Scott Morris, Walmart's SVP of private brands food consumables, and manufacturing, will deliver the keynote address at PLMA’s 2026 Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference in Bentonville, AR, April 15-17. The topic is “The Future of Private Brands.”

Morris and his team are tasked with positioning Walmart’s private brands, strengthening their value proposition, developing quality core and innovative products, and building customer loyalty and holistic cultural support. He has over 38 years serving the retail industry and has held leadership roles in operations, merchandising, marketing, strategy office, shared services supply chain, and M&A.

"Walmart is an exemplar of utilizing store brands as a key retail strategy," says Peggy Davies, PLMA president. 

Among its recent store brand initiatives, Walmart's bettergoods assortment has reportedly been a major hit, featuring hundreds of products across categories like frozen foods, snacks, dairy, and beverages. 

This year’s conference will take place in Bentonville, reflecting PLMA’s ongoing approach of hosting the event near major retail hubs. The 2026 theme, “Building Brands That Drive Success,” emphasizes strategic growth and collaboration across the private label industry.

The program offers a customizable schedule featuring:

• 12 breakout sessions across tracks including Brand Building; Innovation & Product Development; Emerging Technologies; Marketing & Shopper Engagement; Differentiation Through Innovation; and Strategic Partnerships.
• Five main-stage plenary presentations.
• A flexible “DIY” agenda format first introduced in 2025, praised for its variety and relevance.

“The format and retail-centric setting encourage deeper networking and meaningful discussions on the future of private brands and retailing overall,” adds Davies.

Speakers include industry leaders from FMI, NIQ, Daymon, Path 2 Purchase Institute, Plante Moran, Lippincott, Circana, and others. Davies will serve as host and lead PLMA’s annual meeting and the 2026 Private Label Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. The early bird rate is effective until Jan.16, 2026. Click here for more information or contact conferences@plma.com.

Dubbed "a new capital of cool" by The Wall Street Journal, Bentonville is the birthplace of Walmart and home to its global headquarters. Arts, culture, and history abound in the northwest Arkansas town whose population is about 62,000. Located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, it's accessible from major U.S. cities by air and a short drive from Kansas City, Dallas, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, and Little Rock. 

Related: PLMA show opens registration