Brian Sharoff, president of the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA), passed away on Saturday, May 23, after a brief illness, according to a statement issued by Tim Simmons, PLMA’s Vice President, Communications.
Brian Sharoff was named president of PLMA in 1981, shortly after the association was founded. During his tenure the association expanded from headquarters in New York to establish international offices in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and a representative office in Shanghai, China. Membership increased as well, growing from two hundred companies in the United States to more than 4,500 manufacturers, suppliers, and brokers worldwide.
“Today is a sad day for the entire PLMA family,” said Lisa Manzoline, director of sales for Reynolds Consumer Products and chairman of the board of directors of PLMA. “Under Brian Sharoff’s tremendous focus and dedication, the Private Label Manufacturers Association has grown to become a vital and essential resource for suppliers and retailers around the globe. Brian’s leadership will be greatly missed.”
PLMA’s annual “World of Private Label” International Trade Show, held each May at the RAI Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam has grown to more than 4,500 stands and now represents manufacturers from nearly 75 countries. The show attracts own brands buyers from across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The trade show held every November at the Rosemont Convention Center in Chicago draws the largest concentration of private label buyers anywhere in the U.S., and is where key executives from supermarkets, hypermarkets, drug chains, and other retailers come to find suppliers and new products.
In addition to the trade exhibitions, PLMA presents conferences and educational programs throughout the year, in addition to publishing exclusive research and studies. The association in recent years has also produced a wide range of original video programming, providing news and information for both the industry and consumers.