4• November / December 2026• abasto.com BY HERNANDO RAMÍREZ-SANTOS H ispanic products will take center stage at PLMA’s 2026 Private Label Trade Show in No- vember. Exhibitors from across Latin America are expanding the event’s inter- national reach, according to the Private Label Manufac- turers Association (PLMA). The trade show, themed “Store Brands Marketpla- ce,” will take place Novem- ber 15–17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Cen- ter, near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The association also noted that more countries than ever will participate, with se- veral sponsoring multiple pavilions. Buyers will find a wide as- sortment of authentic His- panic foods, beverages, and non-food items. These pro- ducts come from suppliers in the U.S., South America, Asia, Australia, and Europe, the PLMA noted. LATIN AMERICAN EXHIBITORS BRING MORE HISPANIC PRODUCTS Enriketa Beluli, PLMA’s se- nior manager of global pavi- lions, strongly emphasized the region’s momentum. “South American partici- pation seems unstoppable, as it continues to grow every year,” Beluli said. Specifically, companies from Peru, Brazil, Colom- bia, and Chile will exhibit alongside suppliers from Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Together, they will bring a mix of food and be- verages, as well as house- HISPANIC PRODUCTS GAIN GROUND AT THE 2026 PLMA TRADE SHOW hold and health products, she added. Beluli also linked this in- terest to a broader commer- cial objective. “This reflects the region’s growing effort to connect with the U.S. market and showcases its diverse range of high-demand Hispanic products,” she said. WHY PRIVATE- LABEL BRANDS ARE EMBRACING INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS The timing is favorable for Hispanic product suppliers. Sales of ethnic and interna- tional foods and beverages are growing across multiple categories in the U.S., ac- cording to the PLMA. This growth spans both conven- tional supermarkets and specialty stores. The association attributes the trend to international travel, television cooking shows, and the proliferation of ethnic restaurants. Demographics also play a major role. The U.S. Hispa- nic population reached 70.1 million as of July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bu- reau. That figure represents 21% of the country’s total population. Private label is also expe- riencing a record-breaking run. Private labels reached all-time highs of 21.3% in dollar share and 23.5% in unit share in 2025, PLMA reported in April. PLMA REPORTS RECORD INTERNATIONAL REACH Beyond Latin America, the 2026 edition will feature pa- vilions from Japan, Abu Dha- bi, and Israel. An Australian Home & Health pavilion and a second delegation from Vietnam will also make their debut. For now, PLMA projects more than 50 country pa- vilions. International su- ppliers will account for approximately half of the exhibitors and will come from more than 60 coun- tries. Beluli also expects more foreign companies to join. “This year marks a new re- cord for PLMA in terms of in- ternational reach and influen- ce in the industry,” he said. Exhibition space has grown by nearly 20% since 2023, he noted, and interna- tional participants account for much of that increase. Other national groups in- clude Italy, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Den- mark, Poland, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the Netherlands. Belgium will have two pavilions, while Greece and Canada will each have three. Similarly, China, Sou- th Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam will send several delegations. Australia will be present in both halls: Food & Beverage and Home & Health. Additionally, the World of Private Label pavilion will bring together hundreds of individual exhibitors under one roof. Special PLMA insert