Press Release

Private Label Manufacturers' Association's Trade Show - PLMA 2001, is the private label industry's largest marketplace for sourcing private label products with over 2,100 exhibit booths featuring such products as food, snacks, beverages, health and beauty, household, kitchen and general merchandise. Buyers from the top supermarket, drug chains along with mass merchandise buyers will be present.

As this is a strategic event for the retail and wholesale distribution industry, the Italian Trade Commission, through its Chicago USA Offices, has organized an Italian Pavilion comprised of some of the foremost leading Italian makers of private label, representing a broad variety of food and non-food product categories. This pavilion will be located on the main floor of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (booth # 2230) in Rosemont, Illinois within the periphery of Chicago.

"The PLMA show will confirm itself as being once again the strategic meeting point in the name of quality for both manufacturers and distributors", affirmed Dr. Giuseppe Federico, the Italian Trade Commissioner responsible for the Commission's presence at this event. Dr. Federico went on to state the important opportunities this show holds for Italian manufacturers when he said, "The label is always important but the market grants success to the quality of the product behind the label as well, as has been the case with Italian products."

Not only showcasing a diverse line of products to be presented, the Italian Pavilion will also be able to provide you with essential trade information and keep you updated on the current market developments taking place within the Italian Private Label industry. Staff experts will be on hand to assist you in facilitating and scheduling one on one meetings with the several representatives of the participating Italian companies.

According to the Private Label Manufacturersí Associationís latest data, store brands now account for one of every five items sold every day in U.S. supermarkets, drug chains and mass merchandisers and represent a nearly $50 billion segment of the retailing business that is achieving new levels of growth every year.

In light of such findings, at PLMA 2001 you will be presented with a unique opportunity to meet Italian participants who are ready and look forward to providing your company with their latest products to help both enhance your companyís image and strengthen your relationship with consumers.

The Italian Trade Commission is a government agency operating under the auspices of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Trade. The Commission's mandate is to promote trade, industrial and technological cooperation, and to disseminate economic information regarding Italy abroad. The Chicago Office maintains and updates regularly its private label industry web site www.italianprivatelabel.com.