The Private Label Shift Is No Longer Quiet — It’s a Global Power Move
Private label used to mean compromise. A cheaper, plainer, usually forgettable version of something better sitting beside it on the shelf.
That’s not how the story reads in 2025.
This year, private label is the story. And it’s not just about saving money — it’s about retailers becoming brand architects, quality trendsetters, and in many cases, category leaders.
In almost every global grocery chain, private label sales are growing faster than national brands. The reason? These products now deliver on more than price. They deliver on health, ethics, convenience, and flavor — wrapped in packaging designed to feel like a premium discovery, not a second-tier fallback.
Why Private Label Is Thriving in 2025
Several factors are behind the continued growth of private label this year:
Consumer trust in retailers is at an all-time high — especially in Europe and North America
Economic pressure is driving trial — but quality is driving repeat purchase
Retailers have more control over margins, shelf space, and supply chains
Sustainability goals are easier to implement with owned brands
Social media and influencer marketing are now used to position private label as aspirational
This shift isn’t limited to budget lines either. Many of the fastest-growing private labels are in premium, organic, and health-driven categories.
Top 10 Private Label Brands by 2025 Sales
Rank | Private Label Brand | Retailer | 2025 Est. Sales (USD B) | Main Categories |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kirkland Signature | Costco | $64.0 | Groceries, apparel, health products |
2 | Great Value | Walmart | $36.2 | Grocery staples, snacks, household goods |
3 | Aldi Store Brands | Aldi | $35.0 | Budget groceries, bakery, dairy |
4 | Lidl Private Label Range | Lidl | $29.8 | Dairy, bakery, household essentials |
5 | Trader Joe’s (Own Brand) | Trader Joe’s | $16.0 | Gourmet, global, and healthy foods |
6 | Tesco Finest | Tesco | $10.4 | Premium ready meals, wine, deli |
7 | Target Good & Gather | Target | $7.8 | Snacks, produce, meal kits |
8 | Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference | Sainsbury’s | $5.2 | Premium food, frozen meals |
9 | 365 by Whole Foods Market | Whole Foods (Amazon) | $5.5 | Organic and natural foods |
10 | Carrefour Bio | Carrefour | $3.6 | Organic produce, eco-friendly staples |
1. Kirkland Signature — When Private Label Outshines the National Brands
📍 Retailer: Costco
💰 Est. 2025 Sales: $64 billion
Kirkland is the private label most global retailers wish they’d built first.
What started as a budget alternative has morphed into a flagship offering spanning groceries, vitamins, clothes, and even wine. Costco’s members are fiercely loyal to Kirkland — sometimes buying items because they’re Kirkland, not in spite of it.
Key to its success:
Massive scale = national brand quality at lower cost
Partnered production: major brands quietly produce Kirkland SKUs
Strong consistency in packaging, taste, and performance
From maple syrup to protein bars, Kirkland Signature is the most successful private label in modern retail history.
2. Great Value — Everyday Goods, Everyday Presence
📍 Retailer: Walmart
💰 Est. 2025 Sales: $36.2 billion
Great Value may not have the premium polish of newer entrants, but its visibility and ubiquity are unmatched. In every Walmart aisle, Great Value anchors the store brand promise: value without sacrifice.
In 2025, Walmart has leaned into:
Sustainable packaging
Health-conscious reformulations (low sodium, fewer additives)
Plant-based variants and gluten-free lines
Walmart’s strategy is simple: meet expectations and stay affordable. And it works. Great Value commands huge volume.
3. Aldi’s Private Label Empire — The Budget Boutique Model
📍 Retailer: Aldi
💰 Est. 2025 Sales: $35 billion (aggregate of store brands)
Aldi’s stores are filled almost entirely with private label — yet they don’t feel generic. That’s because Aldi has mastered the art of curated minimalism.
Each product line has:
Sleek, modern packaging
Limited SKUs to reduce decision fatigue
Occasional premium surprises like Wagyu burgers or champagne
And while shoppers may not remember the name of each Aldi label, the experience is unforgettable. In 2025, Aldi’s focus on sustainable sourcing and European-style merchandising continues to drive growth in the US and EU.
4. Lidl — Matching Aldi in Volume, Outpacing in Innovation
📍 Retailer: Lidl
💰 Est. 2025 Sales: $29.8 billion
Lidl’s private label strategy is similar to Aldi’s — but with an edge in design and category experimentation.
New additions in 2025 include:
Ready-to-eat vegan Asian meals
Limited-time artisan bakery lines
In-house crafted plant-based desserts
Lidl’s private label products are regularly compared to national brands in blind taste tests — and often win. Lidl also invests heavily in photography and packaging, making its shelves visually appealing despite being 80% private label.
5. Trader Joe’s — The Brand Without a Brand
📍 Retailer: Trader Joe’s
💰 Est. 2025 Sales: $16 billion
Everything at Trader Joe’s is private label. But instead of calling it that, they simply brand products under charming, themed names — like “Trader Giotto’s” pasta or “Trader José” taco kits.
The strategy works because it feels:
Curated (not mass-produced)
Global (with influences from every cuisine)
Playful (with handwritten signs and clever product blurbs)
In 2025, Trader Joe’s continues to grow thanks to seasonal rotations, cult product returns, and an unshakable brand personality.
6. Tesco Finest — Making Private Label Feel Premium
📍 Retailer: Tesco
💰 Est. 2025 Sales: $10.4 billion
Tesco has long been one of the most advanced private label developers in the world. And its “Finest” tier is the gold standard for upmarket store brands.
Examples include:
Truffle-infused gnocchi
Dry-aged beef
Handcrafted desserts
UK shoppers often treat Tesco Finest like a gourmet brand in its own right — and retailers in other countries are now trying to emulate the model.
7. Good & Gather — Target’s Private Label Renaissance
📍 Retailer: Target
💰 Est. 2025 Sales: $7.8 billion
Launched in 2019 and now one of the fastest-growing US store brands, Good & Gather blends modern packaging, wellness cues, and culinary flair.
Product lines cover:
Organic granolas
Ready-to-blend smoothies
International sauces and spice kits
In 2025, Target has expanded the brand into meal kits and plant-forward frozen meals — giving it real traction with millennial and Gen Z consumers.
8. Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference — Everyday Indulgence
📍 Retailer: Sainsbury’s
💰 Est. 2025 Sales: $5.2 billion
Launched over two decades ago, Taste the Difference has aged like a fine wine — quite literally, as Sainsbury’s uses the label for its high-end wines and deli selections.
But 2025 sees the brand expanding into:
Vegan bakes and desserts
Gourmet pizzas with UK-sourced cheeses
Authentic global ready meals
For British shoppers, it’s an indulgent upgrade that’s affordable, trusted, and stylishly packaged.
9. 365 by Whole Foods Market — Clean Eating, Private Brand Style
📍 Retailer: Whole Foods (Amazon)
💰 Est. 2025 Sales: $5.5 billion
365 isn’t a discount label. It’s Whole Foods made affordable — but still organic, additive-free, and ethically sourced.
In 2025:
90%+ of 365 products are non-GMO
Packaging now includes climate impact scores
Amazon Prime integration boosts DTC sales
It’s a model that proves private label and transparency can coexist, even in an upscale environment.
10. Carrefour Bio — The European Organic Pioneer
📍 Retailer: Carrefour
💰 Est. 2025 Sales: $3.6 billion
Carrefour Bio is Europe’s largest organic private label range, with strong presence in France, Spain, Italy, and Belgium.
It’s focused on:
Certified organic produce
Minimal ingredient processed foods
Eco-conscious packaging
In 2025, Carrefour expanded the brand into non-food goods (like compostable bags and bamboo kitchenware), reflecting growing consumer interest in full lifestyle alignment.
Summary Table: Top Private Label Brands (2025)
Brand | Retailer | Revenue ($B) | Strategy Focus |
---|---|---|---|
Kirkland Signature | Costco | 64.0 | Trust, value, scale |
Great Value | Walmart | 36.2 | Visibility, affordability |
Aldi Store Brands | Aldi | 35.0 | Simplified premium, curated selection |
Lidl Private Label | Lidl | 29.8 | Innovation, design, modern flavours |
Trader Joe’s Own Brand | Trader Joe’s | 16.0 | Quirk, global, exclusive feel |
Tesco Finest | Tesco | 10.4 | Premium tier, indulgent foods |
Good & Gather | Target | 7.8 | Health-forward, Gen Z appeal |
Taste the Difference | Sainsbury’s | 5.2 | Upmarket, wine and ready meals |
365 by Whole Foods Market | Whole Foods | 5.5 | Organic, clean label, sustainability |
Carrefour Bio | Carrefour | 3.6 | European organic specialist |
Final Thoughts: The Future Isn’t National vs. Private — It’s Blended
Private label isn’t just here to stay — it’s now defining the standard.
In 2025, retailers are media companies, product developers, and lifestyle curators. They control the aisle and increasingly, they control the narrative.
Expect more:
Premiumisation of private brands
Cross-border retailer collaborations
Store brand marketing that feels like DTC startup energy
ESG-first design baked into packaging and sourcing
Shoppers aren’t just buying groceries anymore. They’re buying into retail brands with stories, values, and experiences — and private label is how those stories are told.