By George Anderson
Warren Thayer's, Warren's Wanderings, column in the September 2002 issue of PL Buyer magazine touches on the negative reaction of manufacturers to retailers "dictating which packaging supplier to use for private label products."
According to Mr. Thayer (that's Warren, not his father), "This is straining already-strained relations, as manufacturers argue that their costs are higher and efficiency is being hurt." Retailers, for their part, are looking at this as a means of assuring quality while controlling costs.
Moderator's Comment: Which side has it right on the packaging supplier issue for private label, retailers or manufacturers? Is there something more to this wrangling than is being discussed publicly? [George Anderson - Moderator]