About Christopher Durham

Christopher Durham is the president of the Velocity Institute. Prior to this he founded the groundbreaking site My Private Brand. He is the co-founder of The Vertex Awards. He began his retail career building brands at Food Lion and Lowe’s Home Improvement. Durham has worked with retailers around the world, including Albertsons, Family Dollar, Petco, Staples, Office Depot, Best Buy, Metro Canada. Durham has published seven definitive books on private brands, including Fifty2: The My Private Brand Project and Vanguard: Vintage Originals.

Save Now with the Early Bird Rate for the 2025 Vertex Awards – Ends December 15!

ENTER TODAY! TThe Vertex Awards are back, marking their 13th annual celebration of design excellence in Retailer-owned Brands! Submissions are now officially open, and it’s your opportunity to gain international recognition for outstanding branding and package design. Whether you're a retailer, manufacturer, or agency, the Vertex Awards provide a global stage to showcase your

Save Now with the Early Bird Rate for the 2025 Vertex Awards – Ends December 15!2024-12-09T16:15:53-05:00

Private Brands Outpace National Brands: What’s Driving the Shift? – Velocity Live!

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

Private Brands Outpace National Brands: What’s Driving the Shift? – Velocity Live!2024-12-04T15:04:03-05:00

THE 2025 VERTEX AWARDS IS NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES!!!

The Vertex Awards are back, officially opening submissions for their 13th annual competition. Recognized globally as the pinnacle of excellence in Retailer-owned Brand / private brand / private label branding and package design, the Vertex Awards invites retailers, manufacturers, and agencies to showcase their best work and gain international acclaim. This year, the competition

THE 2025 VERTEX AWARDS IS NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES!!!2024-11-20T09:54:04-05:00

Countdown to the Velocity Bold Bash – Limited Time Left to Join the Party!

RSVP FREE Tick Tock! Don’t Miss Out on the Velocity Bold Bash – Secure Your Spot Now! After a full, productive (and let’s face it, exhausting) day on the PLMA Trade Show floor, we invite you to relax, connect, and celebrate the boldest minds in private brands at the Velocity Bold Bash. Presented

Countdown to the Velocity Bold Bash – Limited Time Left to Join the Party!2024-11-11T09:21:08-05:00

The Ultimate PLMA Afterparty: Cocktails and Connections at the Velocity Bold Bash

RSVP FREE After a full, productive (and let’s face it, exhausting) day on the PLMA Trade Show floor, we invite you to relax, connect, and celebrate the boldest minds in private brands at the Velocity Bold Bash. Presented by Equator, this evening is dedicated to building connections, sparking conversations, and recognizing the most

The Ultimate PLMA Afterparty: Cocktails and Connections at the Velocity Bold Bash2024-11-05T10:20:02-05:00

Can You Really Feed a Family of Four for $20? Target’s Thanksgiving Bundle Says Yes! – Velocity This Week Live

On October 30, Velocity This Week Live, hosted by Christopher and Laraine Durham, delivered the latest news, insights, and trends within the private brand industry. Christopher Durham, President of the Velocity Institute, and Laraine Durham, VP of Marketing and Events, welcomed viewers to a packed episode, underscoring the show’s mission as the leading

Can You Really Feed a Family of Four for $20? Target’s Thanksgiving Bundle Says Yes! – Velocity This Week Live2024-10-31T09:12:14-04:00

Walmart Gets Wicked with Great Value Collab – Velocity This Week Live

On this week’s episode of Velocity This Week Live, Christopher and Laraine Durham delivered a packed news broadcast on the latest private brand innovations, market insights, and industry trends. Here’s a quick recap of the top stories discussed: Fareway Launches Premium Brand: Truly Yours Midwestern grocer Fareway has rolled out its new premium

Walmart Gets Wicked with Great Value Collab – Velocity This Week Live2024-10-18T09:13:52-04:00

Announcing the Velocity Institute BOLD Awards: Submit Your Nominations Today!

The Velocity Institute is excited to launch the inaugural Velocity BOLD Awards—a first-of-its-kind initiative showcasing the boldest and most innovative retailers, manufacturers, suppliers, and solution providers in the retailer-owned brand industry. Our goal is to celebrate the achievements of BOLD leaders, showcase transformative innovations, and motivate the industry to reach new heights by recognizing

Announcing the Velocity Institute BOLD Awards: Submit Your Nominations Today!2024-10-15T10:57:48-04:00

Sprouts Unveils New Real Root- Velocity This Week Live

In the latest episode of Velocity This Week Live, hosted by Christopher Durham, President of the Velocity Institute, and co-host Laraine, viewers were treated to an insightful look at how leading retailers are embracing sustainability and innovation within their private brand offerings. Airing on Wednesday, October 9, the show focused on groundbreaking initiatives

Sprouts Unveils New Real Root- Velocity This Week Live2024-10-10T12:04:26-04:00

Whole Foods Cuts Private Brand Prices – Velocity This Week Live

This Week on Velocity Live: Major Moves in Private Brands! Date: Wednesday, October 2, 2024 In this week’s episode of Velocity Live, Christopher Durham, President of the Velocity Institute, dives into exciting developments in the private brand world. Some of the biggest names in retail are making major shifts in their private label

Whole Foods Cuts Private Brand Prices – Velocity This Week Live2024-10-02T14:12:42-04:00