The UK has the largest own- or private- label sector in Europe. A report last year from Euromonitor called said that 36.7 per cent of consumer packaged goods (food, beverage and personal care) sold in the UK were private label in 2006, amounting to £42bn. By 2011 private label products are forecast to have 40.2 per cent market penetration and a value of £52bn at retail.
Runners up in Europe were Germany, Spain and The Netherlands, which achieved 26 per cent, 21.7 per cent and 20.8 per cent market penetration last year respectively.
JI Events expects there to be growth in the sector despite the economic downturn. Indeed, the ‘credit crunch’ could prove a spur to the private label market, as supermarket own-label products do tend to be cheaper than big brand alternatives.
Moreover, the sector has developed so as to cater to various spending capacities along quality lines. For instance, Tesco appeals to people with more money in their pocket with its ‘Finest’ range, but also has a cheaper option for mid-spenders, and a third for those on a very tight budget.
Jon Irwin, managing director of JI Events, said: “An event which truly encompasses not only food, but the growing non-food categories for own label in the UK has been long overdue….A focused UK event for this sector will deliver good business opportunities for retailers and manufacturers alike.”
The Own Label Show will take place on 25th and 26th November 2009.
JI Events has assembled a steering committee which included buyers from Booker, Morrisons and Poundland; David Jago, trends & innovation director at Mintel GNPD; and the British Retail Consortium’s Dr Geoff Spriegel.