2024 Store Brands Rising Stars: Carissa Castonzo of Walgreens
The rising stars across private label are shining brighter, reflective of an industry in the midst of robust growth and needing younger talent to develop new methods of doing business at a time when growth opportunities are robust.
The Fifth Annual Store Brands Rising Stars honors this crop of new talent that is driving sales from the retail and supplier sides of the business. Private label product sales over the past year continued to grow and the efforts of retailers through the first half of 2024 show an ongoing appetite for products that are unique and also offer shoppers a strong value.
RELATED: Meet the Store Brands Rising Stars Class of 2024
This year’s list of Rising Stars provides insight into how a new crop of talented individuals under the age of 40 are pushing the industry forward and continuing to innovate.
Carissa Castonzo
Walgreens
Carissa Castonzo has been a key player at Walgreens with oversight of the drug store chain’s owned brand pain, pediatrics, and sleep businesses.
The senior manager of Owned Brands credits her success to the support and guidance of her bosses, mentors, and team members who foster an environment that supports through the failures and boasts through the wins.
Her reputation as a problem solver and innovator is well-earned. She consistently tackles challenges head-on, identifying issues and crafting solutions that work for all stakeholders. Her leadership is highly respected within Walgreens and the supplier community, where she is known for providing clear direction and fostering collaboration.
Castonzo's leadership and innovation have been instrumental in Walgreens' success, particularly during challenging times. In 2023, she navigated inventory constraints on pediatric liquids by collaborating with external suppliers and internal teams to secure much-needed inventory. Her ability to lead cross-functional partners and ensure deadlines were met was crucial in keeping essential products available for consumers when they needed them most.
"I love seeing the fruits of my labor when a new item hits the shelf as much as I love seeing someone who worked with me excel in their career," she said.
Currently, Castonzo is spearheading the expansion of Walgreens' Free & Pure products into the traditional OTC market. By leveraging market trends, category insights, and research, she has defined a clear path forward for this initiative. Her meticulous planning and collaboration with several cross-functional teams have been vital in driving this customer-led program under an aggressive timeline.
Reflecting on being named a 2024 Store Brands Rising Star, Castonzo expressed her gratitude and eagerness to continue learning. "I think it’s an honor! There’s always something new to learn and even though I’ve been working in private label/owned brands for the past 12 years, I still feel like I learn something new every day," she said.
