US national brands' efforts to protect themselves from private-label product encroachment appear to be producing results, as signs emerge that private-label products have hit their growth limit: SymphonyIRI

Cindy Allen

CHICAGO , November 13, 2012 (press release) – It’s no secret that the struggling economy has been a boon for marketers of private label products. Not content to coast on increased consumer acceptance of store brands as consumers look for ways to cut costs during the recession, retailers have intently focused on growing their store brand programs. National brand manufacturers, meanwhile, have developed new strategies to protect their brands from private label encroachment by offering new value, quality and innovation. The latest SymphonyIRI Times & Trends Report, “Reversal of Fortune: National Brands Pick up Gains on Private Label,” explores this ongoing battle and reveals that national brand marketers’ efforts have been producing results, evidenced by private label share losses across many CPG categories and channels during the past two years.

Utilizing SymphonyIRI’s newly released total U.S. multi-outlet geographies for the first time, this edition of Times & Trends digs even deeper and broader into private label trends than previous reports. The new coverage, which will be regularly leveraged in Times & Trends reports going forward, brings perspective on Walmart, military commissaries and select club and dollar retail chains to the traditional food, drug and mass outlet coverage of earlier scanner data-based reports.

“Signs that private label may be hitting a proverbial glass ceiling have emerged during the past couple of years,” says Daniel Grubbs, principal, Symphony Consulting, SymphonyIRI Group. “While private label has made some impressive gains, our new report reinforces the fact that private label has entered a phase where there are pockets of growth among categories and retailers, rather than a general expansion. Private label’s success still relies heavily on price discounts, and private label purchases are quite concentrated among a minority of shoppers.”

Shopper Patterns

The following is a glimpse of the share trends, purchase segments, and discounting and merchandising analyses found in the Times & Trends report:

Share Trends: Penetration continues to be a key influencer of private label share. Penetration has slid across a majority of CPG channels during the past two years, with the exception of the club channel, which has seen private label penetration increase more than one point since 2010, to just under 43 percent. Penetration gains are also helping to support growth at the category level, including categories such as internal analgesics and refrigerated salad/coleslaw, where private label share has historically been above average.
Purchase Segments: Private label sales are quite concentrated. At present, the top one-third of private label buyers account for nearly two-thirds of all private label sales. And, while overall private label penetration is nearly universal, private label penetration is below 25 percent across three-quarters of CPG categories.
Discounting and Merchandising: Average savings offered by private label CPG options varies considerably, but, on average, is in the double-digit range across more than three-quarters of the largest CPG categories. Despite the measurable discount offered by many private label CPG products, the last two years have witnessed a growing average private label price per volume and a declining private label price gap versus the category as a whole.

Category Opportunities

Private label unit share trends were mixed across a majority of departments during the past year, evidence of the resolve and deftness of retailers and name brand manufactures in serving consumers on an unwavering pursuit for value. Private label boasts above average and increasing share across 19 of the 100 largest CPG categories. Across a strong majority of these categories, penetration is on the rise, in some instances substantially. Private label is “up and coming,” with share below average but on the increase in 41 of the 100 largest CPG categories. The up and coming category showing the largest private label jump hails from the snack aisles, where private label currently holds a 12 percent share of dollar sales and 17 percent of volume sales. While this figure has been largely flat during the past year, several snack categories are seeing private label share grow.

Private label share is on the decline in 40 of the 100 largest CPG categories. In these categories, innovation is often playing a key role in thwarting private label in-roads. Price is also a key influencer of trends in this area and is critical to monitor in the coming weeks and months, as private label prices are rising more quickly versus industry average.

“National brands have clearly gotten the message from their private label competitors: providing consumers low prices and, more importantly, solid value, will drive sales and share gains,” concludes Susan Viamari, editor, Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI. “Marketers from both sides of the table are working to establish balance in their co-dependent relationship and serve consumers well. The key to success is the ability to provide perceived and real value for consumers in all life stages and circumstances.”

SymphonyIRI Times & Trends Webinar

SymphonyIRI is offering a free webinar, entitled “Reversal of Fortune: National Brands Pick up Gains on Private Label,” at 12 p.m. CT on Nov. 29. To register for this webinar, hosted by Susan Viamari, editor of Times & Trends, visit: http://www.symphonyiri.com/NewsEvents/EventsWebinars/PrivateLabel/tabid/281/Default.aspx.

About the Report

The Times & Trends Report, “Reversal of Fortune: National Brands Pick up Gains on Private Label,” is a free report available from SymphonyIRI, the world’s leading innovation partner that enables CPG, retail and healthcare companies to create and maximize new opportunities. The findings of this report were compiled based on information from SymphonyIRI Consumer Network™ and SymphonyIRI Market Advantage™. To download the report, visit: http://www.symphonyiri.com/Insights/Publications/TimesTrends/tabid/106/Default.aspx.

About SymphonyIRI Group, Inc.

SymphonyIRI Group is a global leader in innovative solutions and services for the CPG, retail and healthcare industries. SymphonyIRI uniquely combines powerful market and shopper information, predictive analytics, flexible technology solutions and consulting services to help its clients drive and grow their businesses. For more information, visit: http://www.SymphonyIRI.com.

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