Brian Sharoff, President of the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) and a visionary leader who had a profound impact on the development of private label at a global level, has passed away at the age of 77.
The PLMA confirmed the news this morning, saying that Sharoff passed away on Saturday (23 May) after a short illness.
Leading The Way
Sharoff was named President of the PLMA in 1981, shortly after the business' formation, and over the next four decades led the way in terms of furthering the development of store brands across global retail.
During his tenure, the group expanded out of its New York base to open an international office in Amsterdam, as well as a representative office in Shanghai.
He also oversaw the development of the PLMA's annual trade shows in Amsterdam and Chicago, considered the must-attend events for suppliers and buyers in the private label sector.
Focus And Dedication
“Today is a sad day for the entire PLMA family,” said Lisa Manzoline, director of sales for Reynolds Consumer Products and chairman of the board of directors of PLMA.
“Under Brian Sharoff’s tremendous focus and dedication, the Private Label Manufacturers Association has grown to become a vital and essential resource for suppliers and retailers around the globe. Brian’s leadership will be greatly missed.”
Brian Sharoff is survived by his wife Judith, daughter Alexandra, son Peter, five grandchildren, and sister Shirley Sharoff.
On a personal level, ESM has worked closely with Sharoff and the PLMA team since the publication's foundation in 2009, and we would like to pass on our sincere condolences to his family and colleagues.
PLMA's World of Private Label trade show takes place at RAI Amsterdam on 2 and 3 December.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
