Walk into almost any convenience store and you will see them: crisps, soft drinks and confectionery with the price printed on the pack. These are price-marked packs, or PMPs, and deciding when to stock them is one of the simplest ways a shop can influence both sales and margin.

What is a price-marked pack?

A price-marked pack is a product with a recommended retail price printed on the packaging by the manufacturer — "£1.25" on a bag of crisps, for example. You buy them from wholesalers and cash & carries just like plain packs, usually listed as "PMP" in the product name.

The printed price is what the customer expects to pay. In practice, shops charge that price.

Why shoppers like PMPs

Trust. A printed price reassures customers that a local shop is not charging more than a supermarket.
Speed. Customers can see the price without looking for a shelf label, which suits quick convenience shopping.
Value signal. PMPs are often set at a sharp price point, which helps a small shop compete on everyday lines.

Many independent retailers find PMPs sell faster than plain packs of the same product for exactly these reasons.

What PMPs do to your margin

With a PMP, the manufacturer has effectively set your selling price. Your margin is the gap between that printed price and what you pay — and you cannot widen it by charging more.

With a plain pack, you set your own price. That can mean a higher margin, but also a risk that customers see your price as too high.

A quick way to compare, for each line:

Take the PMP selling price and the price you pay per unit (before VAT).
Work out the margin — or profit on return (POR), the profit as a share of the selling price.
Do the same for the plain pack at the price you would realistically charge.
Compare the profit per week, not per unit: a lower margin that sells twice as fast can make more money.

When to stock PMPs

PMPs tend to suit:

Everyday, price-sensitive lines — soft drinks, crisps, confectionery, household basics
Shops near supermarkets where customers compare prices
Impulse lines near the till, where a clear price removes a reason to hesitate

Plain packs tend to suit:

Premium or specialist ranges where customers are less price-focused
Shops with little nearby competition
Lines where the PMP margin is too thin to be worth the shelf space

Many shops carry both: PMPs for the fast-moving basics, plain packs where they have room to price.

Tips for buying PMPs

Check the printed price before you buy. Price-marked stock bought at the wrong cost can leave you with almost no margin.
Watch for price changes. When a manufacturer changes the printed price, old and new packs may be on the shelf together — rotate stock so customers don't see two prices.
Compare suppliers on the same PMP. The same product at the same printed price can cost you more or less depending on where you buy it.
Don't overbuy promotions. A great deal on a PMP line only helps if it sells before the next one arrives.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell a PMP for more than the printed price? Customers expect to pay the printed price, and charging more damages trust. In practice, shops sell PMPs at the price on the pack.

Are PMPs only for convenience stores? They're most common in convenience, but newsagents, forecourts and discount stores use them too.

How do I find PMP versions of a product? Search the product name with "PMP" — wholesalers usually include it in the product title, along with the printed price.

Find PMP stock

Search GSAi for a product with "PMP" and tell it you run a shop. It looks through cash & carries and delivered wholesalers and shows case sizes and trade prices where the supplier publishes them. For more on choosing suppliers, read cash and carry or delivered wholesaler? Start a free 3-day trial — no card needed.