Private Label exhibitors develop new business with more than 3,000 visitors

Exhibitors representing 22 countries reported keen demand from more than 3,000 visitors, in line with the soaring global trend to private label retailing.

Many were also able to create new business prospects with fellow exhibitors.

"Companies that we had previously considered to be competitors have turned out to be potential suppliers," said Alexander Bonitz, sales and marketing manager of Germany's Budich International that produces a range of cleaning and home care products.

"For example, we have opened up new business potential with Turkish exhibitors, complementing each other with our respective expertise in supplying raw materials or finished product."
Exhibitors at PLME agreed that Dubai's strategic location as an international hub makes the show an ideal opportunity for all who are involved in the industry to access suppliers and customers, not only from across the Middle East and the Asian sub-continent but beyond and into the USA and Europe.

"We have established contact with many new prospects in the GCC as well as strengthening our relationships with existing clients," said Arvin Singh, GM overseas operations of Little Bee International, exporters of Kashmir honey.

"Although is only the second time that PLME has taken place, it has already established itself as a 'must' for manufacturers who seek to strengthen their presence in the region's markets."

His comments were echoed by Janek Vaswaney, export director of the US headquartered Reilly Foods Company. "This is about developing new business rather than signing up instant deals, and in that sense the show has been very successful," he said. "The contacts are made here and the deals are concluded later."

Internationally, private labels now account for one of every four items passing retail checkouts in the US, with total annual retail sales value estimated at $50 billion. Sales volumes are even higher in Europe at 45 per cent of total retail sales. Leading European supermarkets now carry as much as 95 per cent of their stock in private label brands, with most operating at 50 per cent or more.

Justin Boutros, managing director of show organisers, Channels Exhibitions, commented that Germany alone is showing double-digit growth in its private label trade with the Middle East.

"Although the US and Germany lead the way, the trend is repeated around the world, as is evident by the diversity of countries taking part in PLME," he said.

"Here in the Middle East, and in the UAE in particular, a large percentage of department stores, supermarkets, fashion chains, food and drug retailers, cosmetic chains, detergent and chemicals suppliers in the region are now marketing their own brands to their customers.

"PLME has given both suppliers and retailers the opportunity for a one-stop overview of what is new on the market and to source new products. We are confident that all exhibitors will be back next year for an even bigger edition of an event that is now a fixture on the global industry calendar."