The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) has scheduled its 2026 Private Label Trade Show for Nov. 15-17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago. The announcement follows a record-breaking year for store brands, which saw sales growth nearly triple the rate of national brands in 2025.
Themed the “Store Brands Marketplace,” the event serves as a central hub for thousands of manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers to develop and expand private label programs. Recent data shows store brands have reached all-time highs of 21.3 percent in dollar share and 23.5 percent in unit share.
“It’s clearly a good time to be in private label,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies. “With their comprehensive private label programs, retailers today are truly brand builders. PLMA’s 2026 Private Label Trade Show will once again provide for a convenient, one stop shopping for all players in the industry – from high quality suppliers to buyers from the nation’s leading retailers and wholesalers.”
The trade show has experienced significant growth in recent years, with a 35 percent increase in exhibiting companies and a 31 percent rise in total attendance since 2022. The 2025 event featured more than 1,900 exhibiting companies and 3,000 booths, with representation from 60 countries and 54 national pavilions.
Organizers noted that the show’s value lies in the physical evaluation of products and the presence of empowered decision-makers. Retailers utilize the floor to source innovations that build brand identity rather than simply seeking cost savings.
“Seeing what’s on display in person is a crucial experience – smelling, tasting, handling – that transforms the products and their packaging from abstract concepts into tangible goods,” explained Dan Weil, senior director of the PLMA Show.
“Exhibitors come away with a great experience and more than anything are impressed with the high quality of retail buyers who they describe as serious, empowered dealmakers and not just browsers.”
Registration for retailers and qualified visitors is scheduled to open in mid-June. Founded in 1979, the PLMA is a non-profit organization representing more than 5,200 member companies globally, providing industry advocacy and professional development alongside its international trade shows.
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