Private-label product management solutions provider becomes European leader

The France-based company hosts an internet database that facilitates information sharing between retailers and suppliers of private-label products in the cosmetics and personal care sector.

According to the company, which also deals in food and household cleaning products, the collaborative tool promotes more efficient retailer-supplier relationships as well as helping to accelerate product development and ensure quality.

The platform is available for access and modification 24 hours a day via the internet, which ensures detailed monitoring of all changes made regarding the technical specifications and global manufacturing process, said Trace One.

Expanding into private label in all sectors​

The acquisition of Eqos, a provider of online sourcing solutions for retailers in the food, non-food and specialized retail sectors, is expected to facilitate the development of private-label products for retailers in all sectors.

“This acquisition marks a major step in our mission to provide e-collaborative business platforms for retailers and manufacturers of all sizes, in all categories, throughout the world, for accelerating secured development of their offering in private label products,”​ Jérôme Malavoy, CEO and founder of Trace One said in a statement.

The new group has 140 employees and boasts a consolidated turnover of €20 million. According to the company, 30 per cent of European and 80 per cent of French private-label supply firms are “Trace One connected”.

Clients include all major retailers and consumer companies​

The company’s client list includes major European retailers such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Carrefour. Additionally, 6,200 consumer goods manufacturers are part of the Trace One user community, including multinationals Procter and Gamble, Sara Lee and L’Oreal.

With offices in five locations including the UK, Hong Kong and the USA, the user community spans several continents.

The private-label product market in the cosmetics and personal care sector has witnessed strong, continued growth during the recession, which is in contrast to the performance of national brands.

The recent Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) trend predictions from Mintel highlighted that in 2010, low-cost, high-quality private label products are set to thrive as many consumers now consider private-label ‘brands’ to be on a par with national brands.