Private Label Trade Show (PLMA) 2024

In the United States, as in many other countries, the private label market is growing rapidly, and consumers have fully integrated it into their consumption habits. Indeed, the increase in food prices has led to a search for good quality products at affordable prices. It is also a good way to export your product to a new market without investing money in marketing.

The Private Label Manufacturers Association Show is the most important annual event in North America for this type of product. The show hosts more than 1,600 exhibitors from 59 different countries. Of all the trade shows, PLMA attracts the most buyers from Europe, South America, and Asia who are looking for private label products.

It’s an event not to be missed. Spots are very limited!

Exhibit at this trade show in a generic formula, under the Group Export’s umbrella, and benefit from several advantages including:

• Structure;
• Carpet, undercarpet padding;
• Lighting;
• 1 flag logo;
• 1 counter 40”;
• 3 shelves;
• 1 table 30”;
• 2 chairs;
• 1 wastebasket.

Please note that to be able to exhibit at PLMA, you must be a member of the Private Label Manufacturers Association. If you are not, you will need to pay a membership fee of US$1,500 directly to the association.

Options:

• 100 sqf turnkey booth: $4,800
• 100 sqf turnkey corner booth: $5,300
• 200 sqf turnkey corner booth: $10,000

Market Data

Private Label Products (PLP)

According to Global Affairs Canada (Sector Trend Analysis – Private Labels in the United States), high inflation will continue to drive consumers towards PLP due to rising inflation and decreasing real per capita income. Retailers have fueled this demand through tactics such as freezing PLP prices.

In 2022, bakery products represented the largest category of PLP with a market value of USD 11.8 billion, followed by meat and seafood products, processed fruits and vegetables, and salty snacks. Together, these categories accounted for nearly half of the U.S. packaged PLP market.

Financial assistance for exhibitors

Reimbursement of a travel lump sum of $850 per person, for a maximum of two lump sums per company.

• To benefit from the lump sum, the company must absolutely provide proof of travel (e.g. airline, train, bus ticket, etc. with complete itinerary or gas receipt near destination) AND proof of accommodation (e.g. official hotel invoice, AirBNB, etc.).
• To obtain two travel lump sum reimbursements, the same proof mentioned above is requested for each reimbursement.
  • If the two people share the same transportation (e.g. carpooling), two separate proofs of accommodation will be required and the name of the company or traveler must appear on them (e.g. two hotel bills).
  • If the two people share the same accommodation, two separate proofs of transportation will be required (e.g. two airline tickets).

The Group Export reserves the right to request any additional supporting documentation.

• You will be entitled to an extra $500 per lump sum if your company is located in one of the following regions: Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Côte-Nord, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Nord-du-Québec.
• 75% financial assistance on the additional costs of setting up your booth and sending samples (when consolidating with Group Export) up to a maximum of $6,000 in eligible expenses per company.

By registering to this event, you agree to complete and return the activity report which will be forwarded to you shortly. You will have 60 days following the event to send us back the completed report, otherwise you may be required to reimburse the subsidies received for this activity. The data that will be compiled is for the sole purpose of evaluating the economic benefits of this activity.

Financial assistance for visitors

Reimbursement of a travel lump sum of $850 per company. You will be entitled to an extra $500 per lump sum if your company is located in one of the following regions: Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Côte-Nord, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Nord-du-Québec.

• To obtain one travel lump sum reimbursement:
  • The company must imperatively provide proof of travel (e.g., an invoice of flight, train, bus, etc. with complete itinerary or receipt for the purchase of gas near the place of destination) AND a proof of accommodation (e.g., official hotel invoice, AirBNB, etc.). Accommodation must have been paid for; redemptions of bonus points of any kind remove the right to this subsidy.

The Group Export reserves the right to request any additional supporting documents.

Cancellation Policy

The Group Export Agri-Food is a non-profit organization who manages export financial programs from the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec and from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

As a government program manager, Group Export has defined a general cancellation policy to follow when participating in a trade show. Policy’s details are as follows:

When a participation or registration form is signed by a representative of a company, this company becomes liable to the Group Export Agri-Food, as this form is a contract between the company and the Association.

• In the five days following registration, the company must pay, as a deposit, 50% of participation fees. This amount can be paid by check, direct deposit or credit card by contacting Group Export’s financial department at 450-649-6266. Direct deposits are preferred.
• The remaining 50% of participation fees must be paid at least 60 days before the activity.
• If the company does not respect these terms, Group Export Agri-Food has the right to cancel the company’s participation.
• When a company is cancelling its participation:
• • If the company or the Group Export Agri-Food finds a replacing participant, the full amount will be reimbursed, except for a $200 administration fee, as soon as a replacing participant has paid in full the amount due.
  • In case a substitute cannot be found, all other incurred charges, including 100% of the invoice for a space reservation, would be charged to the company.
  • All cancellation requests must be made in writing and be addressed to the person in charge of the activity, whose name appears on the participation form.

This policy was ratified by the Group Export’s Board of Directors on February 14, 2008.

Eligibility for Exhibitors and Visitors

To qualify as an exhibitor or visitor, the company must:

• Meet all eligibility criteria for provincial and federal subsidies applicable to this activity;
• Hold a license number from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) or demonstrate that it is not required for its type of business;
• Have a registration number with the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

The Group Export reserves the right to refuse any registration for this activity.