2025 Rising Stars: Angela Bruno, Topco
Every year, Store Brands sets out to recognize the next generation of private label leaders, individuals who are not only excelling in their roles but also driving meaningful progress across the industry. The 2025 Rising Stars embody the innovation, energy, and strategic thinking that are essential to keeping store brands competitive, relevant, and compelling to today’s consumers.
This year’s honorees share a deep commitment to delivering value, quality, and fresh ideas to their companies and retail partners. Whether launching new product lines, strengthening brand identities, or collaborating across teams to improve execution, each of these professionals brings passion and purpose to their work.
The impact of these Rising Stars is already being felt across the private label landscape. Many have played pivotal roles in building more shopper-centric brands, streamlining supply chains, or identifying on-trend innovations that resonate at shelf. In an era where private brands are gaining ground, their efforts are helping to redefine what store brands can be.
As the private label industry continues to evolve, future success will depend on a new generation of leaders. Their drive, insights, and collaborative spirit are setting a new standard, one that ensures the future of store brands is bright, bold, and built to last.
Angela Bruno
Category Manager, Grocery
Topco
Angela Bruno brings vision, initiative, and leadership to her role as category manager, Grocery, at Topco. Her work on the Topco Leadership Exchange (TLE), a key event aligning internal teams and member companies, has positioned her as a trusted and results-driven leader.
Bruno took full ownership of the TLE preparation process, setting clear expectations, anticipating needs, and ensuring alignment across teams without needing direction. Her leadership was essential to the event’s success, and she continued to provide value by working with colleagues to measure outcomes and ensure follow-through on key initiatives.
Known for bringing innovation to a traditionally limited space, Bruno launched 11 new items based on curated member insights. She led the development of the Food Club Light Cream 32 oz., navigating complex cross-functional collaboration to bring the product to market in 2025. She also championed the introduction of seasonal products, including a Wide Awake Cold Brew in 2024 and an aerosol whipped topping under Food Club planned for the fourth quarter of 2025.
Bruno demonstrated strong product stewardship with the re-launch of Food Club Heavy Whipping Cream in April 2024. She identified the opportunity to introduce fitment caps, bringing the product in line with national brands and enhancing the consumer experience.
