Private Label expo opens at Dubai World Trade Centre

The show brings together 80 exhibitors from 20 countries including national pavilions for Germany and Turkey.

Other participants come from Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Poland, Solvenia, Taiwan, UAE, and Ukraine.

They specialise in the research, development, design, and packaging of in-house brands that are manufactured under contract for sale under private labels.

Participants are showing a wide range of products, from food and drink to hygiene and home care, chemicals, kitchenware, stationery, clothing, plastics and paper, electronics and disposable industrial items.

The private label industry is experiencing huge growth worldwide - at double the rate for proprietary brand counterparts - and now accounts for 17 per cent of goods sold. The soaring growth also reflects increasing consumer acceptance of private labels.

For shoppers, generic offerings have evolved to become almost equivalent in quality and closer in pricing to proprietary brands.

Justin Boutros, managing director of organisers Channels Exhibitions, says private labels now take up substantial volumes of shelf space in supermarkets and department stores, giving consumers high-quality goods that are competitively priced and excellent value for money.

"Supermarket grocery sales are leading the trend with private labels now representing more than 15 per cent of turnover," he added. "And with the rapid expansion of supermarket and hypermarket space across the region, private label producers can't afford to ignore the opportunities on offer."

Private Label Middle East 2006 runs until Tuesday at Hall 6 of the Dubai World Trade Centre and is open daily from 11am to 7pm.