Store Brands Magazine honored 40 of the industry’s top Rising Stars in Private Label for being talented movers in the Private Label industry. Congratulations to this year’s Rising Star Award winners, Brian Albert, Senior Category Manager, and Tom Lombardo, Category Manager, from our Private Label team! Brian and Albert were both featured in the August 2020 Store Brands Magazine to highlight the incredible things they’re doing for the Sprouts brand!
As Senior Category Manager of our Private Label assortment, Brian Albert is always looking to innovate and improve the offerings of our brand to meet the evolving needs of our customers and position Sprouts as a leading healthy grocer: ”Brian is the true example of a relentless professional who is very organized and truly passionate about the products he works with. He’s a great teammate who works well with others, thinks creatively and always keeps his team top of mind,” said Kim Coffin, Senior Vice President, Non-Perishable.
Brian works closely with Private Label leaders to fully understand the needs of the department. He then develops relationships with manufacturers, making sure to fully understand their capabilities and share the expectations and quality requirements for Sprouts: “I love Sprouts! I’m delighted with the innovation we introduce to our stores. Whether the items are plant-based, organic, gluten-free, or any differentiating trait, our customers often respond with rave reviews,” Brian said.
Brian’s Favorite Sprouts Products:
Tom Lombardo has years of experience in the Private Label industry. He takes the time to research and seek out companies, both large and small, that are capable of producing Private Label items that maintain the highest-quality standards. The partnerships he has created allow Sprouts to continue developing products that address the ever-changing trends in the natural food industry.
“Tom has a passionate interest in innovation and is open to researching any ideas presented to him. Tom is persistent and very detail oriented. His foresight and keen eye for innovation is key in Sprouts brands growth,” said Kim Coffin, Senior Vice President, Non-Perishable.
Tom helped to develop a new packaged line of Sprouts Brand chocolates, candies and nuts. Part of this process was creating and implementing new packaging, new product standards and in-depth pricing assessment: “With national brands, we’re limited to the assortments they create, but with Private Label, we can tweak the taste, texture, and many other factors to create products that specifically target our customers,” Tom said.
Tom’s Favorite Sprouts Products:
