An award to the best CO-PACKERS

On the initiative of our magazine and in collaboration with IPLC Italy, PLM Awards - "Best Copacker Profile," the first award to the best suppliers of PL products was launched. As we all know, there are many prices and competitions to award the best FMCG products put into the market each year, perhaps far too many. But is it the same for awards dedicated to companies, and in particular to suppliers of private label products? A question that we at PL Magazine asked ourselves and could help but answering: no, none at all. An “unreasonable lack” given the growing importance of PLs in national and European retailers- supply. And an inexplicable neglect of the thousands of small and large enterprises that collaborate with the major distribution groups in the market, subject to selection criteria that are even stricter than those of the main distribution groups in the market.

An Authoritative Contest

Hence, the idea of launching a new contest for co-packers only, promoted by our magazine in collaboration with IPLC Italy, a consulting firm specialized in PL. A contest to finally give recognition to those suppliers of PL products that boast all the ideal characteristics necessary for large-scale distribution. Thus, the name of the initiative: "Best Co-packer Profile". An ambitious project, whose first stumbling block was choosing solid and credible criteria to identify the best “profiles”. As a result, the companies nominated for the award will be evaluated on both quantitative and qualitative parameters. As for the quantitative parameter, the assessment will be based on a self-certified form preset by the PL Maga- zine Editorial Office (see the grid of required information given in the box below/right). The qualitative parameter, instead, will be evaluated based on the motivation for application exhibited by the competing companies and the evaluation of a selected jury of PL Managers from both Italian and European distribution chains.

Categories And Terms For Participation

There will be eight awards in total, spanning both food and non-food categories: grocery food, beverage, fresh, cold, home care, personal care, petcare, and other non-food products. In addition, a special award will be reserved for start-up companies, regardless of their sector. The deadline for submitting the applications for the PLM Awards - Best Co-packer Profile (each company can compete in more than one category) is next March 5,2023. The awards will be held in Bologna in April as part of an event organized by our Magazine. For more information, to download the regulations, to know in detail how to participate or to contact the organizing secretariat, it is possible to visit www.plmawards.it. l

Not just retailers

PLM Awards - Best Co-packer Profile is a new contest sponsored by PL Magazine for suppliers of PL products. The goal is to give recognition to suppliers with the manufacturing - and not only - characteristics that most appeal to retailers. However, another contest is organized in connection with PL Magazine, which is part of the EDM Award, given by the magazines of our publishing house. In this case, only retailers can participate, with their most innovative PL product.

"BEST CO-PACKER PROFILE": THE (QUANTITATIVE) SELECTION CRITERIA

★ Existing maximum production capacity

★ Possibility of expansion at current sites

★ PL vs. own brand production share

★ Willingness to produce exclusive formats upon request

★ Preference for fixed-term contracts

★ Availability for scheduled auditing

★ Availability for short schedules and stockpiling

★ Assurance of traceability throughout the supply chain

★ Presence of after-sales support

★ Availability for environmental product declaration

★ Existence of control over work relations upstream of supplies

★ Number of certifications nationally and internationally

★ Presence of in-house R&D department and number of employees

★ Drafting of sustainability report

★ Number of brands in Italy

★ Number of brands abroad

★ Number of PL references supplied to retailers in the last year (March 1, 2022 - February 28, 2023)