PLME - Dubai 2007 to shed light on growth of private labeling industry

To be organised by Channels Exhibitions, the three-day exhibition specialises in the research, development, design and packaging of in-house brands that are manufactured under contract for sale under private labels. To be held from October 23 to 25, 2007 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the event will bring together exhibitors from 20 countries around the globe.

According to the Nielsen Company- the global information and media company, in the UAE almost 84% of the consumers are aware of at least one private label; whereas in KSA, this rate is around 67%.

Awareness levels of private labels are set to increase phenomenally as a result of the increasing consolidation of the retail market and the resultant proactive strategies pursued by retailers to promote store brands and harness store brand equity.

The PLME exhibition will focus on a wide array of products, ranging from food and beverages, home care, hygiene, healthy & beauty, cleaning & detergents stationery and disposable industrial items. Last year the event was attended by 3,000 trade visitors from 48 countries.

Previous studies by The Nielsen Company, have also revealed that private label sales in the Middle East are growing at nearly double the rate of branded counterparts. Details about the survey will be unveiled at Private Label Seminar - the region's first seminar on private labeling -- to be organised on October 24 on the sidelines of the PLME - Dubai 2007.

In his comments, Mr Justin Boutros, Managing Director, Channels Exhibitions, said: "The high-profile Private Label Middle East exhibition will provide an ideal platform for manufacturers who can produce private label products and contract manufactured products for third party companies. The show will play a pivotal contribution in the immense growth of the regional retail industry by providing various members of the trade channel including hypermarkets, supermarkets, distributors a unique opportunity to meet with world-class manufacturers of FMCG food and non-food products."

He added: "Over the years, PLME-Dubai has truly represented the regional channels to market and is used as a specialized sourcing forum by buyers and decision makers from the region. The strategic location of Dubai makes it an ideal melting pot for those in search of new territories and business opportunities in the industry."

The exhibition will also host national pavilions from Turkey, Germany and Italy, along with manufacturer groups from Croatia and Bulgaria.

The Private Label Seminar, to be held on the second day of the exhibition, will reflect on regional and international markets for private labelling and contract manufacturing, where awareness levels of private labels is increasing significantly.

At the seminar, Sevil Ermin, Head of Retailers Services at The Nielsen Company, will share insights in the global private label growth trends as also predict its future. The Nielsen Company will also be a moderator at a special panel discussion during the seminar.

"The forum will unite all stakeholders from the regional distribution and organized retail industry and provide common platform for decision-makers in the industry to identify opportunities to develop private labels, reassess perspectives on current store brand strategies and ascertain market research on consumer perception of private labels across categories in the Middle East. It will also focus on the growing challenge for marketers due to the private label surge across the world and in the region,"

said Mr Boutros.