First Private Label Middle East expo' set to open at DIEC tomorrow

Private Label Middle East (PLME) 2004 will see manufacturers exhibit goods ranging from exotic tea to cleaning and detergent products for an own brand market that industry sources estimate is growing at over 30 per cent a year.

The expo, which makes its debut on the exhibition circuit, features more than 60 companies from over 17 countries including Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Kuwait, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Syria, Turkey and UAE.

'The number of companies who have registered to visit the event illustrates the potential for own brand products to really take off in the Middle East as retailers discover the marketing and financial benefits of branding their goods,' said Justin Boutros, Managing Director, Channels Exhibitions.

Regional exhibitors at the show include Kuwait's Al Sharhan industries, Saudi Arabia's United Food Industries Corporation, and the UAE's Emirates Steel Wool Manufacturing Est, Chemcrown International, IFFCO, Fayfa Chemicals Factory, Gulf Centre for Soaps and Chemical Industries, WJ Towell & Co, Premier Chemical Industry and Hatta Mineral Water.

Sectors covered by the event include food and beverage, health and beauty, home and kitchenware, cleaning and hygiene, stationery, textiles, paper and plastic, and industrial consumables.

The Jebel Ali-based Gulf Centre for Soap and Chemical Industries (GCSCI), which manufactures soaps, personal and home care products and detergents, has seen private label business dominate its markets

Sales manager, Sheshadri Ramesh, said: 'We have seen our private label business increase from 42 per cent to 72 per cent of our production in the last year and it is an area we see scope for further strong growth.

'The fact that Dubai is the region's commercial hub makes it an excellent location for the manufacture and export of private label goods which we sell across the Middle East and to Africa and Russia.'

The show also has Syrian exhibitors and the single largest contingent of 26 companies from Turkey.

PLME 2004 has also attracted local retailers' attention and many are expected to visit the show.

'As demonstrated by its success in Europe, America and the Far East, where industry growth has exceeded that of established national brands in some categories, we expect the concept to gain ground in the Middle East,' said Ashraf Emay, Executive Director, EMKE Group.

'It comes at the right time when we are looking for top-quality products in various categories, which we can brand with our own label and retail through our stores.'

According to a 2003 global study of 36 countries and 80 categories by AC Nielsen, consumers spent 15% of total value spend on private label consumer packaged goods. Europe remains the region with the largest private label share of retail sales at 22%, with North America second at 16%.

PLME 2004 show timings are 9.30 am to 1.00 pm and 5.00 pm until 9.00 pm.

PLME is held under the patronage of the Department of Economic Development, Government of Dubai.

Channels Exhibitions, a pioneer of the trade fair industry within the Middle East, also organises Middle East Exclusive, the annual duty free and travel retailing event, Premium, the annual exhibition for incentives, giftware, corporate gifts, festive decorations and stationery and PhotoWorld-Dubai a new exhibition for Imaging and Digital Photography.