June 18, 2010
World of Private Label Show in Amsterdam

With private label market share increasing from 40% to 44% (UK) and with 8 out of 10 global consumers indicating that store brands are performing equally as well or better than national brands, this year’s PLMA trade show was definitely more relevant than ever.

Trends at the PLMA show

Below, we have outlined some of the most prominent trends seen at the show. These are all trends that will impact the private label food industry within the next year:

• Sustainability is back
  After having spent the past 2 years in the shadows of the recession, it seems that sustainability is experiencing a revival across Europe. Several major retailers, like Marks & Spencer and Albert Heijn, have announced that they will put sustainability at the top of their agenda. The number of private label food products in Europe positioned as “environment friendly’ is up by 116%, and is now the second most popular claim, according to Mintel.
  
  
• "Free from" trend is still very popular
  Claims like sugar free, fat free, calorie free and gluten free are all extremely popular. Growing concern over public health issues and the ongoing debate in the media concerning child obesity has really put nutrition & health in the spotlight.
  
  
• Super premium versus discount
  The polarisation of the private label market is becoming even more visible, as more and more retailers adopt a multi-tier strategy. Many retailers have used their budget lines to fight off the discounters, but premium range lines are starting to take off. A prime example of one such premium private label line is Tesco Finest (UK).
  

Gumlink Confectionery Company at the show

On behalf of Gumlink Confectionery Company, we would like to thank all those who paid our stand a visit during the show. We had two busy days again this year having many fruitful conversations with both current and potential new customers. 

This year we brought more than 66 different chewing gum products with us – 12 of these were in fact novelties developed for the PLMA show and based on the latest market trends.

As part of our new joint venture, we also exhibited our full line of confectionery products, namely jellies, hard boiled candies, liquorices, lollipops, toffees and chocolate dragees. Several new concepts within our sugar free and added benefits line were also on display, and were well-received by many of our visitors.

Source: The grocer, “focus on PLMA”, Apr. 2009; Mintel, jun. 2010; Ipsos Marketing, jan. 2010