PLMA's International Trade Show Attracts Thousands
More than 17,000 attendees from over 125 countries walked the aisles at the recent PLMA International Private Label Trade Show in Amsterdam.
Those seeking out new products for their own brand assortments had the opportunity to visit with nearly 3,000 exhibitors from 73 countries. The number of exhibitors was up about 10% over the 2023 event, according to show officials.
“This is the place to be to spot innovation,” said Peggy Davies, president of PLMA. “Retailers know shoppers want the very best of quality, innovation, and performance. The exhibitors at PLMA's Annual World of Private Label Trade Show offered products and packaging to support retailers product development plans.”
As with all trade shows, new trends bubble to the surface. Officials at PLMA identified three trends that were highly visible during the event.
Innovative Beverages
Sea water and vinegar are unlikely to be someone’s favorite beverage. Still, product developers succeeded in creating refreshing drinks based on these ingredients. Functional teas with added zinc to support the immune system, or tea, especially for men as it contains herbs to maintain the prostate function. And what about beverages on your bread? Tea is used to create a jelly bread spread, as could be seen in PLMA’s New Product Expo.
Halal and Kosher
A notable number of interesting Halal and Kosher products could be seen, including a Ramadan Calendar for fasting. New items that comply with the requirements of Halal and Kosher are developed to such an extent that they may even allow for special ranges in retailers’ private label architecture.
Functionality in non-food
In non-food, private label manufacturers developed functional and unexpected new products, such as a probiotic cleaning cloth, or medical diapers allowing for urine sampling for babies that are sick. The New Product Expo featured an AI-enabled air fryer that identifies its content and automatically adjusts the cooking time. Other notable items included aroma therapy products for pets, and the addition of braille on packaging for tampons.