United Dairy Farmers (UDF) changed the way Cincinnati bought its milk. UDF -- which buys milk from area dairy farmers, then processes and packages it for sale in its stores -- has grown into a chain of about 200 convenience stores, mostly in Ohio, but also in Kentucky and Indiana. The company, still owned and run by the Lindner family, sells its own milk products, its Homemade brand ice cream and sherbet, coffee, and a variety of other food products at its stores. UDF locations also offer in-store ice cream parlors and sell Mobil brand gasoline.

GOME serves China's growing appetite for techno toys, digital doodads, and modern household conveniences. One of China's leading electronics retailers by sales, GOME (formerly China Eagle Group) sells consumer electronics and household appliances from about 860 stores in more than 200 large and medium sized cities. Most locations offer rental and repairs and a handful are completely dedicated to digital electronics. Audio visual products (TVs, DVD and CD players, VCRs, stereos) make up about a third of GOME's sales. The company plans to expand into smaller cities and continue opening its all-digital stores. Kwong Yu Wong and his wife Juan Du, own more than a third of GOME's shares.

Raymours Furniture Company operates more than 90 retail stores, including about 10 clearance centers, in half a dozen states. It sells furniture for just about every room in the house (bedroom, dining room, home office, living room), offering such pieces as bookcases, entertainment centers, headboards, mattresses, nightstands, recliners, sofas, and tables. Brands such as Broyhill, Hooker, Klaussner, La-Z-Boy, Natuzzi, and Tempur-Pedic are represented. Founded in 1947 by brothers Arnold and Bernard Goldberg, Raymour & Flanigan is run by next-generation Goldbergs, president and CEO Neil and EVPs Michael and Steven.

Craving Italian fashions? La Rinascente operates more than a dozen upscale la Rinascente department stores in cities across Italy. The company's flagship store near the Duomo in Milan -- Italy's fashion capital -- accounts for about 50% of sales. The retailer also operates the UPIM chain of some 340 company-owned and franchised stores throughout Italy and a single concept store in Rome called Jam. La Rinascente tempts shoppers with luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Gucci. Aldo and Senatore Borletti founded La Rinascente in 1917. Today the company is owned by its chairman, the Italian entrepreneur Maurizio Borletti (Aldo's grandson)

MW Manufacturers, which began operating in 1939, is owned by Ply Gem Industries. If you're looking for the doors (and windows) of perception east of the Mississippi, try MW Manufacturers. MW Manufacturers Inc. makes and distributes a variety of doors and windows for the residential construction industry. Its products range from patio doors to accent and stationary picture windows. MW's door and window products come in clad-wood (PVC cladding form-fitted over a solid wood frame), vinyl, and wood varieties. It also sells complete sash replacement systems. MW Manufacturers Inc. targets building material wholesalers, lumber yards, and retail home centers as its primary customers.

Specsavers was founded in 1984 as the first company to offer half ownership to resident opticians. Specsavers Optical Group is focused on serving squinters on a budget. The company, famous for its ongoing two-for-one offering, specializes in affordable eyecare. Through its 1,300 Specsavers stores in Europe and Australia, consumers can receive eye exams, as well as buy glasses and contact lenses. The company makes more than 2,000 styles of glasses at its three UK factories. Specsavers also sells contact lenses online; it is Europe's largest contact lens home-deliverer. Through its hearing care business, Specsavers Hearcare Group, the company offers hearing tests and sells hearing aids at Specsavers locations.

King Soopers customers can also shop online (kingsoopers.com) with home delivery service. Its supermarkets offer online prescription refills. King Soopers is a division of Dillon Companies, which is owned by The Kroger Co., the #1 pure grocery chain in the US.King Soopers operates about 140 combination food and drug stores mostly in Colorado but also in Wyoming. About half of the stores are in the Denver area. In addition to traditional supermarket fare, the regional grocery chain offers bulk and natural and organic foods to compete with Whole Foods, which acquired King Soopers' local rival Wild Oats Markets in 2007. It also sells private-label goods under the King Soopers and other Kroger brand names.

The CARQUEST group includes a network of about 40 distribution centers serving more than 3,400 distributor-owned and independent jobbers in the US, Canada, and Mexico. The company sells its own line of auto parts (made by Moog Automotive, Dana, Gates, and others) to the jobbers, as well as wholesalers, for eventual resale to professional repair centers, service stations, dealerships, and, to a lesser degree, do-it-yourself (DIY) customers. Searching for a sensor, solenoid, or switches? CARQUEST can steer you in the right direction. The replacement auto parts distribution group is owned by its member warehouse distributors (the largest is North Carolina-based General Parts).

Southern Co-operatives originally dipped its toe into the co-operative market in 1873. The regional consumer co- operative society operates about 120 convenience stores under The Co-op banner in mid-southern England. The co-op added the David's chain of convenience stores on the Isle of Wight during the past few years. Its other lines of business include funeral services and property investment. The co-op exited the milk delivery business -- Southern Co-operative Dairies by selling it to the Co-operative Group (CWS). Established as the Portsea Island Mutual Co-operative Society by dockyard workers in Portsmouth, the group changed its name to Southern Co-operatives Limited in 1998.

Auer Steel & Heating Supply Co. is a full-service distributor of high quality indoor comfort products, featuring the Bryant, Carrier (Milwaukee only) and Payne brands of furnaces, air conditioners, humidifiers, air cleaners, heat & energy recovery ventilators, controls and other accessories. Auer Steel company began in 1940 in Milwaukee, when Don Curtes, Sr. founded the business on his philosophy of superior customer service. Now, over 65 years and two generations later, the Curtes family still owns and operates Auer Steel with the same valued-added service ideals.During the late 1980's and early 1990's, Auer Steel opened three satellite branch operations to provide even better service to its customers. Although our Carrier/Bryant/Payne product lines are limited to Southeastern Wisconsin, we will gladly ship other products throughout the state. May 1995 brought the expansion of Auer Steel to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. From its location in suburban New Hope, Auer Steel/Twin Cities serves customers in nearly all of Minnesota, eastern North Dakota and northwestern Wisconsin. November 2004 brought us another opportunity for growth. Our acquisition of the Bryant distributor serving Appleton, Green Bay, Wausau, northeastern Wisconsin and western Upper Michigan allows us to bring our superior customer service to exciting new territory.

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