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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Metro Debuts Seasonal Magazine to Promote Private Brand

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.4.9"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.4.9"][et_pb_column _builder_version="4.4.9" type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.9" hover_enabled="0"]Canadian grocer and Vertex Award winner Metro has introduced a new seasonal promotional magazine to support its private brand product launches and engage its shoppers. The 15-page publication includes a sneak peek at over 50 new private brand products launching this season as well as the 20 new

Metro Debuts Seasonal Magazine to Promote Private Brand2021-09-15T09:39:57-04:00

Boxed.com VP of Merchandising to Present at Velocity

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.4.7"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.4.7"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.4.7"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" _builder_version="4.4.7"]We are thrilled to announce Ankit Patel the VP, Merchandising for Boxed will present at Velocity: Global: the My Private Brand VIRTUAL conference, August 4-5. Tickets are going fast to the first-ever global private brand event. (And stay tuned for even more speakers from around the world and other

Boxed.com VP of Merchandising to Present at Velocity2021-09-15T09:39:57-04:00

Big Lots Appoints Jack Pestello as Chief Merchandising Officer

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.4.9"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.4.9"][et_pb_column _builder_version="4.4.9" type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.9" hover_enabled="0"]Big Lots today announced that Jack Pestello has been appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer of Big Lots, effective July 27, 2020. Mr. Pestello succeeds Lisa Bachmann who, as previously announced, will be retiring after a transition period. Mr. Pestello will report directly to Bruce Thorn, President and Chief Executive Officer of

Big Lots Appoints Jack Pestello as Chief Merchandising Officer2021-09-15T09:39:57-04:00

A Seat at the Table, Why Diversity Matters! Velocity Conference Preview

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.8"]Today I am excited to announce the next session of the 2020 edition of Velocity Global: the My Private Brand VIRTUAL conference taking place August 4-5, 2020, and on-demand to all registrants 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the next 365 days. Inspired by the racial justice protests

A Seat at the Table, Why Diversity Matters! Velocity Conference Preview2021-09-15T09:39:57-04:00

Albertsons Introduces 13 New Private Brand Ice Cream Varieties

[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 admin_label="Text" _builder_version="4.4.9"]Albertsons Companies has introduced 13 new private brand products in the ice cream aisle with something for every palate and occasion. “We’re passionate about innovating based on shoppers’ needs, desires and the latest consumer trends. With these new items, we delivered something to surprise and delight every customer,”

Albertsons Introduces 13 New Private Brand Ice Cream Varieties2021-09-15T09:39:57-04:00

Meet 200+ private brand executives from 60 retailers and 12 countries at Velocity

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.4.8" custom_padding="0px|||||"][et_pb_row column_structure="2_3,1_3" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_column type="2_3" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.8" text_line_height="1.9em"] Meet 200+ private brand executives from 60 retailers and 12 countries. With the Covid-19 pandemic accelerating in more than a dozen states trades shows and conferences are being cancelled on a daily basis. But business must go on and networking, learning and insights are essential. For the first time ever, the

Meet 200+ private brand executives from 60 retailers and 12 countries at Velocity2021-09-15T09:39:57-04:00

IKEA Introduces Plant Based Swedish Meatball

[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"]The new plant ball, a plant-based meat substitute, is made with yellow pea protein, oats, potatoes, onion and apple, but looks and tastes like meat. With a climate footprint of only 4% of the classic IKEA private brand meatball, the plant ball contributes to the IKEA ambition to become

IKEA Introduces Plant Based Swedish Meatball2021-09-15T09:39:58-04:00

The pandemic created a decade’s worth of trial in a few weeks!

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.4.9"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.4.9" custom_margin="-85px|auto||auto||"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.4.9"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.9" hover_enabled="0" custom_padding="78px|||||"]Private brands have an urgent opportunity to keep some of the 75 million new shoppers they gained during the pandemic. But that window is closing quickly as national brands begin investing their promotional dollars again. Wes Bean While 30 million shoppers made repeat purchases,

The pandemic created a decade’s worth of trial in a few weeks!2021-09-15T09:39:58-04:00

7-Eleven to Donate 1M Bottles of 7-Select Go!Smart Organic Juice to Feeding America

[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"]Convenience retailer 7-Eleven announced the donation of more than $1.2 million in 7-Select Go! Smart Organic Cold-Pressed Juices to Feeding America this summer. That's nearly one million 11.2-ounce bottles of USDA-certified organic, non-GMO juice, including flavors like Blackberry, Melon, and Pink Pomegranate. Part of their private brand of premium

7-Eleven to Donate 1M Bottles of 7-Select Go!Smart Organic Juice to Feeding America2021-09-15T09:39:58-04:00

Portuguese Grocer Continente Serves New Private Brand Ice Cream

[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"]Portuguese grocer Continente has expanded its NBE private brand ice cream line, with the introduction of new SKUs including: cookies and caramel with pieces of biscuit (Cookies) caramel with a caramelized popcorn coating (Popcorn) chewing gum with a marshmallow coating (Marshmallow) cookies and caramel with pieces of biscuit (Cookies)

Portuguese Grocer Continente Serves New Private Brand Ice Cream2021-09-15T09:40:17-04:00

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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