Dive Summary:

• In a new report by research group Packaged Foods, sales of store brand foods rose by an astonishing 6% in 2011 topping out at $98 billion.
• This increase has been attributed to a more budget minded consumer and an increase in quality in most store brands and private labels.
• Store's are also looking to expand their brands, developing new products and consolidating their inventories in order to cash in on this continuing trend. 
   

From the article:

Related news: The private label dilemma: To be or not to be?Could private label be losing its luster?What's driving private labels? Private label market set to double, says RabobankShoppers continue to switch to private label: SurveySales of private label food and beverage products in the United States topped $98 billion 2011, according to a new report from market research firm Packaged Facts. Products in this category accounted for 17.6% of total retail food and beverage sales, the report said, and posted a 6% year-over-year sales growth. The days when a store brand meant "bare...