As we were working on this issue of PLBuyer, we were also preparing to host the second annual PLBuyer Design Excellence Awards for private label packaging.

Design firms, manufacturers and retailers alike were excited to get their best designs in front of our judges.

Once again this year, we have assembled an all-star panel of private label design experts. They include Todd Maute, senior vice president/partner of New York-based CBX, Lindsey Hurr, vice president of Fort Worth, Texas-based Immotion Studios, Dennis Whalen, vice president of Calif.-based Michael Osborne Design and Christopher Durham, president and chief strategist for My Private Brand.

More than 100 entries were received across 13 categories this year, including frozen, refrigerated, on-shelf, beverages, ethnic, organic, health & personal care, beauty & cosmetics, household goods & supplies, OTC medications, paper products, baby care and pet food/care/supplies.

The winners will be showcased and announced at the 2012 PLMA Show this November.

This issue also features our annual ranking of the top private label retailers of North America. Once again this year we worked with our research partner, RSR, to bring you more detailed and more focused profiles of what these retailers have done and are doing when it comes to their private
label programs.

Harris Teeter joined the rankings for the first time this year, while WinCo Foods dropped off the list from last year. To all of the other retailers that made the list once again this year, keep up the great work.