What are black marks and why are there so many of them in supermarkets?

WITH price rise Private label brands are constantly experiencing a noticeable boom in sales in supermarkets, as they mark the shelves with prices that in most cases are significantly lower than those of established brands. These are products manufactured forsupermarket chain who sells them, with their name and logo. And in many cases with the same quality and control as products from the same traditional brands.

This concept White brand It is widely known to consumers and is often used when filling a shopping cart.

However, there is another concept: Black Markunknown to most, since even the manufacturers themselves prefer not to advertise that they have all or part of them outsourced production (or one of their products from a wide range of offerings) and are not solely responsible for producing this product and making it available to large supermarkets and distribution chains.

So a black label is a product that a manufacturer (of very well known and widely consumed brands) sells with its name, logo and usual formats and is sold in most supermarkets, but manufactured by another company that is not listed in the product the consumer is purchasing.

Behind this decision of large companies practicing this production policy is cost savings to be more competitive, price reductions, adjustment of commercial profits and ultimately increased sales. Or because they are specialists in a particular product or range. Danone, Heinz, Bimbo, Nestlé or Kellogg’sSome companies use this method.

Outsourcing While manufacturing is a widespread practice in many industries (the automobile industry being one of the most obvious), it is less visible and known in the goods in the basket.

quality There is no resentment in these processes because they are backed by recognized and prestigious brands that are ultimately responsible for the product, and in this sense they do not skimp on costs or quality control. The product is of the same quality. Including because they cannot question the prestige of the brand itself, earned over many years.

But yes, transparency, because consumers do not always know the origin of the ingredients of the products they buy, since they are not required to indicate on the labels where they are produced. The country of manufacture is usually indicated, although this is not required. European regulations only require an indication of whether it was produced within or outside the European Union.

And also because to end consumers these companies seem to be manufacturers, although in reality they are not. And often they hide it.