2025 Rising Stars: Jessica Sakino of Grocery Outlet
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.
Jessica Sakino
Senior Product Manager
Grocery Outlet
Jessica Sakino is a force behind Grocery Outlet’s growing private label success. With a background in food science and strategic sourcing, Sakino stepped into a new role as senior product manager and quickly proved she could lead across the full product lifecycle—from analytics and brand strategy to packaging and marketing.
In the past year, she developed and launched multiple private label programs that exceeded expectations. Every category she managed saw more than 10% growth, outpacing sales and profit forecasts. Her ability to bring together data, design, and strategy helped convert even skeptical store owners into champions of her work.
One of Sakino’s most notable achievements was the development and successful commercialization of a new private label baking line in time for the 2024 holiday season. Working across 12 baking categories and coordinating with eight suppliers, she launched more than 25 SKUs, all hitting the shelf on time. The program brought double-digit growth to a traditionally stagnant category, showcasing her strong project management, supplier collaboration, and communication skills.
In addition to launching new products, Sakino helped the company reduce costs by more than 20% across key retail supply items through improved sourcing strategies and supplier negotiations.
Her colleagues describe her as passionate, visionary, and deeply collaborative. A perfectionist at heart, Sakino relentlessly drives quality while maintaining affordability, ensuring every product delivers meaningful value for Grocery Outlet’s needs-based shoppers. She pays close attention to packaging and brand strategy, turning individual SKUs into a cohesive and compelling shelf presence.
