Own Label Show

The current world economic situation has created a very interesting and exciting time for companies working within the private label sector. In the UK, consumers facing a loss in income, or concerned about their jobs, are tightening their weekly budgets. However, while their spending is constricted, they do not want to give up on products, both food and non-food, which they are used to having on a weekly basis. This has pushed consumers who may have not tried own label products before to venture away from the mainstream brands and to give own label a try. Not all will stay with own label products, however this will push greater growth in an already expanding sector. The successful development of both Aldi and Lidl, well known retailers on the continent but until recently not well known in the UK, demonstrates how well accepted consumers receive own label products.

Recently at a seminar at the International Food & Drink Trade Exhibition, one of the speakers commented that current market share in the UK food and drink sector is now at 47% for private label products showing the strength and dominance that own label has achieved.

Not all the UK buyers are able to visit the PLMA fair in Amsterdam, therefore the Own Label Show (OLS), will launch in November 2009. This is why this project has been very well received, and has the support from trading directors from Asda, Booker, Morrisons, and Poundland, as well as the British Retail Consortium and Mintel. OLS, a UK-based event, will allow those buyers to spend one day, or half a day visiting the fair, getting the contacts and information they need in the most efficient way.

The Own Label Show will give those manufacturers targeting the UK market, an opportunity to get in front of the category managers and buyers who are dealing with own label product lines in their businesses. In the Food sector, Regin Jacobsen CEO of Bakkafrost says, “as a leading producer and exporter of Salmon products, Bakkafrost has a solid history of working with retailers in Europe in the own label sector. We are looking to move into the UK market, and this exhibition will provide us with the contacts that we need.” On the non-food side of the show, Domenico Scordari, executive manager from N&B Srl said “We produce high quality, organic natural cosmetics for Beauty Care, Health Care and Home Care, mainly based on the concept of Aloe Vera & Olive Oil. In targeting the UK we will be offering our “tailor-made” concept to UK buyers.”

As is key for any event, the OLS has to deliver value both for the visitors as well as the exhibitors. The visitor promotion will be tailored to the categories represented by the exhibitors at the show. Exhibitors will be asked about their key target accounts, as well as categories that their products fall into, to ensure that the right people attend.

Jon Irwin, MD of JI Events Ltd, has worked in exhibitions for a number of years, in a wide range of industries including the seafood industry, and the packaging industry. Having looked at the private label sector in Europe, and in particular the UK, he felt that there should be a stand alone event and thus, set up the OLS. These thoughts have been echoed by people in the sector, and he is confident that it will develop to be a key event for the UK own label sector.

For further information about the event, please visit the website: www.ownlabelshow.co.uk.