Organised for the sixth year in a row, the Salute to Excellence Awards forms part of the Trade Show, taking place on 21-22 May at the RAI Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam. This world-renowned event is the highlight of the year for retailers and wholesalers seeking inspiration or catching up on the latest private label trends in the market. SPAR Partners from around the world are also in attendance, gathering to review best practice in private label and share insights on successful strategies.
The three winning SPAR International products – SPAR Natural Mini Corn Cakes with Rosemary, SPAR Natural Cashew & Fig Organic Fruit and Nut Bar, and SPAR Natural Organic Fairtrade Extra Dark Chocolate – were among some 500 private label products submitted for evaluation by 83 retailers from 23 countries. The entries were separated into four categories (Food, Beverage, Home & Household, and Health & Beauty), and were evaluated by a panel of judges for taste, quality, appearance, packaging, product concept and value for money.
Other winning SPAR products were:
In Europe, private label gains have been climbing to an all-time high, with Nielsen research showing that market share for private label increased in 12 of 19 countries researched – now standing at 30% or higher in 17 countries.
Commenting on the awards, Tobias Wasmuht, Managing Director of SPAR International said: “Across all of our markets, we are witnessing increased health consciousness amongst consumers. To address this trend, we have developed the SPAR Natural Own Brand range of products to complement our other ranges. These PLMA Awards are further proof that we are responding to market needs and we are delighted to have been recognised at this prestigious international event.”
SPAR Partners from around the world benefit from having access to not only these but also other award-winning products in the range of internationally sourced own brands available through SPAR International, bringing greater diversity in product offer sourced from local experts.