BLOG POSTS BY THIS AUTHOR
April 2021
Apr 07
Dick’s Sporting Goods flexes own brands in stores
Store Brands in the Wild visits the chain to see beautiful merchandising for its newly launched VRST brand and all of its own brands.
ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR
April 2021
Apr 09
Eco Lips acquires bug repellant producer
The organic lip balm supplier has acquired Simply Soothing, the maker of the Bug Soother Insect Repellent brand.
Apr 09
Trader Joe’s to launch nondairy cheeses, cooks up grilled cheese contest
The retailer teased a few plant-based cheeses to launch this summer during its latest podcast and has kicked off a social media grilled cheese contest for National Grilled Cheese Day.
Apr 09
Understanding consumers, retail shifts after COVID-19
Store Brands is hosting a webinar with thought leaders from IRI, Solutions for Retail Brands and Mold-Rite Plastics on how retailers and companies will need to adapt to a new consumer behavior as COVID-19 diminishes.
Apr 08
Lidl packaging brings awareness to water conservation
The retailer is putting a Save Water logo on packages of toothpaste, soap and more in honor of Water Conservation Month.
Apr 07
Albertsons bottles sustainable wines
The latest offering in its private brand wine portfolio is Kalyana, a line of three wines from California, certified and produced via a range of sustainable techniques.
Apr 07
Walmart tool helps consumers pick a paint
The Walmart Paint Finder tool is an interactive video similar to the retailer’s recent Walmart Cookshop, and it puts its private label Color Place brand front and center.
Apr 07
Whole Foods debuts responsible sourcing seal
Products that are certified through third-party organizations now get a Sourced for Good seal to assist Whole Foods shoppers looking to buy responsibly sourced items.
Apr 07
FMI finds grocery produce sales up in 2020
The Power of Produce report shows a double-digit increase in sales as survey results point to consumers looking to eat healthier at home, especially during the pandemic.
Apr 06
ECRM is planning a food, beverage virtual trade show
The company's 2021 Global Market: Food & Beverage event will leverage its platforms to bring retail buyers and product suppliers together for face-to-face meetings, and present educational sessions, keynotes and workshops.
Apr 06
Aldi UK removes plastic straws from own brand drink cartons
By replacing plastic straws with paper straws on its private brand drink cartons, the retailer said it will be eliminating 70 million plastic straws from circulation.
Apr 06
Survey finds BOPIS on the rise
More than half of the U.S. consumers surveyed by Hanover Research, on behalf of Package Concierge, said they will continue to buy online and pick up purchases in-store post-pandemic.
Apr 05
Kemin builds on sustainable ingredient mission with latest acquisition
Company has acquired Proteus Industries, a privately owned food technology company and ingredient supplier, focusing on clean label protein applications.
Apr 05
TreeHouse appoints 2 in the c-suite
Kevin Jackson becomes chief commercial officer and Sean Lewis has been promoted to chief customer officer.
Apr 05
Q&A: Beauty and the Pandemic
Raj Prakash, CEO of Anthem, talks with Store Brands about how the sanitizing wipes company pivoted into beauty and wellness and how the pandemic has fueled business.
Apr 05
Private label frozen pancake maker finds new owner
De Wafelbakkers, a leader in private label frozen pancakes, waffles and French toast, has been acquired by the equity firm behind Hungry Jack and Arrowhead Mills.
Apr 02
Big picture: Private brands positioned to grow share
Even though private brands slightly underperformed expectations, its strong premium positioning and steady stock are big advantages moving forward, experts told Store Brands.
Apr 02
State of the Industry 2021: Numbers Show Private Label Soaring in Key Categories
Over the past year, private label’s profile has risen, with frozen foods and nonfoods as particular bright spots. Store Brands looks at the data and talks to experts about the industry's increasing importance.
Apr 01
Aldi’s plant-based line earns Good Housekeeping Institute recognition
More than 30 Earth Grown products from Aldi earned the Good Housekeeping Institute Seal, joining more than 170 other products earning the nod over the last three years.
March 2021
Mar 30
Subsidiary of Post picks up Ronzoni pasta
Private label arm of Post, 8th Avenue Foods & Provisions, has arranged to acquire Ronzoni from Riviana Foods, who sold several pasta brands to TreeHouse Foods last year.
Mar 30
Hot Category: Snack Time!
More snacking at home during the pandemic has fueled sales of private brand snacks.
Mar 30
Albertsons explores AI-powered shopping with Google
The retailer and Google have been working together for the past year on new ways to shop digitally such as via shoppable maps and more.
Mar 29
Bed Bath & Beyond hires former exclusive brands leader at Wayfair
Jill Pavlovich joined the retailer as senior vice president of digital commerce, coming from Wayfair where she launched more than 90 exclusive brands. Her appointment is joined by the hiring of Jake Griffith, a former Walmart executive.
Mar 29
Exclusive brand Beautiful Kitchenware launches at Walmart
Following a preview early in the month, the Drew Barrymore-backed brand of more than 150 kitchen items and appliances launches fully online and in stores April 19.
Mar 29
Sofina Foods, Eight Fifty Group become one of largest multi-protein producers in Europe
CapVest Partners entered an agreement with Sofina Foods of Canada for the sale of Eight Fifty, a producer of seafood and pork in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Mar 26
U.S. grocery meat sales hit double digits
A report from FMI and the Meat Institute identifies a rise in consumer confidence around buying meat and cooking at home with meat products.
Mar 26
Q&A: Introducing TXB
With a rebranding from Kwik Chek to Texas Born (TXB), the regional chain has overhauled its private brands and foodservice to carry a local flair. The chain's foodservice leader talks about the change.
Mar 26
7-Eleven has private brand items for the Easter season
Specialty 7-Select cookies and candies join a limited-time PEEPS Marshmallow-flavored latte.
Mar 26
Lassonde reports strong annual growth, executive appointment
The private brand producer of shelf-stable juices saw annual sales jump 18% in 2020, while sales in Q4 were up more than 19%. The company also promoted Vincent Timpano to its executive team.
Mar 25
Beneo names regional sales director
Stefanie De Roover has been promoted to sales director for the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions. The functional ingredient producer serves more than 80 countries.
Mar 25
Out of stocks cost U.S. retailers hundreds of millions of dollars in 2020
Toilet paper topped all categories in sales losses from out of stocks, according to NielsenIQ data, seeing more than $830 million flushed.
Mar 25
Ingredient company acquires chili pepper plant
Sensient Natural Ingredients, a supplier of dehydrated vegetable products and natural food ingredients, has added a chili pepper plant in New Mexico specializing in Hatch green chile.
Mar 24
Nellson identifies trends impacting nutritional bar segment
A white paper from the private label supplier highlights trends in ingredients and more for private brand partners to learn about in staying ahead of trends in product development.
Mar 24
7-Eleven concept store adds first drive-thru
With its latest Evolution Store concept in Dallas, the retailer added a drive-thru for its Laredo Taco Company restaurant where Slurpees can be ordered, and store brand items could be added in the future.
Mar 24
Q&A: CVS Health Drives Private Brand Growth Online, In-Store
Interview with Brenda Lord, VP, private brands and quality assurance, CVS Health, on how the retailer is positioning its store brands.
Mar 23
Loblaw makes executive changes amid Weston Foods sale
Loblaw’s president Sarah Davis will retire as Galen Weston steps into the role — the move follows operating company George Weston Limited looking to sell Weston Foods to focus on Loblaw’s and its real estate arm.
Mar 23
Walmart opens 8th annual Open Call
The virtual event allows entrepreneurs and product suppliers to register to pitch their products directly to Walmart buyers.
Mar 23
Supply Chain Feature: Hungry, Hungry Shoppers
The retail supply chain could be facing a new stress — a post-pandemic boom of shoppers looking to buy like normal again.
Mar 22
TreeHouse elects new board chair
Ann Sardini will become the chair of the board of directors on April 1, succeeding Gary Smith, who served in the role since July 2018.
Mar 22
Bed Bath & Beyond’s Nestwell hits stores
The first of six new store brands to come from the retailer has officially launched, backed by an online sleep quiz to help shoppers find the right products for their sleep styles.
Mar 22
Lidl’s private brand beer wins 11 medals
Pilsners, lagers and sours from the discounter won awards from the 2021 New York International Beer Competition, and Lidl's Perlenbacher won German Pilsner Brewery of the Year.
Mar 22
Whole Foods, Headspace provide mindful cooking tips
The retailer is offering a free-month trial of the Headspace meditation app and partnered on a new IGTV video series about mood-boosting recipes that feature its store brand products.
Mar 22
Pretzels Inc. introduces pretzels with almond butter filling
The pretzels are available to retailers with premium private label lines and launched in Walmart stores under its Harvest Road brand.
Mar 19
PLMA makes board appointments, honors Brian Sharoff
During its annual leadership conference, PLMA elected Clay Dockery of Massimo Zanetti Beverage to serve a second term as board chair, and honored the late Brian Sharoff as its sole inductee into the Private Label Hall of Fame.
Mar 18
AI platform helps 3 independent chains compete against larger competitors
The platform Hypersonix shared how two small grocers and a pharmacy leveraged real-time insights to deliver better pricing, consumer insights and more.
Mar 18
Working together: PLMA Leadership Conference talks collaboration
Members of the store brands team at CVS, including Brenda Lord, VP of private brands, presented during the virtual meeting that focused on ways for suppliers and retailers to improve their strategic partnerships.
Mar 17
World of Private Label slated for December
Returning to an in-person event, the international exhibition will be held Dec. 14-15 in Amsterdam.
Mar 17
Fruit, potato companies join to amp up supply of sweet potato fries
The products for private brand development come from a joint venture between Russet House, a private brand leader in Canada, and Cardinal Foods in the U.S.
Mar 17
Dick’s Sporting Goods debuts men’s athleisure line
Exclusive to the retailer, VRST will operate with its own e-commerce platform, introducing a line of workout gear, casual joggers, hoodies and more.
Mar 17
National Grocers Association calls on federal action against large grocers
The organization representing independent grocers seeks a federal investigation into anticompetitive business practices, including private label, by large national grocers.
Mar 17
Drew Barrymore’s back at Walmart with exclusive appliances
The actress is bringing a line of small kitchen appliances exclusively to Walmart, following up on a previous rollout of haircare tools.
Mar 16
Ardent Mills rolls out keto-friendly flour blend
The supplier has introduced what it calls an industry first, a keto-certified, low net carb flour for baking products.
Mar 16
Walmart’s fashion brands Free Assembly, Scoop look to the runway
Retailer has named acclaimed, high-end fashion designer Brandon Maxwell to be the creative director of trendy, new Free Assembly and the revived Scoop brands.
Mar 16
U.S. online grocery sales dip in February
Independent research from Brick Meets Click and Mercatus saw total online grocery sales drop by 12% from January’s record totals.
Mar 16
Big Lots boosts outdoor assortment for summer
The retailer’s Broyhill and Real Living brands highlight its largest-ever lawn and garden lineup of patio furniture, accessories and more.
Mar 15
Tesco puts strategy in place to grow healthy eating options
The U.K. chain will expand plant-based meat options, reformulate prepared meals to be healthier and sell more healthy foods by 2025.
Mar 15
Imperfect Foods broadens sustainability goals
Already working to reduce food waste with its business model built on delivering unwanted produce, the e-commerce grocer has set goals to become a net-zero carbon company by 2030.
Mar 12
Trader Joe’s talks spring favorites
The retailer's latest podcast calls attention to new spring additions, including an exclusive cheese from small farmers in the United Kingdom and a non-dairy coffee-and-boba ice cream.
Mar 12
NielsenIQ data: Identifying barriers to buying online
The analysts surveyed shoppers and asked what keeps them from buying certain health and beauty, and frozen foods items online?
Mar 12
Meijer gives more to fight hunger
The retailer is adding a $1 million donation to its Simply Give program, which early this year helped fund 76 million meals to food pantries last year.
Mar 12
SimpleHealth introduces 1st OTC line for private label
The company with a history of producing birth control and other prescription medicines has three new OTC supplements that support women’s health.
Mar 11
Plant Based Foods Association appoints CEO
Rachel Dreskin becomes the first CEO for the PBFA, an organziation that represents more than 180 plant-based food companies.
Mar 11
UNFI’s Q2 shows strong gains
Private brand sales increased 7.3%, with net sales up 7.1%, for the U.S. grocery distributor.
Mar 11
2 snack companies merge, form private brand supplier Awakened Food Crafters
Ka-Pop! Snacks and Bubba’s Fine Foods are merging to form Awakened Foods and develop a private label and co-manufacturing arm focusing on healthy snacks, cereal and granola.
Mar 10
Casey’s makes way for private brands in-store
During Q3 call, retailer updated a significant reset underway at its more than 2,200 locations to make room for its expanded store brand set and improve traffic flow.
Mar 10
AI-platform adds apparel to its analytics
Signals Analytics added the category to assist companies looking to revitalize the fashion category, which got hit hard during the pandemic but has been hot in private label.
Mar 10
Aldi addresses sustainability goals
Discounter continues its goal to have all own brand packaging be recyclable, reusable or compostable — including plastics — by 2025, and positions toward less greenhouse gas, food waste and more.
Mar 10
TricorBraun acquires RODA Packaging
The company’s 10th acquisition in the last four years, the acquisition grows the packager’s presence in Canada.
Mar 10
Dollar General elevates value hair care with Root to End
The new store brand clean beauty line hits this spring with 10 products, including shampoos, styling products and more at $5 each.
Mar 10
BJ’s Wholesale grows across categories in Q4
Same-store sales, excluding gasoline sales, increased by 15.9% at BJ's, including digitally enabled sales growth of 168% and physical store comps of 13%.
Mar 09
Big Lots has a big year
The chain reported a full-year, same-store sales increase of 16.1% — double tat of the year prior — as it looks to add up to 60 stores in 2021.
Mar 09
Walmart sets the stage for another live TikTok event
On March 11, TikTok users can buy private label items directly from a 60-minute live stream dedicated to spring beauty products.
Mar 08
Smile Beverage Werks unveils compostable coffee pods for private brands
In three flavors and carton counts, Smile Beverage Werks has launched sustainable coffee pods for retail store brands that are carbon neutral, compostable and replace single-serve plastic options.
Mar 08
Dick’s Sporting Goods highlights female leadership
On International Women’s Day, the retailer introduced a powerful ad spot that shined a light on female leadership at the company, including its own CEO Lauren Hobart.
Mar 08
Fresh food producer Bakkavor has fresh new CEO
The Charlotte-based packaged private brand foods provider has appointed Peter Laport to its top post; he has a wealth of experience in supply chain management.
Mar 08
Sprouts adds to its store count, introduces small-format stores
The retailer is rolling out 20 more stores, including the debut of small-format stores in Florida, Texas, Arizona and Georgia.
Mar 05
Whole Foods has 5 beauty trends for 2021
The retailer spotted trends to support clean beauty products, as consumers look to simplify beauty treatments and routines for the year ahead.
Mar 05
Private equity firm set to acquire Michaels
The arts-and-crafts retailer has entered into an agreement to be acquired for $5 billion.
Mar 04
Freshly adds Amazon private brand exec
The prepared foods service, acquired by Nestlé last year, has hired Anna Fabrega to be its chief commercialization officer; she helped lead the Amazon Kitchen own brand.
Mar 04
Kroger private brands surpass $26B
The grocer said it was a record year for its Our Brands, including the Simple Truth brand exceeding $3 billion in sales for the year.
Mar 03
TreeHouse adds to board of directors in agreement with Jana Partners
Jana Partners recently asked the company to sell, and with the appointments, the two organizations entered into a cooperation agreement.
Mar 03
Bed Bath & Beyond begins private label transformation
Opening with the new brand Nestwell this month, six new private brands will launch over the next six months and 10 over the next two years.
Mar 03
Dollar Tree grows combo stores format
Half Dollar Tree, half Family Dollar, the combination store concept is growing under Dollar Tree as it looks to open 600 stores in 2021.
Mar 03
7-Eleven sparkles with exclusive Serafina
Imported from Italy and created exclusively for 7-Eleven, the chain has introduced Serafina, a mineral water brand that joins its recent Icelandic water Skýra.
Mar 03
Instacart ups valuation with latest financing round
The online delivery service raised $265 million, increasing its valuation to $39 billion.
Mar 02
PLMA shares Private Label Week metrics
Private Label Manufacturers Association said 7,500 virtual business cards were exchanged during the five-day Private Label Week event, and the platform remains open until April 30.
Mar 02
Sanderson Farms celebrates its female workforce throughout March
The private brand poultry producer is featuring female employees at the company in social posts and online profiles all month long in concert with International Women’s Day on March 8.
Mar 02
Trader Joe’s tops in customer satisfaction
The grocer may have finished highest in customer satisfaction but results from the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index show retail is at its lowest in customer satisfaction ratings since 2015.
Mar 02
Target own brands play key role in record annual sales
Four private brands from the retailer are earning more than $2 billion in sales, Target said during its financial community meeting and fourth-quarter report, also highlighting annual sales up nearly 20% and Q4 same-store sales up 20.5%.
Mar 02
U.S. Nonwovens rebrands as Radienz Living
The company name change reflects its wider business model in the home and personal care space.
Mar 02
Pandemic fueled sales at Publix to close out 2020
The Florida-based retailer reported double-digit net earnings and sales for the period ended Dec. 26.
Mar 01
Loblaw sales rise online, in-store in Q4
The Canadian retailer reported large gains both in same-store sales and by as much as 160% via e-commerce.
Mar 01
European private brand biscuit producer expands its reach
Biscuit International, a leader in store brand biscuits, has agreed to acquire Dan Cake Portugal, a leader in butter cookies and cakes in Portugal.
Mar 01
Stir Foods stirs up growing private brand sauce business on east coast
California company has acquired Lancaster Fine Foods, a private label dressings, sauce company in Pennsylvania, adding to its growth on the east coast.