Private-label sales hit record $282.8B in 2025

Core Insights - Private-label retail sales in the United States reached a record $282.8 billion in 2025, marking an increase of over $9 billion from 2024, driven by a shift in consumer priorities towards value, quality, health, and sustainability [1] Group 1: Sales Performance - Store-brand sales increased nearly three times the rate of national brands, with a growth of 3.3% compared to only 1.2% for national brands for the 52 weeks ending Dec. 28, 2025 [2] - Store-brand unit volume rose by 434.3 million to 68.7 billion, setting a new record, while national brands experienced a decline of 0.6% [2] - From 2021 to 2025, annual store-brand dollar sales increased by $64.8 billion, or 30%, with dollar share rising from 19.1% to 21.3% [3] Group 2: Department Performance - The refrigerated department saw the most significant expansion in dollar sales, gaining 6.1% in store-brand revenue, followed by beverages with a 4.8% increase [4] - Other categories also showed growth, including pet care (up 5.4%), liquor (up 4.4%), and beverages (up 2.3%) [6] Group 3: Awards and Recognition - Walmart and Sam's Club were recognized as major winners in the PLMA's Salute to Excellence Awards, earning 14 awards in the Food & Drink category [4] - Other grocers, including Albertsons, Aldi, and Whole Foods, also received multiple awards, highlighting the competitive landscape in the store-brand sector [5] Group 4: Emerging Trends - PLMA identified five key trends from over 800 submissions: products for babies and kids, food bowls, ethnic flavors, unique flavored beverages, and fruit-scented household goods [6]