PLMA is proud to present the winners of its 2026 International Salute to Excellence Awards, celebrating the best of the best in private label. These awards honour retailers for their excellence in innovation, product development and quality in building successful private label programmes.
This year, over 600 products submitted by 69 retailers representing 27 countries were selected for consideration. Categories included food, beverages, health & beauty and home & household. Panels of international experts evaluated each entry based on its product concept; taste, aroma, and texture; packaging and presentation; and overall value for money. In total 106 products from 46 retailers were selected as winners in their respective categories
Also this year, the International Salute to Excellence Wine Awards celebrated outstanding achievement in private label wines, recognizing excellence in quality and value. From a highly competitive field of 108 wines, 24 winning wines were selected by an expert panel of judges.
PLMA extends its gratitude to all participating retailers, and a special congratulations to this year’s winners. Your commitment to innovation and product development continues to inspire the private label industry.
The Rules and Process
Nominations for the 2026 International PLMA Salute to Excellence Awards are open to retailers, wholesalers and PLMA member companies. To be eligible, products must be submitted in the retailer’s own packaging, as they are sold on store shelves. All nominated products must be new to the market and have been introduced within the past 12 months.
Judges
To ensure a broad and inclusive perspective, judges are selected from various countries, bringing international expertise to the evaluation process. Their diverse backgrounds help ensure that products are assessed with a global understanding of consumer preferences, taste profiles, and market trends.
