Private label and free-from: the double catalogue that Excel can no longer manage
02/07/2026
Companies producing their own branded products already have a broad range to manage with care. When contract manufacturing is added to the mix (for retailers, chains and private labels ) the number of versions to keep aligned multiplies.
In the world of specialist food products, private label is a significant part of the business for many companies. The same product, the same recipe, the same production line and the same facility have to become three, five or ten different versions: different packaging, claims adapted to the retailer’s requirements, certifications verified on a case-by-case basis, and technical sheets formatted according to each customer’s standards.
In free-from, private label adds an extra layer of complexity compared with other sectors: each product version must comply with the certifications required by the retailer, from AIC for gluten-free products to the relevant organic certification body and verified vegan claims. These certifications also have expiry dates, renewals and periodic audits.
Keeping track of all this for every customer, every product and every market requires tools designed for that scale. With a growing number of variants to manage, even a well-organised Excel spreadsheet struggles to keep pace with updates.
With the .one PIM Product Information Management solution, product information is managed in a single system: ingredients, certifications, technical specifications and images. From this master version, the different private label versions can be generated for each customer: customised packaging, adapted claims and documentation formatted according to the required standards.
When something changes in the master version, the update is made in a controlled way across all derived versions, with approval workflows ensuring that no version is updated without verification.
