PLMA COVERAGE
INSIDE PLMA GLOBAL RETAILERS TALK PRODUCTS, EXPERTS GIVE INDUSTRY FORECASTS AND INSIGHT By Zachary Russell
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ollowing the pandemic-related cancellations of both its Chicago and Amsterdam trade shows, the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) held its PLMA Global event. The event, hosted online from March 28-31, began with a Buyers Day event meant to showcase products available for private label use, followed by three days of speaking appearances from retail leaders and industry experts. “Our online show is the perfect place where agile suppliers and innovative retailers can partner together and develop successful store brand programs across all product categories and continue to gain/build market share,” Anthony Aloia, VP of PLMA, told Store Brands in the lead up to the event. “We’ve themed the show ‘connecting the private label industry.’ We believe that during the last four days of March, our platform will become the digital hub of the retailer brands business.” RETAILERS TALK AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTS As part of the PLMA Global online event, four major retailers sat down with Suzanne Caputo, director of retail trade relations at PLMA, to discuss products that debuted in 2021 and earned PLMA’s Salute to Excellence Awards. Albertsons Companies, Walmart, Whole Foods and Walgreens detailed their award-winning products and what went into the private label expansions. Albertsons took home four Salute to Excellence Awards
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for its products released in 2021: Signature Select Restaurant Classics Old Fashioned Brown Bread; Signature Select Moose Tracks Ice Cream Cake; Open Nature Broccoli Crust Chicken & Kale Pizza; and Signature Select Bar Mix Sweet & Spicy. Beto Galvan, vice president of own brands innovation & product management at Albertsons Companies, spoke about how the chain’s award-winning brown bread aimed to recreate the dining experience at home, specifically the brown bread found at many steakhouse restaurants. “We knew that our consumers and our guests were looking for these dining-style experiences,” said Galvan. “What we’re trying to deliver is a restaurant style quality product that they can enjoy in their homes. As it relates to inspiration [for new products], it’s everywhere. Then you work with your manufacturing partners to bring the product to life.” Albertsons gluten-free broccoli crust chicken & kale pizza won the Salute to Excellence award in the natural food category. The product from Albertsons’ Open Nature brand built on and innovated the cauliflower crust trend of years past. “We pride ourselves on being innovation leaders,” said Galvan. “After the success we had with our cauliflower crust pizza, we went looking for what other things customers are looking for. We’re using these plant-based crusts and including them with meat to make it a perfect pairing. We want to continue expanding our flavors within these crusts. When leaning into these trends, it’s important that
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4/6/22 5:45 PM
