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.

Backcountry: Merchant – Men’s & Hard Goods Owned Private Brands

Park City, UTMerchant – Men’s and Hard Goods, Own BrandsThe Backcountry Merchant of Owned Private Brands strategically creates and drives business strategies that elevate sales and inventory plans, ensuring the achievement of channel financial goals. The Own Brand’s Merchant collaborates with partners to capitalize on channel opportunities through exclusive product, visual and inventory decisions. You

Backcountry: Merchant – Men’s & Hard Goods Owned Private Brands2022-07-25T16:54:01-04:00

Major Tesco move to cut multipack plastic will offer shoppers more choice

United Kingdom shoppers are to be given more freedom of choice when buying multipack drinks as part of a major move by Tesco to save 45 million pieces of plastic a year. The good news for customers is that even though the supermarket is scrapping multipacks of its Retail Brand (own label) drinks, individual cans

Major Tesco move to cut multipack plastic will offer shoppers more choice2022-07-25T16:52:59-04:00

Chris Skyers Leaves Wakefern to lead grocery channel for MPG

Former Wakefern Food Corp. executive Chris Skyers has been named as executive vice president, grocery, for Market Performance Group (MPG), packaged goods strategy and services company. Skyers will have wide-ranging responsibilities leading all aspects of the Grocery Channel, supporting high-level strategic planning and management of a high-performing, dynamic team to enhance service to customers further.

Chris Skyers Leaves Wakefern to lead grocery channel for MPG2022-07-25T16:52:03-04:00

Top Private Brand Categories on The Move

With rising inflation and ongoing supply chain issues continuing to unsettle consumers, shopper intelligence leader Catalina is closely tracking the sales impact on grocery retailers’ Retail Brands (private brands). Private brand categories showing the biggest gains year to date through July 17, 2022, per Catalina’s Shopper Intelligence Platform, include Baking Mixes - up 40%, Soup -

Top Private Brand Categories on The Move2022-07-24T10:17:24-04:00

Kroger’s Home Chef Opens New State-of-the-Art Production Center

Kroger owned brand Home Chef expanding its southeast footprint to a brand new space that will allow for more capacity and increased efficiencies. Home Chef leased a 181,000-square-foot facility at 2120 Skyview Drive in Douglasville. The new production operation will provide more space and opportunities to better serve the company's growing customer base. The new

Kroger’s Home Chef Opens New State-of-the-Art Production Center2022-07-24T09:54:09-04:00

Velocity Conference On Demand: Building Brands: The Lowe’s Home Improvement Story

In mid-May, we welcomed the return of in-person events with our groundbreaking Velocity Conference + Expo, May 16-18 in Charlotte, NC. The exciting event brought the private brand industry together to connect, learn and grow. Today I am excited to announce that thanks to the generous support of our conference platinum sponsor, Marketing

Velocity Conference On Demand: Building Brands: The Lowe’s Home Improvement Story2022-08-04T12:28:56-04:00

Join us in Cincinnati for the Sustainability Summit 2022

In this third edition of our Sustainability Summit, we laser focus on Private Brand/Own Brand and Sustainability. The Sustainability Summit is designed to bring the industry together to accelerate Sustainability, share best practices, and explore the future. Join us live and in-person to learn, network, and discuss at the Westin Cincinnati on October 18-19, 2022.

Join us in Cincinnati for the Sustainability Summit 20222022-08-04T10:23:03-04:00

Velocity Conference On Demand: Innovation & Collaboration, the Future of Retail Brand – ALBERTSONS, CVS

In mid-May, we welcomed the return of in-person events with our groundbreaking Velocity Conference + Expo, May 16-18 in Charlotte, NC. The exciting event brought the private brand industry together to connect, learn and grow. Today I am excited to announce that thanks to the generous support of our conference platinum sponsor, Marketing

Velocity Conference On Demand: Innovation & Collaboration, the Future of Retail Brand – ALBERTSONS, CVS2022-08-04T12:30:33-04:00

Taste Summer with Trader Joes Watermelon & Peach Macarons

Macarons are uncommonly elegant treats any time of year, but there’s something particularly wonderful about enjoying them on a sunny summer’s day. That’s Trader Joe’s Introduces Watermelon & Peach Macarons for the season. Made for the retailer by the same expert bakers in Belgium behind their Valentine’s Day-exclusive Heart Shaped Macarons,

Taste Summer with Trader Joes Watermelon & Peach Macarons2022-07-15T14:59:00-04:00

Register Now for Velocity Institute’s Design 2022 Summit

Join us for our exciting slate of in person and virtual events three virtual events each laser focused on private brand: DESIGN 2022, TECH 2022 and STATE OF THE INDUSTRY 2022, The Sustainability Summit in Cincinnati and in person Meet Ups in Boston, Minneapolis and Chicago to round out an exciting slate of seven

Register Now for Velocity Institute’s Design 2022 Summit2022-07-15T10:19:49-04:00