2024 Store Brands Rising Stars: Dan Tufano of Camerican International
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.
Dan Tufano
Camerican
Dan Tufano’s recent promotion to director of Retail Sales for Camerican International is a testament to his outstanding contributions to the food importing industry and his commitment to innovation in private label products. And he attributes his success to his colleagues at the Paramus, N.J.-based company.
"I have received tremendous support from my company to continue gaining new opportunities to grow our business,” he said. “With our strength in food importing, the possibilities are endless in sourcing products around the world that add value to our customers' stores.
Tufano's efforts have helped Camerican continue to thrive, leveraging its global sourcing capabilities to introduce high-quality, competitively priced products to the market. His dedication to building strong supplier relationships and his strategic vision have been instrumental in the company's success. His daily work is driven by his passion for discovering and launching new products.
"Camerican prides itself on long-term relationships with our supply base, and it’s always a team effort ensuring we work together to successfully launch new items at our customers,” he said. “As private label continues to grow, it’s an exciting time to launch new innovative food products to satisfy the consumers' demand for high-quality items at competitive costs.
His efforts have not gone unnoticed. With his recent promotion, Tufano now manages a sales team of six, generating $400 million in sales. His primary focus has been on Aldi, where his leadership has resulted in tremendous annual sales growth. One notable achievement was the successful rollout of an applesauce pouch project, which addressed shortages in the U.S. market, demonstrating his ability to respond effectively to supply chain challenges.
As Camerican International moves forward, Tufano's focus remains on driving growth and innovation, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of the food-importing industry. His commitment to excellence and his ability to inspire his team makes him a standout leader poised to shape the future of private label products.
Tufano said he is honored to be named a 2024 Store Brands Rising Star. "I am thankful, given Store Brands' reputation in our industry,” he said.