Sweet potato pancake mix from Giant Eagle, cauliflower-crust pizza from Albertsons and potstickers from Amazon are among PLMA’s 2023 Salute to Excellence award winners for store brand innovation.
These products join nearly 100 Salute to Excellence winners announced Nov. 12 at PLMA’s 2023 Private Label Trade Show in Chicago. Created in 1986, the annual awards program recognizes outstanding food and nonfood products introduced within the last year by supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchandisers, convenience stores, online retailers and wholesalers.
This year, close to 750 product entries were submitted by 53 North American retailers.
“PLMA is thrilled to celebrate the winning retailers for their commitment to store brand product and packaging excellence,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies. “From innovations in flavors and ingredients to vitamin-enriched health and wellness products, the Salute to Excellence award winners underscore the important role of store brands.”
Submissions were sampled and evaluated by a panel of professional and consumer judges on several criteria, including taste, product concept, packaging and value for money.
Among the winners:
- Gluten-free goodness:
- Open Nature Cauliflower Crust Garlic Chicken Alfredo Pizza from Albertsons Companies; and
- Nice! Gluten-Free Vanilla Crème Cookies from Walgreens.
- Specialty sauces, rubs and condiments:
- Lowes Foods’ Premium Brown Bag “Truffle Your Feathers” Black Garlic Truffle Sauce;
- Great Value Blood Orange Balsamic Glaze with Balsamic Vinegar of Modena from Walmart Inc.; and
- Wakefern Food Corp.’s Bowl & Basket Specialty Smokey Candied Bacon Sriracha Rub.
- Breakfast foods:
- Nature’s Basket Sweet Potato Pancake and Waffle Mix from Giant Eagle;
- Irresistibles Pina Colada-Flavoured Muffins from Metro Richelieu Inc.;
- Thrive Market’s Organic Infused Maple Syrup, Warm Pumpkin Spice; and
- Good & Gather Blueberry Muffins with Zucchini and Oats from Target.
- Global tastes:
- Aplenty Asian-Style Chicken and Vegetable Potstickers from Amazon;
- Yesway’s Chamoy Chili Peach Rings;
- SE Grocers Naturally Better Organic Mexican-Style Street Corn-Flavored Corn Chips; and
- Crav’n Flavor Single-Serve Miso Chicken Ramen Soup Bowl from Topco Associates LLC.
- Wellness cleanses and powders:
- Sprouts Farmers Market’s Regenerative Organic Liver Cleanse; and
- 365 by Whole Foods Market Effervescent Vitamin C Powder, Kiwi-Strawberry.
The winning products are on display at PLMA’s 2023 “The Store Brands Phenomenon” Private Label Trade Show, which opened Nov. 12 and runs through Nov. 14 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago. The full list of winners can be viewed here.
About PLMA
The Private Label Manufacturers Association is a non-profit trade organization founded in 1979 to promote the store brands industry. With executive offices in New York and International Council offices in Amsterdam, PLMA represents more than 4,500 member companies worldwide.
In addition to the Annual Private Label Trade Show in Chicago and its World of Private Label International Trade Show in Amsterdam, PLMA provides annual conferences, executive education and professional development opportunities.
Read more private label news from The Shelby Report.
