2024 Store Brands Rising Stars: Tarick Gamay of DreamPak
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.
Tarick Gamay
DreamPak
In an era where businesses often prioritize their own goals over those of their customers, Tarick Gamay has taken a different path to success. By consistently "starting with the customer," Gamay has helped transform DreamPak's store brand business from scratch to $20 million in revenue with nearly 30,000 points of distribution across the U.S. in just over five years.
“Our customer-focused approach has consistently resulted in a superior, more profitable business with our retailer partners,” said Gamay, who holds the title of chief sales officer. "I love interacting with our retailer partners and understanding their biggest challenges. We may not have an immediate solution, but through mutual collaboration and creativity, we can develop long-term initiatives that create a win-win scenario for both sides."
Under Gamay’s leadership, DreamPak has achieved significant milestones. He developed private label beverage programs with major retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Aldii, and spearheaded the company’s expansion into the food category. As of 2024, DreamPak’s store brand business has overtaken its contract manufacturing business as the leading sales channel, positioning the company for revenue and profit growth.
One of Gamay's notable achievements occurred during the height of the pandemic. Faced with rising input costs, DreamPak needed to raise its prices to a leading grocery chain by nearly $0.20. Instead of passing on the increase, Gamay devised a creative solution where the retailer would reduce its MSRP by $0.50 in exchange for DreamPak maintaining its cost. This strategic move allowed the retailer to boast the lowest pricing in the industry while DreamPak benefited from a nearly 30% sales volume growth in the first 12 months.
These innovative ideas are a big reason why Gamay has been named a 2024 Store Brands Rising Star.
"I am honored,” he said. "I know how many impressive and accomplished individuals live in the store brand world, and I am truly appreciative of this distinguished recognition."