Scott Morris, Walmart’s senior vice president of private brands food, consumables and manufacturing, has been booked to deliver the keynote address at the Private Label Manufacturers Association’s April 15-17, 2026 Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference in Bentonville, Arkansas. “The Future of Private Brands” is the topic.
Morris and his team are tasked with positioning Walmart’s private label products, 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,” said Peggy Davies, president of the New York City-headquartered PLMA. “Among its recent store brand initiatives, Walmart’s bettergoods assortment has been a major hit, featuring hundreds of products across categories like frozen foods, snacks, dairy and beverages.”
The conference program will reflect 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 and product development; emerging technologies; marketing and shopper engagement; differentiation through innovation; and strategic partnerships.
Additional speakers at the event will include industry leaders from FMI, NIQ, Daymon, Path 2 Purchase Institute, Plante Moran, Lippincott and Circana. Davies will serve as host and lead PLMA’s annual meeting and the 2026 Private Label Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
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 American cities by air.
