The annual value of the Irish market for private label grocery products will rise to €5.32 billion by 2010 from €3.67 billion last year, according to new projections from British research agency IGD.

While branded food and grocery products will continue to dominate the retail market, IGD says the private label share of the overall market will rise to 31.5 per cent in 2010 from 27.3 per cent in 2005.

In contrast to the branded goods sold by all supermarkets, private label products are available in one chain only. They typically carry the name of the chain or symbol group in which they are sold. Some groups, such as the German discounter Aldi, have their own dedicated range of private label brands.

IGD's projections were based on internal research and research by AC Nielsen. Its findings, quoted by the Retail Intelligence newsletter, suggest that the private label share of the market in Ireland is growing more slowly than in other markets.

Ireland will fall to 12th position in European rankings by 2010 from 10th place as a result of the rapid growth of the private label market in Russia and Poland.