Private labels keep growing this year

In April 2019 the sales growth of private label products was 0.7 percent in France, which was bigger than the 0.4-percent strengthening of manufacturer brands – reported the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA), based on market survey results from IRI.

According to a report by the Schwarz Group, PLMA data show that in 2018 Lidl’s sales augmented by 8.8 percent and represented a value of EUR 81.2 billion; group member Kaufland produced a 1.6-percent sales increase at EUR 22.6 billion. In 2018 the Schwarz Group opened 23 Lidl stores in the new market Serbia, they acquired 27 stores in the USA and the network expanded by 40 stores in Italy.

Auchan is selling 46 hypermarkets in Italy and closing or selling 21 stores in France. In June 2019 Aldi opened its first store in Shanghai, which will soon be followed by 9 more in China. Lebensmittel Zeitung’s forecast is that Aldi will have 100 stores in the country in the medium term. The Aldi stores in China will be more modern than their shops in Europe.

In Russia X5 Retail Group announced investing in a ‘smart kitchen’ project – the products rolled out as part of this are called Perekrestok Chef, and are available in Perekrestok shops. At a plant nearby Moscow, where 700 people work, packs of cooking ingredients and ready meals are made. //