This week on Velocity This Week Live, we brought you the latest news and insights from the world of Retailer-owned Brands. Hosted by Christopher and Laraine Durham, the episode focused on key industry developments, exciting trends, and groundbreaking sustainability initiatives. Here’s a quick recap:

TreeHouse Foods Acquires Harris Freeman’s Tea Business

TreeHouse Foods made headlines with its $205 million acquisition of Harris Freeman’s private-brand tea business, including manufacturing facilities in New Jersey and Georgia. This strategic move solidifies TreeHouse’s leadership in the retailer-owned brand tea category. CEO Steve Oakland emphasized the deal’s alignment with TreeHouse’s focus on higher-growth, higher-margin categories, while Harris Freeman’s leadership expressed optimism about the transition. The acquisition is expected to close in early 2025, bringing enhanced blending and sourcing capabilities to TreeHouse’s tea portfolio.

Circana’s Insights: The Rise of Private Brands

Circana’s latest market insights revealed a strong year for private brands, with a 3% increase in volume sales, outpacing mainstream brands’ 1% decline. Key drivers include e-commerce growth, evolving shopping habits, and a shift toward premium and fresh offerings. Circana predicts continued momentum into 2025, with private brands positioned to capture more market share globally, particularly as consumers prioritize quality and value.

Tesco Eliminates Plastic from Pasta Packaging

Tesco took another step in its sustainability journey by replacing plastic packaging with recyclable paper in its Finest dried pasta range. This change eliminates over 10 million pieces of plastic annually, aligning with Tesco’s 4Rs strategy (Remove, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). Tesco’s Group Sustainability Director, Claire Lorains, highlighted the broader impact of such initiatives, which have removed over 2.3 billion pieces of plastic since 2019.

What’s Next at Velocity?

As always, we closed with updates about upcoming events and opportunities to engage with the Velocity Institute.

The Vertex Awards: Entries Now Open!

The Vertex Awards, the only global private brand package design competition, is now open for entries! Showcase your innovative designs and compete on the world stage by visiting vertexawards.org.

Mark Your Calendars: 2025 Velocity Conference & Expo

The 2025 Velocity Conference & Expo will take place May 13–15, 2025, at the Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts in Charlotte, NC. Sponsorships and expo booths are now available. For more information, email Christopher Durham at [email protected]. Don’t miss this premier event celebrating innovation and leadership in the retailer-owned brand industry!

Don’t forget to join us most Wednesdays at 1:00 PM EST on LinkedIn and YouTube for fresh stories and discussions.

Thanks for tuning in to Velocity This Week Live! Stay bold, keep innovating, and we’ll see you next week.