PLBuyer Index
The inaugural PLBuyer Index showed private label’s share of sales slowed from a year ago, but has steadily risen the past four months.

More than half of retailers followed by Chicago-based market research firm Market Track exclusively for PLBuyer’s eReport had more private label promotions last week than a year ago.

Family Dollar ranked 30^thon the PLB Top 35 list last year, with just shy of $1 billion in estimated private label sales in 2011.

BJ’s Wholesale Club said last week it added a new private label line to its portfolio, an environmentally friendly line called Generation Earth.

Sobeys will buy Safeway’s Canadian operations for about $5.8 billion Canadian dollars in cash, Safeway announced this week.

When you think of frozen private label food, images of a rushed dinner for a busy family or a single woman working late nights on a pinched budget might spring to mind. But this perception no longer holds true, as today’s private label frozen foods offer not just inspired culinary convenience, but upscale ingredients and packaging.

From batteries to cleaning tools and soap dishes, private label household products continue to make inroads in the general merchandise sections of retailers across the country.

Breakfast foods are a $3.7 billion category with a 10.1 percent private label revenue share in 2011, up 0.1 percent from a year earlier, according to Nielsen records compiled for the 2012 PLMA Private Label Yearbook.

Over the course of a surprisingly rainy and overcast day in Henderson, Nev., a small group of retail buyers gathered in a room during the ECRM Private Brand Health and Beauty Care trade show to talk about their business.

The National Confectioners Association’s Sweets & Snacks Expo will take place May 21-23 at McCormick Place in Chicago. If you’re planning to check out the more than 3 acres of candy and snacks, make sure to stop by booth 1380 to try chocolate from PRAIM Group, a food licensing, marketing and distribution company.

When jockeying for competitive advantage in any industry, the ability to mine valuable information—and act quickly and judiciously with that knowledge—often factors directly into the bottom line while building your reputation.

 A retailer’s branding includes its corporate ethos, and the new grocery concept from actor Wendell Pierce helps point to the future of consciousness-driven businesses.

Many supplier-retailer relationships in private label are kept confidential and quiet, for a variety of reasons. But some suppliers are using their status as a vendor for a major retailer to bring their private brands forward.

Fresh & Easy Eatwell Salmon Alfredo Steamer is a fresh skinless salmon fillet in Alfredo sauce with baby spinach, broccoli and potatoes.

Market Pantry Pizza Spirals comprise sausage, cheese and sauce wrapped in pizza crust.

7-Select Hot Chocolate Ice Cream contains spiced chocolate ice cream with marshmallow swirls.