About Us

For over a century, the Durban family has built a legacy in the food and beverage industry, beginning in the 1920s when Peter Durban opened his first meat markets and supermarkets in the Midwest. These early businesses laid the foundation for a multi-generational commitment to food retail and manufacturing.

By the 1950s and 1960s, the family expanded westward, opening additional stores in Los Angeles while integrating the second generation — Joe, Monte, John, and Bill Durban — into the business. During this time, Uncle Tom Eritano established a successful chain of butcher shops across Southern California, further solidifying the family's reputation in the meat and grocery industries.

As the industry evolved, so did the Durban family's entrepreneurial focus. By the 1970s and 1980s, the family shifted from retail into manufacturing and distribution, pioneering private-label production and exploring new consumer trends. By the 1990s and 2000s, the third generation — Dennis, Jack, and Andy Durban — expanded into leadership roles with major global corporations such as Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and Heinz.

In 2009, they co-founded Conzumables, a company dedicated to consumer product innovation, brand incubation, and contract manufacturing. Today, the fourth generation continues this tradition — Austin Durban co-leads Conzumables specializing in online retail, while Sean Vandebrake has launched Pub Jerky and advises within the family business.

With 35 years of experience in the consumer products industry, the Conzumables Team have built a legacy of expertise, innovation, and brand incubation, blending a deep understanding of food and beverage with a strong media presence to support, launch, and elevate emerging brands.

Their hands-on involvement spans product development, strategic growth, distribution, and retail execution — helping startups scale from concept to national and global success. They have worked with Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Conagra, Campbell's, and Danone.

The team has co-founded brands like Nature's Bakery and Core Bar, held equity in Perfect Bar, and mentored hundreds of early-stage brands on their journey to market success.

The founders were pioneers in developing snack and beverage programs for non-traditional retail formats, revolutionizing grab-and-go placement in hardware stores, auto parts chains, and electronics retailers.

The Nestlé team launched its first pilot in West Marine Boating Stores and between 1995–1999 expanded into multiple retail chains across the U.S. One founder was sent to Switzerland to implement similar models worldwide.

The team also co-founded the Hotel Pantry concept, leading to hotel distribution and advisory roles for brands expanding into grab-and-go and alternative food service channels.

The Contract Manufacturing Alliance was co-founded by Conzumables and the Contract Packaging Association as a centralized resource for manufacturing consumer products, bringing together key players across food, beverage, health, beauty, and household goods.

Designed as a go-to network for Contract Manufacturers, Pilot Plants, Private Labelers, and Commercial Kitchens, the CMA provides critical support for brands navigating the complex world of contract manufacturing and production scaling.

Conzumables is a pioneer in retail channels, helping consumer brands navigate retail format targeting and strategic placement through platforms like RetailFormats.com and InTheStore.org.

Their expertise spans category management, product placement strategies, and retail execution — ensuring brands develop tailored go-to-market strategies to maximize distribution, sales, and brand visibility across mass retail, grocery, convenience, specialty stores, and food service sectors.

The founders have a long history of creating innovative products for hospital environments — patient feeding, resident dining, cafeteria offerings, and grab-and-go options for hospital gift shops and pharmacies.

By understanding the unique demands of healthcare settings, they have consistently delivered high-quality, accessible products that enhance the experience for patients, medical staff, and visitors.