Sustainable packaging and food waste reduction are becoming increasingly central to private label strategies, and the recognition received by the VéGé Group at PLEA 2026 confirms this direction. The Modern Distribution group was awarded the "Best Sustainable Packaging Project Award" for the project developed for the Ohi Vita line of dried fruit.
The award, presented as part of the Private Label Excellence Awards 2026, particularly recognized the Ohi Vita 90-gram dried fruit mix project in the Power Mix, Protein Mix, and Vitamin Mix variants, which was deemed innovative, especially in terms of packaging sustainability and consumer convenience.
What made the difference was the "open and close" cap solution, designed to ensure better product preservation after opening and thus help reduce household food waste. This technical detail, according to the evaluation, was a decisive factor in the award's selection.
The initiative is part of a context in which private label products are increasingly strategically important within modern retail. They are no longer just a commercial lever and shelf positioning tool, but a tool for innovation capable of combining sustainability, convenience, and the development of new consumer solutions.
The PLEA 2026 has highlighted the growing role of collaboration between retail chains and industrial partners in the development of innovative and sustainable products capable of generating value along the entire supply chain.
For Gruppo VéGé, this recognition further strengthens its position in the private label sector, a sector in which the group continues to invest, focusing on product innovation, packaging, and sustainability.
"Private Labels today represent a strategic asset for modern retail. Their value is built through concrete solutions that combine innovation, quality, and sustainability, with the aim of improving the consumer experience and reducing waste throughout the supply chain," said Marco Pozzali, head of Private Labels for the group.
According to VéGé, the award confirms the company's ability to develop high-value projects, where innovation and functionality translate into concrete benefits for both consumers and supply chain operators.
Founded in 1959, Gruppo VéGé is the first modern retail group in Italy. Today, it comprises 32 principal companies operating in various distribution channels, from hypermarkets and convenience stores to cash & carry, AFH, and online, with a network of over 3.591 stores nationwide.
