PLMA’s World of Private Label trade show returned to Amsterdam after being postponed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the halls of RAI were filled with exhibitors showcasing their latest innovations.
In terms of figures, organizers expected that more than 14.000 buyers and visitors from 120 countries would be attending the two-day event, while 2500 exhibiting companies from over 70 countries including 60 national and regional pavilions were present on the trade show floor. As usual, products on display on the show floor included fresh, frozen, and refrigerated foods, dry groceries, and beverages as well as non-food categories.
As far as trends go, it came as little surprise that plant-based, vegan, and free-from dominated most exhibition stands, especially in the areas dedicated to frozen snacks, frozen finger foods, and frozen ready meals. In the Idea Supermarket area, where attendees were able to see displays of the private label products selected as winners of this year’s International “Salute to Excellence Awards”, these trends were also quite visible. Additional products submitted by exhibitors could be seen at The New Product Expo, displaying more than 600 new private label products and packaging selected for their innovation and originality.
New packaging formats and ideas stood out, especially since reducing plastic and minimizing food waste seem to be on most manufacturers’ minds.
Organizers and exhibitors alike were quite pleased with the crowd level seen during the fair and seemed confident that World of Private Label would again turn out to be a great business opportunity. All in all, the return to normality – as far as in-person gatherings go – is benefitting all parties involved in the industry, so we should expect next year’s PLMA event to attract even larger audiences.