Velocity Institute

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.
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Walmart Selects 850 Entrepreneurs to Pitch their U.S. Manufactured Products at Virtual Open Call Event

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"]The wait is over for entrepreneurs who submitted their applications for Walmart’s seventh annual Open Call event as approximately 850 small and medium-sized businesses received their official invitations to pitch Walmart merchants at Walmart’s annual merchandising event on Oct. 1. This year, more than 4,800 businesses representing

Walmart Selects 850 Entrepreneurs to Pitch their U.S. Manufactured Products at Virtual Open Call Event2021-09-15T09:39:49-04:00

Russian Retailer Perekrestok Launches Home Story

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_column _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default" type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default" hover_enabled="0" sticky_enabled="0"]Russian home goods retailer Perekrestok retail chain has introduced its first private brand of paper goods and home/cooking accessories. Home Story was created by Russian agency Clёver Branding. According to the agency Home Story is targeted to family women aged 30-49 who associate

Russian Retailer Perekrestok Launches Home Story2021-09-15T09:39:49-04:00

Loblaw Tests PC Chef Meal Kits

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_column _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default" type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default" hover_enabled="0" sticky_enabled="0"] Canadian Private Brand retail trailblazer Loblaw is testing a President’s Choice private brand meal kit in 13 stores in the Toronto area and online. The move comes as Canada’s largest grocery retailer is staffing up a new “meal solutions” division, which will

Loblaw Tests PC Chef Meal Kits2021-09-15T09:39:49-04:00

Imperfect Foods – Head of Private Brand and Product Development

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"]SAN FRANCISCO, CA / GROCERY / FULL-TIME About Imperfect Imperfect Foods was founded in 2015 with a mission to reduce food waste and build a better food system for everyone. We offer imperfect (yet delicious) produce, affordable pantry items, and quality meat and dairy. We

Imperfect Foods – Head of Private Brand and Product Development2021-12-15T20:02:59-05:00

Target Expands Good & Gather with Signature Tier

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default" custom_padding="||0px|||"]Target launched Good & Gather last September to give shoppers delicious, quality food without artificial flavors, synthetic colors, artificial sweeteners, and high fructose corn syrup. Just one year later, the private brand is now the retailers  No. 1-selling food brand, generating more than $1

Target Expands Good & Gather with Signature Tier2021-09-15T09:39:50-04:00

Pandemic Drives New Imperatives for Private Brands

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"]It’s always nice to be appreciated and appreciation for private brands has only grown during the COVID-19 crisis. They have been able to meet consumer needs when many manufacturer brands were out of stock at retail. FMI’s U.S. Grocery Shoppers Trends research shows that many consumers liked

Pandemic Drives New Imperatives for Private Brands2021-09-15T09:39:50-04:00

IKEA and the LEGO Collaborate: Play, Display and Replay

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"]Late last week, IKEA of Sweden AB and the LEGO Group reveal the long-awaited outcome of their collaboration. The two brands joined forces to create the private brand collaboration IKEA BYGGLEK – a playful storage solution. Consisting of a series of storage boxes with LEGO

IKEA and the LEGO Collaborate: Play, Display and Replay2021-09-15T09:39:50-04:00

M&S & Ocado Partnership Brings 6,800 Private Brand Products Online

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.6.0" _module_preset="default"]This week marks the beginning of a transformational partnership between two iconic British retailers — Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Ocado—aimed at “bringing the best together” as shoppers are now able to have their favorite M&S private brand products delivered online, as part of their

M&S & Ocado Partnership Brings 6,800 Private Brand Products Online2021-09-15T09:39:50-04:00

The D&I Journey at Ahold Delhaize: Sharing Best Practices a FREE WISE Webinar

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.4.9"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.4.9"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.4.9"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.9"]WISE WebinarThe Power of “i”: Inclusion, Innovation, & ImpactWednesday, September 2nd2:00 EST | 1:00 CST | 12:00 MST | 11:00 PST Bringing Diversity & Inclusion to life in all corporate settings is a journey, takes time, and an intentional focus on systemic change. Join us to learn how Ahold

The D&I Journey at Ahold Delhaize: Sharing Best Practices a FREE WISE Webinar2021-09-15T09:39:50-04:00

Walgreens Introduces Private Brand Arthritis Pain Relief Gel

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.5.6" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.5.6" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.5.6" _module_preset="default"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.5.6" _module_preset="default"]This week Walgreens announced new offerings to support people with chronic and acute pain, including the launch of Walgreens private brand diclofenac gel, an over-the-counter original prescription-strength arthritis pain relief in topical form. In addition, patients can receive free one-on-one consultations with Walgreens pharmacists who

Walgreens Introduces Private Brand Arthritis Pain Relief Gel2021-09-15T09:39:50-04:00

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Velocity is the global industry association focused on retailers and their brands across all categories and channels. Velocity is leading the game-changing shift to radically transform the private label industry into RETAIL BRANDCENTRIC & CONSUMER FOCUSED. ALL retailers, manufacturers, and solution partners dedicated to helping to build Retail-owned Brands are invited to join the Institute.

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