Dobbies Garden Centres plc was founded by James Dobbie in 1865 as a seeds and cut flowers shop, after a lifelong hobby as a horticulturist. It first floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1997. In 2008 Dobbies became a subsidiary of Tesco, the UK's largest retailer. Also in 2008, the chain acquired Sandyholm Garden Center in Crossford, Carluke. What started out as a hobby has become Dobbies. Dobbies Garden Centres operates about two dozen nurseries in the UK, providing merchandise for all types of gardening, including plants, fertilizers, and tools, garden furniture and grills, outdoor clothing, certain home wares, and books on gardening. Gardening centers also offer such services as demonstrations and catering facilities.

Charming Shoppes, Inc. operates as a specialty apparel retailer primarily for women in the United States. Charming Shoppes, Inc. operates retail stores and related e-commerce Web sites under the LANE BRYANT, LANE BRYANT OUTLET, FASHION BUG, and CATHERINES PLUS SIZES names. Its retail stores offer plus-size, misses, sportswear, dresses, coats, and intimate apparel, as well as accessories and casual footwear. Charming Shoppes, Inc. also sells food and specialty gifts through its FIGI’S catalog and related e-commerce Web site. As of January 30, 2010, it operated 2,121 retail stores. Charming Shoppes, Inc. was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

ASDA is the UK's second-largest food seller (behind Tesco).It operates about 370 stores (including about 25 ASDA Living stores) that primarily sell groceries and apparel.The stores also sell CDs, books, videos, and housewares. It offers American, Chinese, and Mexican take-away meals.Since being bought by Wal-Mart in 1999, ASDA has set off a price war in the UK by initiating Wal-Mart's aggressive "price-rollback" program and converting stores to Wal-Mart's supercenter format under the ASDA-Wal-Mart banner.ASDA.com sells goods online.

HOM Furniture, Inc is a middle-market to high-end home furnishings retailer operating more than a dozen stores in Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and Wisconsin. HOM stores offer wooden (cherry, maple, oak, pine), upholstered (including leather), and patio furniture, as well as mattresses, area rugs, and other decorative accessories. Many locations also provide free design consultations to assist customers with buying decisions. In addition to its namesake chain, HOM operates Gabberts Design Studio & Fine Furnishings, based in Edina, Minnesota. HOM's retailing roots reach back to 1973, when CEO Wayne Johansen established JC Imports, the chain's forerunner.

Sears, Roebuck and Co. hasn't outgrown the mall scene, but it's spending more time in other places. Beyond its 850 US mall-based stores, Sears has more than 1,300 other locations nationwide. The company operates more than 900 independently owned Sears Hometown Stores (formerly known as dealer stores) in small towns and about 105 Sears hardware stores and some 85 Orchard Supply Hardware shops. Sears' stores sell apparel, tools, and appliances, and provide home services (remodeling, appliance repairs) under the Sears Parts & Repair Services and A&E Factory brands. It also sells appliances and tools online. Sears was acquired by Kmart Holding Corp. in 2005. The deal formed Sears Holdings, which owns both chains.

Bradfords Building Supplies Ltd. was founded in 1770 by William Bradford, and today is run by his great, great, great grandson chairman Peter Bradford. From pressboard to brads, and everything in between, Bradfords Building Supplies offers builders things to swing hammers at, with, and on. Operating through about 25 branches in England, Bradfords Building Supplies provides contractors with appliances, bricks, decking, doors, electrical items, insulation, lumber, nails and screws, paint, plumbing and heating fixtures and equipment, roofing, safety wear, tools, and other construction or related materials. Bradfords also offers tool hire at about 10 branches. It also operates a company retail Web site.

Grupo Gigante has the tiendas SuperPrecio discount convenience store format and largest retail brand, with more than 180 locations in central and northern Mexico. It also sells furniture at about half a dozen Home Store locations in Mexico and, through a long-term joint venture, Office Depot de Mexico, it offers office supplies at roughly 200 Office Depot stores in Mexico, Columbia, and Central America. Catering largely to families, Gigante runs more than 80 Toks casual dining restaurants and coffee shops. Gigante Grupo Inmobilario is the firm's real estate development arm.

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.

Tesco PLC, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a grocery retailer offering various food, non-food, and other retailing services. It operates various store formats that offer food and non-food products, such as fresh produce, wines and spirits, in-store bakery, ready-meals, sandwiches, DVDs, books, electrical equipment, homewares, clothing, health and beauty items, and garden furniture. The company also provides telecom services, including mobile network, home phone, Internet access, Internet phone, and various telecom products and services in store and online. In addition, it offers financial and insurance services ranging from savings accounts and credit cards to car and travel insurance. The company operates in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, the People’s Republic of China, and the United States. As of May 1, 2009, it operated 4,308 stores. The company has a collaboration agreement with Microsoft Corporation to launch home video viewing. Tesco PLC was formerly known as Tesco Stores (Holdings) Limited and changed its name to Tesco PLC in 1983. The company was founded in 1919 and is based in Cheshunt, United Kingdom.

The Cato Corporation operates as a fashion specialty retailer for fashion and value conscious females principally in the southeastern United States. Its stores offer an assortment of apparel and accessories, including dressy, career, and casual sportswear; dresses; coats; shoes; lingerie; costume jewelry; and handbags. As of January 30, 2010, the Cato Corporation company operated 1,271 women’s fashion specialty stores in 31 states under the Cato, Cato Fashions, Cato Plus, It’s Fashion, and It’s Fashion Metro brand names. The Cato Corporation also provides its own credit card and a layaway plan for customers to purchase its merchandise. The Cato Corporation company was founded in 1946 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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