Cumberland Farms now operates a network of about 600 convenience stores and gas stations in about a dozen eastern seaboard states from Maine to Florida. The company operates its own grocery distribution and bakery operations to supply its stores, as well. Cumberland owns a two-thirds limited partnership in petroleum wholesaler Gulf Oil LP, giving it the right to use and license Gulf trademarks in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, most of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the New England states. The first convenience-store operator in New England, Cumberland was founded in 1939 by Vasilios and Aphrodite Haseotes. The Haseotes' descendants, including chairman Lily Haseotes Bentas, own the company.

Wallis Companies is a leading gasoline distributor in Missouri and the Midwest. The company's convenience store division operates about 40 locations in the Show Me State and services more than 140 other stores, including Exxon Mobil 's On The Run shops and BP Pump Handle stores. Other businesses include the Hen House restaurant in Bourbon, Missouri, as well as Wallis Lubricants (automotive and industrial lubricants) and the Great River Wash Company (distributes car wash equipment). Wallis Companies was founded in 1968 by Bill Wallis and today is run by his wife, Lynn Wallis, who took control of the company when he died.

PCC (stands for Puget Consumers Co-op) today is the largest consumer-owned natural food cooperative in the US, with about 40,000 members. Lifetime membership in the regional cooperative costs $60.PCC Natural Markets operates about 10 organic and natural food stores in Washington. More than 90% of the produce sold by the coop is certified organic, according to USDA rules. It also offers cooking classes featuring guest chefs, natural foods, exotic dishes, and lessons for children. PCC Natural Markets watches out for its customers' health, removing all products from its shelves that contain trans-fats and the like.

Global Vision Eyewear Corp. was founded in 1981 by president Richard Wright. Before you get your motor runnin', head out on the highway, you might want to don glasses from Global Vision Eyewear. The firm distributes performance eyewear including goggles, glasses, and sunglasses for bikers, and participants in other extreme sports, such as ATV riding, skateboarding, and skydiving. The company also supplies safety goggles and glasses. The eyewear has shatterproof polycarbonate lenses to protect the wearer's eyes. Global Vision sells its products through more than 300 Harley Davidson dealers, at motorcycle rallies (including Daytona Beach Bike Week and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally), and through online retailers.

Old Time Pottery a chain of about 30 stores in about 10 states in the South and Midwest selling discounted closeout and overstock housewares, silk flowers, framed art, linens, rugs, craft supplies, seasonal merchandise, and more. The company gets its inventory, which it displays in a warehouse-type setting, from the canceled orders and excess stock of manufacturers. And it needs lots of inventory, as stores average about 2 acres in size. Founded in 1986, Old Time Pottery is controlled by the Peterson family. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 2009 and exited it in August 2010.

Founded in 1973, A & E Stores also owns Rugby Realty, a real estate investment firm. Working women who have never heard of A & E Stores are more likely to be familiar with its Strawberry and Bolton's retail apparel chains. The company operates about 30 Bolton's and 25 Strawberry stores that sell junior and women's career and casual apparel, shoes, and accessories. The stores are concentrated in prime office districts in Manhattan and elsewhere in New York City. A & E's third chain, Pay/Half, operates some 45 discount family clothing stores in about a half dozen northeastern states and the Chicago area.

Dreams Plc sells mattresses, divan sets, children's beds, bed frames, and bedding through more than 200 stores across the UK as well as online. Mattresses are manufactured at Dreams' own production facilities. The company also offers recycling service for used bedding. In 1985 Mike Clare began building on his own dreams with his first specialty bed and bedding store in Uxbridge. He sold Dreams to London-based Exponent Private Equity in 2008.

Menard is owned by president and CEO John Menard, who founded the company in 1972. If sticks and stones break bones, what can two-by-fours and two-inch nails do? That is what Menard is wondering now that its biggest rivals (#1 home improvement giant The Home Depot and #2 Lowe's) are hammering away at its home turf. One of the largest home improvement chains in the Midwest, Menard has more than 250 stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The stores sell home improvement products, such as floor coverings, hardware, millwork, paint, and tools. Unlike competitors, all the company's stores have full-service lumberyards.

Mar-Cone Appliance Parts Center was founded in 1932 by Harry Markow as a door-to-door rebuilt vacuum cleaner company. CEO Mitchell Markow is the founder's grandson. Marcone Appliance Parts Center helps keep your refrigerator, dishwasher, and air conditioner running. Mar-Cone Appliance Parts Center distributes appliance repair parts; it also sells HVAC and plumbing supplies. Marcone operates through more than 40 locations in the US, mostly in California and Florida. Mar-Cone Appliance Parts Center provides parts from vendors such as KitchenAid, Whirlpool, and Maytag. It also exports parts to clients in about 120 countries around the globe. Marcone has been growing through acquisitions while consolidating business operations.

Charles Hyde and David Vredenburg founded the employee-owned firm in 1930. It takes its name from a combination of its founders' names.Give Hy-Vee a high five for being one of the largest privately owned US supermarket chains, despite serving some modestly sized towns in the Midwest. The company runs more than 200 Hy-Vee supermarkets in eight Midwestern states: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. About half of its stores are in Iowa, as are most of its two dozen Hy-Vee drugstores. It distributes products to its stores through several subsidiaries, including Lomar Distributing (specialty foods) and Perishable Distributors of Iowa (fresh foods).

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