Hispanic products will hold a prominent place at PLMA’s 2026 Private Label Trade Show next month. Exhibitors from across Latin America are widening the event’s international reach, according to the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA).
The show, themed “Store Brands Marketplace,” runs Nov. 15-17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. In addition, the association said more countries than ever will take part, and several will sponsor multiple pavilions.
Buyers, in turn, will find a wide assortment of authentic Hispanic food, beverage and nonfood items. Those goods come from suppliers in the U.S., South America, Asia, Australia and Europe, PLMA said.
Latin American Exhibitors Bring More Hispanic Products
Enriketa Beluli, PLMA’s senior manager of global pavilions, described the region’s momentum in strong terms.
“South American participation is seemingly unstoppable as it continues to grow every year,” Beluli said.
Specifically, companies from Peru, Brazil, Colombia and Chile will exhibit alongside suppliers from Guatemala, Costa Rica and Mexico. Together, they will bring a mix of foods and beverages plus home and health goods, she added.
Beluli also tied that interest to a broader commercial goal.
“This reflects the region’s growing effort to connect with the domestic market and showcases its diverse range of high-demand Hispanic products,” she said.
Why Store Brands Lean On International Flavors
The timing favors suppliers of Hispanic products. Sales of ethnic and international foods and beverages are growing across multiple U.S. categories, PLMA said. That growth spans both mainstream supermarkets and specialized stores.
The association credits overseas travel, television cooking shows and the spread of ethnic restaurants for the trend.
Demographics add further weight. The U.S. Hispanic population reached 70.1 million as of July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau. That figure equals 21% of the nation’s total.
Meanwhile, retailers market many of these items as store brands, placing their own names on the packaging. These lines save shoppers while giving grocers competitive differentiation and a separate revenue stream.
Citing Circana data, PLMA calculates that U.S. consumers saved about $35 billion last year by choosing store brands over national brands.
Private label is also on a record run. Store brands hit all-time highs of 21.3% in dollar share and 23.5% in unit share in 2025, PLMA reported in April.
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PLMA Reports Record International Reach
Beyond Latin America, the 2026 edition will add pavilions from Japan, Abu Dhabi and Israel. A Home & Health Australian Pavilion and a second group from Vietnam will also debut.
At this stage, PLMA projects more than 50 country pavilions. International suppliers will make up approximately half of all exhibitors and represent more than 60 countries. Furthermore, Beluli expects additional overseas companies to join.
“This year is a new record for PLMA in terms of the international scope and influence in the industry,” she said.
Exhibit space has grown nearly 20% since 2023, she noted, and foreign participants account for much of that gain.
Other national groups include Italy, France, Spain, the U.K., Denmark, Poland, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine and the Netherlands. Belgium will host two pavilions, while Greece and Canada will each field three.
Likewise, China, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam will send several delegations. Australia will appear in both the Food & Beverages and Home & Health halls.
Additionally, the World of Private Label Pavilion will gather hundreds of individual exhibitors under one umbrella.
What Buyers Will Find On The Show Floor
Product variety extends well past the grocery aisle. Visitors can explore wellness-focused snacks, skincare, wireless audio and gaming items alongside traditional foods and beverages.
Beluli considers that diversity one of the event’s defining strengths. Attendees may arrive seeking one category, she said, yet often leave having discovered a new market or an emerging trend.
Finally, the Self-Care & Wellness section will feature skincare, beauty and wellness goods from 50 manufacturers. Those companies come from countries including Colombia, Turkey, and South Korea.
Retailers and wholesalers seeking Hispanic products for their own labels can find attendance details at plma.com.