Retail Strategies & Supplier Insights

There is a quiet conversation happening in retail right now. It usually does not start with, “We are replacing your item.” It starts with something softer. “We’re reviewing the category.” “We’re looking at value options.” “We’re evaluating our private brand strategy.” Suppliers know what that means. Shelf space is being questioned. Margin is being studied.

Private label is no longer a side story. It is one of the main stories in retail right now. PLMA reported that U.S. private label sales reached a record $282.8 billion in 2025 , up 3.3% year over year. National brands grew just 1.2% . Over the past five years, private label dollar sales increased $64.8 billion , and dollar share rose from 19.1% to 21.3% . Unit share reached a record 23.5% . That is not a blip. That is momentum. And the story is evolving. Circana said this we

Retail media is having a moment. Actually, that undersells it. U.S. advertisers spent $60.32 billion on retail media in 2025, and eMarketer forecasts that number will rise to $71.09 billion in 2026. IAB says commerce media remains the fastest-growing digital advertising channel, even as growth begins to mature. In other words, this is no fad. It is now a serious line item in the supplier budget.

There was a time when private label mostly meant “cheaper alternative.” Not anymore. Private label sales in the U.S. reached a record $282.8 billion in 2025, and store brands grew 3.3%, nearly triple the growth rate of national brands at 1.2%. They also hit all-time highs of 21.3% dollar share and 23.5% unit share. In food and beverage specifically, private label now holds about 23% market share. That is not a side story. That is the story.

If private label still feels like “the cheap alternative,” you’re reading last decade’s script. Today, store brands are a core strategy. Retailers are building them like real brands—tiered, designed, marketed, and measured like a profit engine. And the numbers are blunt.

Mid-February is when a lot of suppliers ask the same question: “Why isn’t this promo converting like it used to?” You’re not imagining it.

By early December, most suppliers are looking at the same thing: big, beautiful holiday sales numbers… and a deduction report that feels like a crime scene. Retailers are forecasting more than $1 trillion in U.S. holiday sales this year, with November and December accounting for around 19% of annual retail sales. That’s the good news.

Product photography isn’t decoration. It’s conversion, returns, and compliance—rolled into pixels.

Private label (store brands) isn’t “coming.” It’s here—growing, confident, and better funded than ever. In 2024, U.S. store brands set record shares and surpassed $270B in sales; 2025 projections push even higher.

SNAP is moving. Not just the dollar amounts—but timing, eligibility, and how shoppers use those dollars. If you sell food and beverages, you’ll feel it. Some of it will be a breeze at your back. Some of it? A headwind.

If you’ve ever tried to get your product onto a retail shelf, you already know—it’s not easy. Retail buyers are swamped, competition is fierce, and retailers expect suppliers to deliver not just a product, but a plan. This is where a food broker comes in. Think of a food broker as the “middle gear” in the retail machine. They don’t own your product, but they help move it forward by connecting you with the right buyers, negotiating terms, and ensuring your product actually se

Let’s be blunt: private label isn’t a “recession play” anymore. It’s a structural shift in how baskets are built.

Navigating the retail world can feel like trying to find your way through a dense forest without a map. You know there’s a path to success, but the twists and turns can be overwhelming.

Shoppers buy the image first, then the product. Low-quality product photos don’t just hurt conversion—they can trigger returns, bad reviews, or even compliance flags.

What is Product Photography? (Simple Definition) Product photography is the disciplined process of planning, lighting, styling, and capturing images of a product, allowing customers to evaluate it online or in print.

Walk into a buyer meeting and you’ll hear the usual questions: What’s your case cost? Can you meet our OTIF standards? How do you support...

You get the email. “Just wanted to let you know I’ve accepted a new role…” And just like that, your champion at retail is gone. Now What?...

Learn how small CPG brands can compete with giants by partnering with Woodridge Retail Group for tailored strategies and retail success.

Discover how partnering with a food broker can accelerate your brand's growth in the competitive food industry.

Walmart’s Q2 2024 earnings report shows how American shoppers navigate today’s marketplace and can help you improve your strategy.