The PLMA’s 2023 Private Label Trade Show, which ran from November 12-14 in suburban Chicago under the “Store Brands Phenomenon” theme, was 20% larger than last year’s edition. A record 1,685 exhibitors showcased new products, flavors, packaging, ingredients and services, and more than 13,000 exhibitors, retailers and other visitors experienced the largest event ever for store brands in North America.
The sold-out show floor featured 2,740 booths featuring the latest innovations in frozen and refrigerated food, beverages, kitchenware, general merchandise and other products.
Plant-based foods were among the trends spotted on the show floor, with manufacturers presenting new options in ethnic meals as well as convenient handheld snacks. Innovative offerings included non-bee Korean bulgogi, porkless carnitas, faux butter “chik’n” and alternative chicken fries, fish sticks mozzarella bites.
Spicy snacks were also in the spotlight, along with coconut-based baking food, snacks and coconut ube rolls.
Innovations like these have contributed to the impressive performance of private label products in recent years. The New York-based PLMA projects total US store brand dollar sales for 2023 will reach $233 billion, an increase of about $4 billion over 2022, based on Circana data.
