PLMA postpones annual trade show to January

Due to lingering concerns about COVID-19, the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) has rescheduled its annual Private Label Trade Show to Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, 2022, in Chicago.

PLMA said yesterday that the in-person trade show, originally slated for Nov. 14 to 16, 2021, will be held at the same venue, the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

The date change reflects the resurgence of COVID-19 in many areas of the country from the rapid spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus, New York-based PLMA said. According to PLMA President Peggy Davies, the association expects the situation to improve by the end of January as more Americans get vaccinated for COVID-19 — including the release of shots for young children — and more businesses look to resume in-person operations.

“Beginning in the new year, more companies will return to the office, corporate travel restrictions increasingly will be lifted, and people will become more comfortable gathering in large groups,” Davies said in a statement. “And international borders will be reopened, an important factor for the large contingent of national pavilions that attend the Chicago Private Label Trade Show.”

The announcement marks the second time that PLMA has rescheduled its marquee event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2020, the association canceled the annual trade show planned for November and shifted to a new virtual event — PLMA Live! Presents Private Label Week — that was held Feb. 1 to 5 this year. Then in May, PLMA unveiled plans to return to its traditional in-person annual show in mid-November.

Related:SNAP grocery shoppers show affinity for store brands

PLMA said the January event will showcase the latest private-label innovations in food, beverages, nonfoods, health and beauty aids, and home goods, among other categories. The show also will include special features such as the New Product Expo, Idea Supermarket and PLMA Salute to Excellence product awards.

The trade group for the private brands industry, PLMA represents 4,500 member companies in more than 75 countries.

“PLMA recognizes the tremendous value of making in-person connections. We were especially looking forward to hosting our first in-person U.S. trade show since 2019 just a few weeks from now. As we know, the Delta variant came along and changed almost everyone’s plans,” Davies said Wednesday in an email message on the show’s rescheduling. “I assure you that the association will do everything in its power to ensure we provide the best event possible for all trade show participants,” she added. “As plans develop, we will be updating you on what you can expect.”