PLMA Global, a newly conceived online private label trade show organized by the New York City-based Private Label Manufacturers Association, will combine the exhibitors and buyers from its in-person Chicago and Amsterdam expos, which have been cancelled in recent years due to the coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2). The virtual event is scheduled take place from March 28 to 31, 2022.
“The disruptive effects of the pandemic on retailing and the store brands industry continue. Foremost among today’s challenges is the reliable flow of products from source to shelf,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies.
PLMA Global aims to mitigate supply chain issues by providing a convenient, secure and information-rich platform where retailers from the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia actively engage with current, former and prospective private label suppliers and collectively develop efficient ways to move products by evaluating their respective capabilities and, if necessary, diversifying and reconfiguring their relationships. Quality, innovation and the cost of goods will always be attributes that retailers prize in their partners, but right now product availability, continuity and on-time delivery are at the top of the list.
“The platform will support the connection between PLMA member-exhibitors and store brand buyers representing leading supermarkets, drug chains, mass merchandisers, supercenters, specialty retailers, dollar stores, club stores, convenience stores and other formats,” said Davies. “We believe that during the last four days of March, our platform will become the digital hub of the retailer brands industry.”
PLMA Global will support real-time conversations and meetings, with features like one-on-one or group video calls, product demos, screen sharing, messaging, downloadable documents, videos and more.
The three-day event is planned to allow buyers to join the platform as it fits their schedule and time zone. Participants can request video call appointments from exhibitors even before the show opens. Calls can be one-on-one, but they can also be group calls involving multiple participants representing store brand suppliers as well as retail chains.
A preliminary list of registered buyers and visitors will be sent to exhibitors about two weeks prior to the event. At its conclusion, exhibitors will receive an updated list of all the buyers and visitors who registered.
Buyers and visitors can peruse categories they are accustomed to seeing at PLMA’s in-person shows, including frozen, ambient and canned foods, snacks and beverages.
PLMA Global’s search functionality allows visitors to find suppliers by company name, category, description or trend, by country, continent, or by any combination of the above. It will also be possible to search for products using the photo gallery view.
Buyers and exhibitors will be able to meet live online 24/7 during the event and the platform will remain open for another three months for follow-up, or for a new visit by buyers who could not log in during formal show days. During this period, all connectivity tools – including video call and appointment scheduling – remain active, allowing for post-show access.
More information is available by calling +1 212 972-3131 or e-mailing plmaglobal@plma.com.
