A&P Executive To Cite Product, Packaging And Branding As Keys To Private Label Success In Pack Expo Keynote

Arlington, VA (August 4, 2009) –  Private label sales have experienced significant growth in spite of the challenging economy, thanks in part to new branding strategies being implemented by leading retailers. In the opening keynote address at PACK EXPO 2009 (Oct 5-7; Las Vegas Convention Center; www.packexpo.com), Doug Palmer, Vice President, Own Brands, The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, will provide insight into the evolution of store brands and examine evolving consumer perceptions of the market. The presentation will be delivered on October 5. 

Palmer’s address, entitled “Future of Retailer Packaging and Branding – the A&P Story,” will explore three key elements needed to launch and sustain a strong retail brand: quality product, innovative packaging and the brand itself. Several case studies will be cited, including the introduction of A&P’s Via Roma product line, to demonstrate how to build value into a private brand.

A glimpse into how retailers will continue to enhance the growth of private brands and the importance of strategic relationships with suppliers will also be explored.

A food industry veteran, Palmer has spent much of his career focused on the development of store brand programs. Since joining A&P in 2001, Palmer has been instrumental in reenergizing the A&P Store Brands program with new award-winning brands for organic and natural foods, Italian cuisine, and premium food offerings.

Prior to his current position, Palmer was Vice President of Corporate Brands at Safeway, where he created and launched the successful ‘O Organics’ Brand and was instrumental in rebuilding Safeway’s portfolio of brands.

Palmer is a member of the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council and is active with several private label and food industry associations.

“The A&P story will offer a first-hand account into how one retailer is changing consumer perception of private label with the implementation of sound branding strategy that not only differentiates the product but also attracts people to the store,” comments Charles D. Yuska, president and CEO, PMMI, sponsor and producer of PACK EXPO.

Two other prominent retailers will lead Conference at PACK EXPO keynote presentations. On Tuesday, October 6, Andrew Abraham, vice president, Our Own Brands for SUPERVALU, will challenge packaging suppliers, contract packagers and designers to bring innovative technologies and concepts to the burgeoning private label sector

Closing the keynote programming on Wednesday, October 7 will be Steve Ryder, Store Design and Planning Director, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, and Kevin O’Donnell, Founder, thread collaborative. The duo will provide a behind-the-scenes look at how Fresh & Easy has established itself in the U.S. and its commitment to engage consumers in new ways.

Packagers can register for the keynote addresses and the entire Conference at PACK EXPO program at www.packexpo.com. The fee for registrations received on or before September 15, 2009 will be $55 per session. After that date, and on-site, the cost will increase to $75. Registration for the exhibits at PACK EXPO is required to register for conference program sessions.

To register for PACK EXPO or obtain more information, visit www.packexpo.com or contact PMMI’s Show Department at 703.243.8555 or expo@pmmi.org.

Editor’s Note:

Please note that the Conference at PACK EXPO keynote address on Tuesday, October 6 will now be delivered by Andrew Abraham, group vice president, Our Own Brands for SUPERVALU. Abraham is taking over for Mike Witynski, who has just been named president, Shaw’s Osco and Star Market. Additional details about Andrew Abraham will be made available in the coming days.

About PMMI
PMMI is a trade association with more than 550 member companies that manufacture packaging and packaging-related converting machinery, commercially-available packaging machinery components, containers and materials in the United States and Canada. PMMI’s vision is to be the leading global resource for packaging, and its mission is to improve and promote members’ abilities to succeed in a global marketplace. PMMI organizes the PACK EXPO trade shows: PACK EXPO International, PACK EXPO Las Vegas and EXPO PACK México. Learn more about PMMI at pmmi.org

PACK EXPO Las Vegas will be held October 5-7, 2009 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show will be co-located with PROCESS EXPO and Converting & Package Printing EXPO. PMMI also produces EXPO PACK México, the premier packaging show in Mexico serving the Latin American region. This show will be held June 22–25, 2010 at Centro Banamex, Mexico City, Mexico. PACK EXPO International 2010 will be held Oct. 31–Nov. 3, 2010 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Visit www.packexpo.com for more information.