O'Connell Oil operates about 30 Convenience Plus convenience stores and a half a dozen gas stations throughout western Massachusetts, serving customers with Citgo, Mobil, and Shell brand gasoline. Three O'Connell's Heating Oil & Service locations provide heating oil and air conditioner repair services. The company also runs plumbing and industrial lubricant divisions. Namesake Ralph M. O'Connell founded the company in 1925.

Norkus Enterprises was founded when Francis Norkus opened his first grocery store, called Table Talk, in Freehold, New Jersey in 1935. Today Norkus' three sons, Gerry (president), Mark (VP), and Stephen (VP), run the firm, which is a member of the Foodtown Supermarket cooperative.They sell pasta shells by the Jersey sea shore. Norkus Enterprises operates about half a dozen grocery stores under the Foodtown and Super Foodtown banners in Monmouth County and Ocean County, New Jersey. The regional grocery chain also offers online shopping and home delivery in some areas

The story of Wilkinson Hardware defines DIY, and not just because the do-it-yourself trend has made the business a success and has allowed it to ride out a couple recessions. Founded in Leicester in 1930, Wilkinson Hardware Stores operates more than 330 home and garden shops throughout England and Wales. Each of its locations peddles some 25,000 products. Wilko, as the company is known, is one of the largest privately-held companies in the UK. The business is led by the founding Wilkinson family. J.K. Wilkinson founded the original store after gathering the seed money by saving £1 a week from his wages for nearly six years. Chairwoman Karin Swann is the founder's granddaughter.

Waldbaum operates about 65 supermarkets in New York City, on Long Island, and in Westchester County, New York. To serve the city that never sleeps, many Waldbaum stores are open around the clock and most have in-store bakeries; about half have pharmacies. The 100-year-old chain is owned by ailing A&P, which filed for bankruptcy in 2010 capping years of struggle following the purchase of its regional rival Pathmark Stores in 2007. As a result of the Pathmark purchase, four Waldbaum supermarkets on Long Island and Staten Island were sold to rivals King Kullen and Stop & Shop in 2008 to satisfy Federal Trade Commission competition requirements.

Champion Window Manufacturing is looking for a home-improvement boom as its window of opportunity. The company makes custom-built, vinyl-framed replacement windows and doors and sells them directly to homeowners through about 75 sales and installation offices in some 30 states. It also manufactures patio rooms, porch enclosures, and vinyl siding; remodels basements; and sells patio furniture made by third-party vendors. Champion Window, founded in 1953 by Alvin Levine and Arthur Stevens as a maker of aluminum storm windows, doors, and awnings, was owned by former executives Edward Levine (son of Alvin) and Bernard Barbash until mid-2007, when a private-equity investor gained control of day-to-day operations.

Slumberland has some reclining, bedding, and sofa solutions. Primarily situated in the upper Midwest region of the US, the company operates more than 110 stores in 10 US states. It first opened its doors as a mattress shop and La-Z-Boy specialty shop in 1967, but today Slumberland has extended its reach into furniture for the bedroom, dining room, and living room. The company is a leading retailer of La-Z-Boy upholstery and also sells Natuzzi leather pieces and both Sealy and Simmons mattresses. Franchising has become an increasingly vital part of Slumberland's strategy for expansion.

Alon Holdings Blue Square - Israel Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, operates supermarkets and retail outlets in Israel. It offers food and beverages products; non-food items, such as houseware products, toys, small electrical appliances, computers and computer accessories, entertainment and leisure products, and textile products; and near-food products comprising health and beauty aids, baby and young children products, cosmetics, and hygiene products. The company owns and operates 207 supermarkets under the Mega, Mega in Town, Shefa Shuk, Mega Bool, and Eden Teva brand names; and 260 non-food retail outlets under the Naaman, Vardinon, Sheshet, Kfar Hasha’ashuim, Rav-Kat, Dr. Baby, and All for a Dollar brand names. In addition, it owns, leases, and develops commercial properties. The company was formerly known as Blue Square – Israel Ltd. and changed its name to Alon Holdings Blue Square - Israel Ltd. in July 2010. The company was founded in 1988 and is based in Rosh Ha'ayin, Israel. Alon Holdings Blue Square - Israel Ltd. is a subsidiary of Alon Retail Ltd.

Among the optimistic Americans who migrated westward in the late 1800's was A.C. Houston, who founded A.C. Houston Lumber in 1884. The pioneers of the time had set out to build new lives, and Houston established the company that would provide building materials to do so. The first A.C. Houston Lumber yards opened in the small Kansas towns of Eureka and Hamilton. More than one hundred twenty-five years later, A.C. Houston Lumber yards can be found in three western states of California, Idaho, and Nevada with the corporate headquarters being located in North Las Vegas. The corporate headquarters was located in Kansas until 1998, when it relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada.Much has changed since 1884, but the business philosophy of A.C. Houston has been passed down unchanged to third-generation family member, Robert A. Houston, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our goal is to sell products of quality and strength, give the customer their money's worth, and to treat each customer the way we, ourselves, would want to be treated," Houston says. A.C. Houston Primarily a volume supplier of lumber and building materials to the professional contractor, A.C. Houston Lumber operates retail centers offering products that supplement the construction trade. We fabricate roof and floor trusses at our manufacturing plants using computerized, state-of-the-art equipment in addition to providing engineering assistance and truss design. We encourage you to stop by one of our locations and chat with our staff. They are eager to assist you with all of your building material needs.

Located in northeast Ohio, Petitti Garden Centers produces 95 percent of its own perennials, annuals, trees and shrubs with its own local growing facilities. Immigrating to the United States over 44 years ago, Angelo Petitti took a small landscaping business and turned it into seven retail locations, one of the Cleveland/Akron area's largest garden centers. Angelo Petitti believes, “It’s the community and the employees that have made this company a success and helped it grow.” Through gardening seminars, special events and donations, Petitti’s has committed themselves in helping your community through gardening. “If we help you grow, we will continue to grow.” That belief is apparent in all seven Petitti Garden Centers. Employing only the most knowledgeable and friendliest staff has allowed Petitti’s to offer their customers expert advice with every visit to their stores. A visit to Petitti Garden Center is not another shopping trip, but an experience. Stroll the flowers for ideas or explore the garden center for the perfect item to complement your home. At Petitti’s we regularly seek horticulture enthusiasts. If you are interested in joining our team, pleas submit your application below.

Vivarte (formerly Groupe Andre) is a giant in European shoes and clothes. One of Europe's leading manufacturers and sellers of footwear and apparel, it operates some 4,400 stores in France and about 10 other countries in Europe, including Germany, Italy, and Spain, under about 20 different banners. Its discount footwear and apparel stores operate under the La Halle aux Chaussures, Chaussland, and Besson Chaussures names. Other stores operate under the Caroll, Kookai, La Halle, Naf Naf, Super Sport, and Fosco names. Vivarte is owned by the UK-based private equity firm Charterhouse Capital Partners, which acquired the company from PAI Partners in 2007.

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