Esselunga is owned by Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A., and controlled by its founder and chairman Bernardo Caprotti and family.Esselunga is a leading Italian grocery store chain, with about 130 supermarkets and superstores, or hypermarkets, throughout northern Italy. The company also had real estate assets which it hived off into a separate company, La Villata S.p.A., in 2005. The Italian grocery chain has long been rumored to be a takeover target of foreign retailers because it operates in some of the richest regions in Italy. The company has been busy opening new stores and remodeling existing locations. Founded in 1957.

Co-op is Britain's largest funeral service provider. Established in 1863, Co-operative Group boasts 5.5 million members.Co-operative Group cares for its customers from the cradle to the grave. The hodgepodge of businesses run by the world's largest cooperative society includes farming, food and drug stores, travel agencies, banking, insurance, financial and legal services, and funerals. It's the UK's largest commercial farming operation and its fifth-largest grocery retailer with some 3,000 food stores. Overall, it operates about 4,800 outlets on high streets throughout the UK. Financial services include insurance, investment and retirement planning, as well as traditional and online banking.

The Pantry merchandise products include tobacco products, packaged beverages, beer and wine, general merchandise, health and beauty care products, self-service fast foods and beverages, salty snacks, fast food service, candy, dairy products, bread and cakes, grocery and other merchandise, and newspapers and magazines. As of December 14, 2010, the company operated 1,672 stores in 13 states under select banners, including Kangaroo Express, its primary operating banner. The Pantry was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina.The Pantry, Inc. operates a convenience store chain in the southeastern United States. Its stores offer a selection of merchandise, gasoline, and ancillary products and services.

Kole Imports keeps America's dollar stores well stocked with trinkets and treasures. The firm wholesales everything from automobile accessories to zippers, which is attractively packaged by in-house artists to ensure a similar look for all of the merchandise. Products are sold primarily to other wholesalers and dollar and discount stores. Kole Imports' warehouse includes a 6,000-sq.-ft. showroom designed to look like a dollar store, allowing potential customers to browse the merchandise. The company was founded by brothers (and co-presidents) Rob and Danny Kole in 1982.

J. Front Retailing fronts the retail operations of leading Japanese department stores The Daimaru and Matsuzakaya Holdings. The holding company was created by the merger of the two ailing rivals in 2007. The Daimaru, founded as a drapery shop in 1717, operates about 15 upscale shops in western Japan. Matsuzakaya, founded in 1611 as a kimono retailer, runs eight department stores in central Japan, including its flagship location in Nagoya. J. Front's Peacock Stores unit operates some 90 supermarkets in the Chubu, Kansai, and Tokyo districts of Japan. The company's other activities include construction, credit services, direct marketing, furniture making, restaurants, and wholesale textiles.

Orchard Brands is a regular garden grove of catalogs and e-commerce sites. The direct-to-consumer retailer owns a growing portfolio of more than 15 brands that target the 55+ senior demographic. Its titles offer apparel, accessories, and shoes, as well as home and garden and health products. With its acquisition of Linen Source and Crosstown Traders, Orchard Brands now reports more than $1.1 billion in revenue through its catalogs, e-commerce sites, and Appleseed's retail stores in New England and Draper's & Damon's in half a dozen states. Orchard Brands is a unit of the private equity firm Golden Gate Capital (GGC) the parent company of Eddie Bauer and Herbalife. GGC put Orchard Brands up for sale in 2010.

Martin McColl is among the leading operators of newsstands and convenience stores in Great Britain. The company has more than 900 newsstands, 300 convenience stores, and 100 high street shops in England, Scotland and Wales. Its newsstands operate under the Martin's banner while its convenience stores operate under the McColl's banner. About 400 stores have post offices, making it the UK's leading owner of regional substations. Martin McColl, originally named TM Retail, was formed in 1998. Following a management-led buyout in 2005, the company changed its name and its business strategy. Its executive team owns about 80% of the company.

Ross Stores, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates two chains of off-price retail apparel and home accessories stores in the United States. Its stores offer branded and designer apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions, as well as gift items, linens, and other home-related merchandise. The company’s merchandise offerings also comprise product categories, such as small furniture and furniture accents, educational toys and games, luggage, gourmet food and cookware, watches, and sporting goods, as well as fine jewelry in selected Ross stores. As of January 30, 2010, it operated 1,005 stores, including 953 Ross Dress for Less (Ross) locations in 27 states and Guam, and 52 dd’s DISCOUNTS stores in 4 states. Ross Stores, Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.

Toupargel Groupe comprises two main businesses: frozen foods, which account for most of sales, and fresh foods and groceries under the Place du March name. CEO Roland Tchenio controls 56% of the company, which changed its name from Toupargel-Agrigel to Toupargel Groupe in 2007.Out of escargots? Short on soufflo? Not to worry, there is a solution! Toupargel Groupe (formerly Toupargel-Agrigel) delivers fresh and frozen foods, produce, dry goods, and groceries to more than 1 million customers in France. Customers place orders by telephone or online through the company's e-business Web site and are guaranteed delivery within 48 to 72 hours.

The Katz Group is one of Canada's leading drug store operators with over 1,800 drug stores across the country. In addition to its retail operations, the Katz Group owns and operates Canada's only national mail order pharmacy business, Rexall Direct (formerly known as Meditrust Pharmacy Inc.), one of Canada's largest institutional pharmacy operations.

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