Business
Velocity Institute Networks & Celebrates in Chicago
On Monday Night, the Velocity Institute gathered executives from across the Retail-owned Brands industry to network and celebrate the success of the industry and the Institute's dramatic growth. The more than 200 retailers, manufacturers, and solution partners gathered at Kings Dining & Entertainment in Chicago after a long day walking the floor at the return of PLMA's trade show.The event was culmination of 2022 which included Meetups in in Boston, Minneapolis & Chicago as well as the Institute's marque Conference + Expo in Charlotte and the Velocity Sustainability Summit in Cincinnati.A big thank you to our sponsors MBD, Fair Trade
PLMA Trade Show Returns After 3 Years
This morning The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) Annual Trade Show opened the floor for the first time after a 3-year pandemic-imposed absence. The show began Sunday with educational sessions, an opening night reception and runs through Tuesday. An excited crowd of private label manufacturers returned to exhibit at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, not far from O’Hare Airport in Rosemont, Illinois. While the industry walked the aisles of the long-running traditional trade show happy to return to the normalcy of the familiar event. The theme of this year's show is Consumers Are Back in Charge, which is
5 Questions To Grow Your Private Brand Business
As we hold our first annual fall Member drive (JOIN NOW), I wanted to take a few moments to speak directly to private brand manufacturers and invite you to become a member. Launched in November 2021, the Velocity Institute is the global industry association committed to advancing retailers and their brands across all categories and channels. The Institute replaced My Private Brand, the groundbreaking thought leadership website introduced in 2008. The Velocity Institute places retail members at its center and then surrounds them with the world's best manufacturers and solution partners. Membership includes anyone who helps retailers build and grow
Perrigo announces $170 m Purchase of Nestlé Infant Formula Plant
Perrigo today announced a $170 million strategic investment to expand and strengthen its U.S. infant formula manufacturing, which is expected to bolster industry capacity, enhance consumer choice and increase access to safe, affordable infant formula for parents and caregivers. As part of this strategic investment, Perrigo has purchased Nestlé's Gateway infant formula plant in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, along with the U.S. and Canadian rights to the Good Start infant formula brand. Also included in the $170 million, Perrigo will immediately invest $60 million to expand Gateway's 29 million pound per year production capacity by 7 million pounds, or more than
Velocity Institute Kicks Off Fall Membership Drive
This fall marks the one-year anniversary of our conversion from My Private Brand to the Velocity Institute and the Retail Brand industry has overwhelmingly embraced our mission. Close to 1000 retailers, solution partners, and manufacturers have become members and joined us for our groundbreaking in-person events Velocity Institute Conference +Expo, and Velocity Sustainability Summit. They have networked and connected at Meetups in Boston, Minneapolis, and Monday night November 11 in Chicago - RSVP Now! More than 2,000 Institute members and private brand industry leaders have joined our virtual Design22 Summit and the upcoming State of the Industry Summit, on December
CBX Software Changes Name to Trade Beyond
CBX Software, a provider of multi-enterprise platforms for extended supply chain orchestration, announced today that it has changed its trade name to TradeBeyond. CBX Software pioneered the multi-enterprise platform that streamlines retail product development, sourcing and supply chain operations. The new name, TradeBeyond, represents a major milestone in the company’s success over the past decade, helping many of the world’s leading brands and retailers to increase private label volumes while reducing lead times and costs. With this focus, the company has consistently achieved year-on-year revenue growth and profitability. Going forward, TradeBeyond is investing in a new level of growth, enriching
UNFI Names Balian As Chief Brands Officer
Providence, Rhode Island-based United Natural Foods Inc. has named Angie Balian Chief Brands Officer. She will oversee the company’s private brands division, a component of UNFI’s work to provide independent grocery retailers with choice and value that help them differentiate within their communities.Balian joined UNFI in July as chief of staff to Chris Testa, president and head of the company’s services division, which includes supplier and professional services, e-commerce, and Brands+, its private brand portfolio. Balian’s appointment is effective immediately and she will continue reporting to Testa. “There is a tremendous opportunity with our private and owned brand offerings as
Kroger and Albertsons Announce Definitive Merger Agreement
Kroger and Albertsons today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which the retailers will merge. The combination will expand customer reach and improve proximity to deliver fresh and affordable food to approximately 85 million households. Together, Albertsons and Kroger currently employ more than 710,000 associates and operate a total of 4,996 stores, 66 distribution centers, 52 manufacturing plants, 3,972 pharmacies and 2,015 fuel centers. The combination creates a footprint which encompasses 48 state and the District of Columbia. Under the terms of the merger agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the board of directors
Rumors Swirl of Kroger Albertsons Merger
America’s largest traditional grocer The Kroger Co. is making a bid for rival grocer Albertsons Companies Inc., a move which seems likely to face heavy antitrust scrutiny. Bloomberg broke the story Thursday that Kroger and Albertson’s were in merger talks, with a deal that could be announced as soon as Friday. The combined retailers would operate more than 5,000 that generate more than $200 billion in annual sales. This would create a combined Retail Brand (private brand) portfolio with annual sales of more than $54 billion. Nationwide, Kroger is the No. 2 grocery seller, with a 9.9% market share
Kroger Accepting Submissions for Inaugural Our Brands Innovation Summit
The Kroger Co. announced this week the launch of its Our Brands Innovation Summit, a program to enhance and accelerate the selection of private brand items sold across the Kroger Family of Companies. The program is open to store brand suppliers of food and beverage, health and beauty, packaging and more. The summit supports the ongoing mission of Kroger's Our Brands portfolio by partnering with select suppliers to provide high-quality, innovative items that meet current and future market trends and uplift the company's brand promise, to be Fresh for Everyone. Beginning October 10 and running through October 31, 2022, at
