Compostable birch cutlery, artisanal Italian soda and aromatherapy shower spray are among the winners of a 2021 Salute to Excellence award from the Private Label Manufacturers Association.
The award winners were chosen from more than 770 recently introduced food, beverage, kitchen, household and health and beauty care product submissions by 52 North American retailers. This is the highest number of submissions PLMA has received for Salute to Excellence since its inception.
Among the trends: eco-friendly household goods, organic foods and baking products, specialty beverages and easy-to-use self-care products. These include:
- Equate Eucalyptus Congestion Relief & Aromatherapy Shower Spray from Walmart;
- Mini Rose Hydrosol from 365 by Whole Foods Market;
- Bamboo Bath Tissue from Sprouts;
- Total Home Earth Essentials Compostable Birch Cutlery from CVS;
- Seven Farms Organic Vanilla Almond Granola from Federated Group;
- Organic White Jasmine Rice from Thrive Market;
- Lidl Organic Coconut Flour;
- Culinaria Raspberry-Lemon Italian Soda from Schnuck Markets;
- Nature’s Nectar Aloe Vera Drink from Aldi;
- Kroger Hydro Go Caffeinated Water.
“The award winners exemplify how store brands go above-and-beyond consumer expectations,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies.
“They represent exceptional quality, value and innovation,” she said.
All submissions were grouped in one of several categories, including meal preparation, food for the family, healthy eating, beverages, snacks, bakery and desserts, dairy, health and beauty and home and household.
Each product was evaluated by a panel of professional and consumer judges on several criteria, including taste and sensory appeal, packaging, presentation and value for money.
PLMA’s Salute to Excellence competition was created in 1986 to recognize retailers for their commitment to the growth and success of store brands. The annual judging of store brands products across all food and beverage and home and health categories began in 2006.
For more information on the winners of all categories, visit plmawinners.com.
The Private Label Manufacturers Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1979 to promote the store brands industry.
In addition to annual, industry-defining trade shows in Chicago and Amsterdam, PLMA offers its members annual Leadership and Washington conferences, executive education and professional development programs, original consumer and market research, as well as digital media platforms. For more information, visit plmalive.com.
In other news, the association announced PLMA Global – a newly imagined, online private label trade show. Click here to see the story.
