaging plays a crucial role in communicating a clear product story, consumers want to understand who the product is for, why it exists, and how it fits into their lives . A jury member says: “If you want to create a strong product concept, you need to have a clear customer in mind for who this is intended and a narrative that brings the customer, their needs and the product together.”
Clean, neutral, and simple packaging designs are preferred, especially when appealing to younger shoppers. However, inconsistencies remain: some products underdeliver visually despite strong quality, while others overpromise through packaging that doesn’t match the product inside.
What the judges say on trendsJudges highlight that key trends in food and non-food include health and wellness, convenience, premiumization, and functional ingredients such as protein, alongside growing interest in hydration and smaller portions. While sustainability remains important, it is becoming less of a marketing focus compared to health.
Gen Z is strongly influencing product development, driving demand for affordable yet high-quality, globally inspired, and socially responsible products. Innovation is often rooted in “rediscovery,” combining traditional concepts with new flavours or formats.
PLMA’s Wine Awards: Increasing quality and availability of private label wines
Private label wines are gaining in quality and availability. That’s a key take-away from the two panels of expert judges who tasted and discussed all kinds of wine entries, candidates for a Salute to Excellence Wine Award. “The quality gets better, year after year”, says wine expert Alain Bloeykens, moderator of one panel. “And more supermarkets are joining the private label arena”, adds Master of Wine Cees van Casteren, who guided the second panel.
Both panels of in total 8 judges with proven expertise in wine tasting, had an intensive session in which they tasted 108 wines, submitted by 14 retailers from 8 countries. These 108 entries for a Salute to Excellence Wine Award competed in 18 categories, ranging from red, white, rosé and sparkling to type of grape, organic, region of cultivation and of course level of alcohol.
Best Quality and Best Value
The judges conducted blind tastings within each category to ensure each wine was assessed purely on its taste, allowing them to identify the best quality wines without bias. From there, the best value wines were chosen by considering both their quality scores and price, highlighting those that offer the strongest balance of excellence and affordability.
What the judges say on trends in wine
Judges observe a shift toward lighter wines, with consumers favouring white wines and paying closer attention to alcohol levels, moving away from heavier styles. Interest in low- and no-alcohol options is growing, though non-alcoholic wine still faces challenges in taste and quality, with innovation expected to improve the category over time.
Judges highlight that private label wines are becoming a strategic differentiator for retailers, with growing investment in quality and value rather than being driven by short-term economic pressures. This approach also aligns with younger consumers, who are increasingly open to private label wines, prioritizing quality and enjoyment over brands and origin.
Storytelling, education, and a focus on organic and sustainable production are seen as important tools to engage shoppers, alongside expanding variety to introduce consumers to new grape types and wine pairings.
“Private label is evolving from a value alternative into a driver of innovation, quality, and consumer engagement shaped by health trends, younger shoppers, and a growing focus on storytelling and experience” Peggy Davies commented while assessing the awards programme.
All winners will be announced during the Pre-Show World of Private Label Seminars on 18 May at 14:00 hrs and published on www.plmainternational.com. Stay tuned….The World of Private Label takes place on 19–20 May.