Private Label

Retailer: Sobeys
Product: Compliments Sensations Thai Golden Purse Hors D'Oeuvres
Award: 2006 PLMA Salute to Excellence, Food & Drink Awards, Appetizers
Price: $6.99 (Canadian)
Comments: Sobeys promoted its premium private label entree line in its Inspired by Compliments magazine and via in-store flyers.

Retailer: Albertsons
Product: Essensia Chocolate Chunk Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich
Award: 2006 PLMA Salute to Excellence, Food & Drink Awards, Ice Cream
Price: $3.49, 28 ounces
Comments: Albertsons promotes its Essensia premium private label line of nearly 200 SKUs via television, coupon offers, and in-store displays.

Retailer: Sobeys
Product: Compliments Sensations Swiss Chocolate Praline Collection
Award: 2006 PLMA Salute to Excellence, Food & Drink Awards, Specialty
Price: $9.99 (Canadian), 250 grams
Comments: This assortment in Sobeys' premium private label line debuted in November 2005.

Retailer: Costco
Product: Kirkland Signature Salon Formula Protein Shampoo
Award: 2006 PLMA Salute to Excellence, Home & Health Awards, Bath and Body
Comments: Kirkland's specialty shampoo is another example of how private label manufacturers and retail partners are learning to respond quickly to consumer preferences in the hair care category.

Retailer: Spartan Stores
Product: Chicken Noodle Soup
Award: 2006 PLMA Salute to Excellence, Food & Drink Awards, Soups
Price: $1.99, 19 ounces
Comments: Spartan offers its 350 independent retailers three tiers of private label products: Spartan Premium, Valu Time and the Full Circle line of natural and organic products.

Retailer: ShopRite/Wakefern Food Corp.
Product: Sparkling Natural Mineral Water
Award: 2006 PLMA Salute to Excellence, Food & Drink Awards, Non-alcoholic Beverages
Price: $1.19, 1-liter
Comments: This sparkling water introduced in February 2006 is part of Wakefern's private label line of imported goods promoted in circulars and brochures distributed in-store and by direct mail. Designers displayed the ShopRite logo inconspicuously so it wouldn't detract from the bottle's imported look.