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PLMA’s 2026 Private Label Trade Show is scheduled for Nov. 15–17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago. The event is expected to fill more than 3,000 booths with nearly 1,900 suppliers from about 60 countries, alongside education sessions, product displays and tools for arranging buyer meetings.
PLMA’s 2026 Private Label Trade Show is scheduled to bring retailers and manufacturers together Nov. 15–17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago, with nearly 1,900 suppliers from about 60 countries set to fill more than 3,000 booths. The program will combine product sourcing with education, a new product showcase and opportunities for buyers and suppliers to arrange meetings before the event.
The show, branded the “Store Brands Marketplace,” will cover food and nonfood categories, including beverages, health and beauty, household products and general merchandise. PLMA says the show floor is at capacity. The scale reflects strong supplier demand, according to Dan Weil, PLMA’s senior director of the Chicago Trade Show, though the organization did not provide a year-over-year comparison in the announcement.
The opening day will emphasize education. PLMA plans an Executive Education Insight Series of expert-led workshops and discussions on trends, challenges and opportunities in the private-brand industry, followed by opening seminars. The schedule also includes appearances by John Conlin of Target, speaking Monday, Nov. 16, at 8 a.m., and Abby Cook of Ahold Delhaize USA, speaking Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 8 a.m.
Exhibits will include World of Ideas, replacing the long-running Idea Supermarket, and the New Product Expo, which is expected to feature hundreds of new food and nonfood items. World of Ideas will also display winners of PLMA’s Salute to Excellence Awards and International Wine Awards. The Mix, Mingle & Unwind Reception has moved from Sunday evening to Monday night at the convention center.
A Marketplace for Store-Brand Buyers
The event offers retailers a concentrated opportunity to compare products and meet manufacturers across a broad range of categories. For buyers considering new or refreshed private-label offerings, the show’s size and product displays may help identify suppliers and ideas, while prearranged appointments can make a busy schedule more targeted.
PLMA president Peggy Davies said the program will showcase how retailers and manufacturers are pursuing quality, differentiation and consumer appeal. Those are the organization’s characterization of the market opportunity, not independently measured results. Weil said buyers also seek cost savings and value being able to inspect products in person. The show’s stated combination of sourcing and education makes it relevant to businesses deciding how their store brands will compete for shoppers.
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What the Chicago Program Includes
PLMA describes the Chicago trade show as a meeting point for retailers and manufacturers working on store-brand products. The 2026 announcement emphasizes a combination of exhibits and business programming: education on the first day, major retailer speakers on the following mornings, and product displays across food and nonfood categories.
Attendees can use PLMA’s Show Navigator to view exhibitor information, plan routes, check the schedule, download supplier and broker directories and preview products through Product Spotlight. Its PLMA Matchmaker feature allows retail buyers to seek appointments with relevant exhibitors ahead of arrival. The announcement describes the tool’s functions but does not report how many meetings have been booked.
““Innovation remains the cornerstone of retailer brand success.””
— Peggy Davies, PLMA president
Attendance and Business Results Remain Unknown
PLMA’s announcement gives the planned dates, program and supplier count, but does not state expected retailer attendance, the number of exhibitors in each category or how many new products will be launched beyond the New Product Expo’s description as featuring hundreds of items. It also does not provide comparative figures from earlier shows or independent evidence of the event’s effect on sales, sourcing costs or product launches.
The listed speakers and schedule are part of the announced program; any changes before the event have not been addressed. The organization’s statement that the floor is at capacity does not, on its own, establish how participation compares with past years.
Buyers Can Plan Before Opening Day
Before the show opens, retail buyers can use Show Navigator and Matchmaker to review suppliers, map their routes and request appointments. PLMA’s announced schedule begins with education on the first day, followed by the show’s product and supplier programming and the Monday-evening reception. The trade show is due to run through Nov. 17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
The next useful indicators will be the event’s final attendance and exhibitor figures, any changes to the schedule, and details about products or partnerships announced on site. Those outcomes were not included in the Nov. 3 announcement.
Key Questions
When and where is PLMA’s 2026 Private Label Trade Show?
It is scheduled for Nov. 15–17, 2026, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago.
How many suppliers are expected?
PLMA says nearly 1,900 suppliers from about 60 countries will fill more than 3,000 booths. The announcement does not give a comparison with previous years.
What will attendees see at the event?
The show will feature food and nonfood suppliers, the New Product Expo, World of Ideas, award-winning products, education sessions and retailer speakers.
Can buyers schedule meetings before the show?
Yes. PLMA says buyers can use Show Navigator’s Matchmaker feature to seek appointments with exhibitors, and can also review products and plan routes through the digital tool.
Who is scheduled to speak?
John Conlin, Target’s senior vice president of merchandising, food and beverage, is scheduled for Nov. 16 at 8 a.m. Abby Cook, Ahold Delhaize USA’s senior vice president of Own Brands, is scheduled for Nov. 17 at 8 a.m.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
