PLMA president predicts that private label products will continue strengthening in 2018

Our magazine interviewed PLMA president Brian Sharoff.

Brian Sharoff
president
PLMA

Trade magazin: – What will be the main trends in the private label segment in 2018?

Brian Sharoff: – Retail chains will keep adding new products to their private label assortment this year. The emphasis will be on fresh, organic and natural products – in both the food and non-food categories.

TM: – As for the regional manifestation of global trends: Do you know special, typically European solutions?

– The most influential retail trends appear in the world market. Since most companies operate globally, European trends are the same as American ones.

TM: – What kind of changes can be expected in terms of market share? What does the average shopper think about private label products? Do they trust them quality-wise?

– All generations buy private label products, no matter which layer of society they belong to. The majority of shoppers think they are just as good as branded products.

TM: – What is the opinion of retail chains about this segment?

– Well-known retailers consider these products to be a projection of their own image. They make sure that the products are of high quality. Retailers regularly come out with new private label products, and they market them in top quality packaging.

TM: – Are there differences in the food and non-food trends?

BS: No, there is no significant difference in this respect. Food products are much more exciting because people like to eat. At the same time healthy products and beauty care belong to the non-food category, and in the last few years these turned into rather innovative segments.

TM: – What will the future bring for private label products?

BS: I think that they are going to continue their market conquest. One of the main reasons for this is that retailers need it very much to develop their own products, in order to stay competitive and to define their image. //