The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) said it canceled its 2020 Private Label Trade Show in light of continuing uncertainties concerning the health and safety of participants at large-scale, in-person gatherings. The annual show was to take place Nov. 15-17; it will return to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., Nov. 14-16, 2021.

The New York-based association also announced a new virtual event for Feb. 1-5, 2021: “PLMA Live! Presents Private Label Week.” The event will provide retailers and private label manufacturers the opportunity to interact and work together via live video meetings and chat communication tools using PLMA’s own digital platform.

Over the course of five days, with each day dedicated to a different group of product categories, the event will feature online exhibits and private virtual meetings where retail buyers can search for products and network live with store brands suppliers, PLMA said.

Concurrent with Private Label Week, PLMA Live!, PLMA’s industry news and information platform, will deliver five days of dedicated online programming consisting of video reports on major retailing and product trends, together with category-specific content, interviews with industry leaders, and a special series of presentations by top speakers and private label experts.

“Although it is unfortunate the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted plans to hold our annual trade show in November, we are confident that Private Label Week will provide the PLMA members and the industry as a whole with valuable private label sales and marketing solutions when these are most needed,” PLMA President Peggy Davies said. “It combines a highly efficient online platform for retailers and manufacturers to plan and build their store brands business for 2021 in combination with most current and in-depth analysis of product and category trends.”