Who Won Big? The 2026 Vertex Award Winners!

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We’re thrilled to share the winners of the 13th Annual Vertex Awards. Over the past decade, what began as a way to honor top Retailer-Owned Brand package design has become a global competition that highlights the future of branding, packaging, and innovation.

This year, entries came from 56 countries, showcasing some of the best package design work in the industry, regardless of who owns the brand. These aren’t just “good for private brand” designs—they’re truly world-class.

The Growth of Retailer-Owned Brands

Thirteen years ago, when we started the Vertex Awards, Private Brands were often seen as just imitations or focused only on value. Now, retailers, agencies, and manufacturers are building brands that connect emotionally with shoppers and help shape design and branding trends across the industry.

This year, we received over 700 entries from more than 90 retailers worldwide. The work submitted demonstrates not only creativity but also strategy, storytelling, sustainability, and a deep understanding of today’s consumers. The competition keeps getting stronger in almost every category.

Winner Announcement Schedule

Over the next week, we will announce all this year’s winners:

Sunday: Bronze
Monday: Silver
Tuesday: Gold
Wednesday: Agency of the Year and Publisher’s Choice
Thursday: Retailer of the Year and Best of Show

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Celebrating on Two Global Stages

This year’s Vertex Awards winners were announced at two black-tie events, highlighting the growing global influence of retailer-owned and Private Brands.

On May 7, 2026, the industry gathered on Broadway in Times Square, New York City, for Vertex Live on Broadway. Retailers, agencies, manufacturers, and creative leaders from around the world came together to celebrate the best in Private Brand package design on one of the world’s most famous stages.

On May 18, 2026, the celebration continued at the historic TOBACCO Theater in Amsterdam. European and international Private Brand leaders gathered for another evening to honor this year’s winners and celebrate the ongoing growth of retailer brands worldwide.

Together, the two Vertex Live events welcomed over 300 attendees from around the world and reinforced what we’ve believed from the start: Retailer-Owned Brands deserve a stage that matches the creativity and ambition behind their work.

An International Jury

None of this would be possible without our jury. This year, an international panel of branding and packaging experts from retailers, agencies, and design firms worldwide reviewed the entries.

This year’s judges included Paco Adin of Supperstudio, Danielle Beal of The Creative Pack, Richard Gordon Smith of Favorite Child, a Quad agency, Connie Cao of ACE Global Distribution and ACE Hardware Corporation USA, Maria Dubuc of Marketing by Design, Michael Duffy of Equator Design, Hernán Braberman of Tridimage, Masanori Eto of AdBrain, Inc., Matt Clemens of Contrast, Charlene Codner of Fish, Todd Maute of CBX, Fred Richards of The Hive Principle, Warren Spence of Motor Brand Design, Jens Sievert of Daymon International, Bianka Voigt of The Thrills, Tahir Idouri of Brand Potential, Lia Collier of Aire Global, and Aaron Turner of Disegno.

Their expertise and dedication to creative excellence help make the Vertex Awards one of the most respected competitions in retailer-owned brand packaging worldwide.

The Bold Bash Returns

Make sure to join us on Monday, November 16, 2026, as we officially launch the 14th Annual Vertex Awards at the Bold Bash at Joe’s Live in Rosemont.

The Bold Bash brings together retailers, agencies, manufacturers, and creative leaders from across the industry for an evening of drinks, networking, celebration, and live music as we kick off another year of recognizing the best in retailer-owned brand design.

Tickets are free, and registration opens August 1, 2026. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for companies looking to elevate their brand, grow their business, and connect directly with leaders across the private brand industry.

Looking Ahead

The Vertex Awards have always been a labor of love for our team, our judges, and the industry. More importantly, they now showcase what Private Brands can achieve when creativity, strategy, and ambition come together.

We hope this year’s winners inspire you as much as they inspired us. We look forward to seeing your work in next year’s competition.