From small companies to major suppliers, private label products and companies were all around Denver last weekend for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ Marketplace event at the Colorado Convention Center.

Major players in the industry such as Nice-Pak, Perrigo, and Pacific World Corporation set up large booths to attract visitors, while smaller companies lined the rows between and pitched their healthcare, cosmetics, OTC and other products.

Though a number of companies said their private label programs were a small piece of their current business, more and more talked about buyers asking them about private label. A glimpse of the retailer sessions held for exhibitor should give a clue as to why – Walgreens, CVS, and Rite-Aid, but also Family Dollar, 99 Cent Only, Sam’s Club, Meijer, Ahold, Costco and Safeway.

The major players continue to look for branded solutions to fill their drug categories, but more often, they’re asking for their own solutions to fill those shelves. And the companies that are willing and able to enter into private label agreements will be the ones ahead of the game in the future.