PLMA’s Private Label Trade Show continues to show impressive growth, with a 15% YOY increase in exhibitors from last year. It’s no surprise, since private label brand sales in the food and beverage industry are growing at a steady rate and consistently holding a larger percentage of market share. According to published data on PLMA’s website, annual store brand sales reached $236.3 billion at the end of 2023, an increase of $10.1 billion from the previous year, setting an all-time high. PLMA also reports annual store brand dollar sales increased by 34% over the last four years. A Forbes Magazine article written 8/30/24 reports that according to data from Circana and PLMA, private labels now hold a 22.9% share of total unit volume and a 20.4% share of total dollar sales.

According to KerryDigest Full Scoop, private label sales reflect a market share of 24-44% for categories like vegetables, fresh meat, cheese products, as well as paper and plastics. Those same segments are showing 3.7% – 7.5% growth from last year, while national brands are showing growth that is flat or modest, ranging from -.2% – 3.1%.

The growth in private label is reflected in SPBCo’s client base. “We’ve noticed over the past few years that private label is a larger and larger share of our business”, said SPBCo’s  Chairman and President Tom Liebl. He said, “Our membership in PLMA—and participation in the Private Label Trade Show specifically—aligns perfectly with our business and gives us a great opportunity to meet and develop relationships with both current and future clients”.

To meet the increased capacity needs of private label brands, SPBCo has an aggressive growth strategy underway. SPBCo’s VP & General Manager Scott Monnot said, “SPBCo continues to grow as private label grows, since more than 75% of the folding cartons we produce are for private label brands. This is what we do, this is what we specialize in, and we continue to expand our capacity with the addition of key manufacturing assets across the operation, to support the growth of our private label clients”.

We’ve already added an additional windowing machine and another folder/gluer w/case-packer in 2023, and added a fully automated robotic palletizing cell and conveying system in early 2024. By October of 2024 we will have completed the install of an additional diecutter, with yet another folder/gluer line w/case-packer scheduled for install in November. With the increase in private label demand by retailers and consumers, coupled with the increased capacity created by SPBCo’s recent capital investments, we stand ready to support our manufacturing clients’ needs for high-quality folding cartons and paperboard packaging.

~Chad Schaefer

G7 Master Facility Colorspace

This is the third level of G7 compliance and the most stringent. G7 Colorspace includes all the requirements of the G7 Targeted level (and therefore the G7 Grayscale level) and adds the matching to an entire Reference Print Condition.  This qualification specifies a step-by-step method for calibrating proofing systems and presses to a colorimetrically-gray tone curve and demonstrates that we are maintaining extremely tight tolerances throughout the whole color space.

Quality and repeatability are important to our customer base. Our commitment to the G7 method is yet another example of how we’re maximizing our Key Performance Metrics, for the external benefit of our blue-chip customer base. 

We are extremely proud of our SPBCo team for once again, achieving G7 Master Facility Colorspace Qualification.  

The 2 day audit was completed on 9/30/20 and represents the 13^th consecutive audit from this internationally recognized 3^rd party food safety education organization.  All 13 of SPBCo’s AIB audits have achieved scores that equate to the former Superior level, the highest achievement possible. In 2013, AIB International discontinued the use of ratings designations and focused exclusively on a single score metric and continuous improvement practices in the 5 audit categories.  

As an integral element of SPBCo’s mission to manage utilizing Key Performance Metrics, this 975 out of 1000 composite score, serves as a continuing commitment to quality compliance for our customers in the food and hygienic-oriented industries.

G7 COLORSPACE

This is the third level of G7 compliance and the most stringent. G7 Colorspace includes all the requirements of the G7 Targeted level (and therefore the G7 Grayscale level) and adds the matching to an entire Reference Print Condition.  This qualification specifies a step-by-step method for calibrating proofing systems and presses to a colorimetrically-gray tone curve and demonstrates that we are maintaining extremely tight tolerances throughout the whole color space.

 Quality and repeatability are important to our customer base. Our commitment to the G7 method is yet another example of how we’re maximizing our internal performance metrics for the external benefit of our blue-chip customer base. 

We are extremely proud of our team for achieving G7 Master Qualification.  With this certification, SPBCo continues to show our commitment to deliver quality packaging solutions consistently to our current and prospective customers. 

The 2 day audit was completed on 4/6/18 and represents the 12^th consecutive audit from this internationally recognized 3^rd party food safety education organization.  All 12 of SPBCo’s AIB audits have achieved scores that equate to the former Superior level, the highest achievement possible. In 2013, AIB International discontinued the use of ratings designations and focused exclusively on a single score metric and continuous improvement practices in the 5 audit categories.  

As an integral element of SPBCo’s mission to manage utilizing key performance metrics, this 960 out of 1000 composite score serves as a continuing commitment to quality compliance for our customers in the food and hygienic-oriented industries.

The 2 day audit was completed on 3/31/17 and represents the 11th consecutive audit from this internationally recognized 3rd party food safety education organization.  All 11 of SPBCo’s AIB audits have achieved scores that equate to the former Superior level, the highest achievement possible. In 2013, AIB International discontinued the use of ratings designations and focused exclusively on a single score metric and continuous improvement practices in the 5 audit categories. 

As an integral element of SPBCo’s mission to manage utilizing key performance metrics, this 940 out of 1000 composite score serves as a continuing commitment to quality compliance for our customers in the food and hygienic-oriented industries.

To support our growth, an efficient, state-of-the-art receiving/loading dock area has been designed to connect and flow into additional warehousing and manufacturing areas.  Groundbreaking is scheduled for mid-winter 2017 and is being coordinated with the delivery of a new 7-color, large format printing press; SPBCo’s second such acquisition in only 3 years. 

The new KBA 145 Rapida press is being added to our manufacturing processes to help facilitate growth, reduce delivery cycle times and further maintain our ability to deliver products that meet the demanding requirements of the marketplace.  Fully equipped for the efficient production of folding cartons, this press incorporates the latest in offset print technology delivering press speeds, ease of operation and superior color control that define the leading edge of our industry. 

Looking forward, SPBCo’s outlook is one of optimism.   Our growth and expansion allow us the opportunity to continue to develop our marketing area, improve our processes and add employment prospects to our community.   Looking back, we are grateful and humbled by our 93 years of service to our customers, the dedication of our employees and their commitment to SPBCo’s success. 

The 2 day audit was completed on 2/2/16 and represents the 10^th consecutive audit from this internationally recognized 3^rd party food safety education organization.  All 10 of SPBCo’s AIB audits have achieved scores that equate to the former Superior level, the highest achievement possible. In 2013, AIB International discontinued the use of ratings designations and focused exclusively on a single score metric and continuous improvement practices in the 5 audit categories. 

As an integral element of SPBCo’s mission to manage utilizing key performance metrics, this 925 out of 1000 composite score serves as a continuing commitment to quality compliance for our customers in the food and hygienic-oriented industries.

SPBCo is proud of this Walgreens certification and of the continued commitment to the private label demands of our customers that it represents.  Along with major capital investments over the past 18 months in a new 57” 7 color KBA printing press and a new Screen computer-to-plate (CTP) system, this Full Certification Status assures a high level of print quality and system compliance.