Kokubu & Co. is the shogun of Japan's wholesale food industry. As the largest distributor in the country, it supplies customers with more than 400,000 food items, beverages, and other products. An importer and exporter of foods and alcoholic beverages, Kokubu has warehouses throughout Japan. It owns a majority share of Mitsui & Co.'s grocery and liquor wholesale operations in the Hokkaido region and has a confectionery wholesaling joint venture with Japanese candy company Momose. Kokubu, which also has operations in real estate leasing and breadcrumb manufacturing, is buying an ice cream wholesaler. Founder Kanbei Kokubu started the firm in 1712 as a soy sauce brewery; it is still owned by the Kokubu family.

STAAR Surgical Company is at the vanguard of minimally invasive ophthalmic vision enhancement and technology. We believe in the importance of improving the efficiency, convenience, and comfort of corrective eye surgery for both medical professionals and patients. It is for this reason that we continually evaluate our existing products to ensure that we are providing the latest cataract, refractive error, and glaucoma treatments. From our patented COLLAMER lenses to Cruise Control, our unique new high vacuum surgery system, STAAR Surgical Company is responsible for some of the most revolutionary developments in ophthalmology. Regarded as a technology leader in the surgical eye correction industry, STAAR Surgical Company was founded in 1982 when the intraocular lens (IOL) was still in its relative infancy. Although still an integral part of the company's portfolio, STAAR Surgical Company's product lines have expanded beyond cataract correction solutions to include lenses and medical devices for refractive and glaucoma surgery.STAAR Surgical Company has revolutionized the industry with its development and use of Collamer. This unique lens material is used in the Afinity™ line of intraocular lenses (IOLs), the Visian ICL, and the Visian TICL*. Each Collamer lens produced by STAAR Surgical Company is made from a material that not only is durable, but also replicates features of the eye's natural lens, creating high quality of vision and optimal biocompatibility. STAAR Surgical Company has developed into a global surgical eye correction technology leader. To foster ongoing growth, we emphasize creativity, research, and development. Using these tools, STAAR Surgical Company plans to continue making advancements in technology, marketing, and financial strength.

Central Grocers, Inc.,the member-owned cooperative wholesale food distributor supplies food items and general merchandise to more than 400 independent retail grocery stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin. It distributes products under both national brands and its own Centrella brand. The co-op also operates about 30 stores under such banners as Strack & Van Til, Town & Country, Key Market, and the low-cost Ultra Foods chain. Founded in 1917, Central Grocers acquired rival distributor Certified Grocers in 2009.

Imperial Distributors reigns over more than 1,000 retailers throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, delivering health and personal care products, cosmetics, seasonal items, and other non-food general merchandise to supermarkets. Customers include independent retail stores and large supermarket chains such as Foodtown, Roche Bros., and Stop & Shop. Imperial Distributors delivers more than 200,000 products per day from its warehouse and distribution facility. It also provides services including marketing, accounting, merchandising, logistics, and data management. The company was founded in 1939 by Frank Sleeper, father of CEO Mike Sleeper.

Interline Brands, Inc. was created when Wilmar, Barnett and Sexauer — sharing a common set of goals — merged into one organization. Each of these former companies managed different catalog titles or “brands” that market a wide range of MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) products to many different types of customers in the U.S. and abroad.Because our customers trust these brand names, Interline allows each brand to maintain its identity and loyal customer base. At the same time, each of Interline’s brands can now make significant improvements in sales, efficiency, technology, and customer satisfaction by being part of the Interline family. For example, we can now offer same-day or next-day delivery of the products in all of our catalogs to customers across North and Central America via our many distribution centers. Today, Interline Brands is a clear leader in the distribution of MRO products, and each of our brands can take advantage of our many resources.

The C.D. Hartnett Company,the full-line grocery distributor serves convenience stores and foodservice operators throughout Texas, supplying more than 12,000 items including dry foods, dairy products, frozen foods, candy, tobacco, and other general merchandise. For restaurants, hotels, and other foodservice operators, the company distributes both food and non-food supplies mostly under the Frosty Acre brand. C.D. Hartnett traces its roots to 1880 and operates today as a subsidiary of food distribution giant McLane Company.

The Patel brothers founded Waymade Healthcare in 1984, building off of the pharmacy business began by Vijay Patel in 1975. You might think the Patel brothers have it made in a big way, but they're not resting on their laurels. The owners of Waymade Healthcare, Vijay and Bhikhu Patel grew up impoverished in Kenya, but today oversee one of the UK's leading pharmaceutical distribution firms. Waymade Healthcare supplies pharmacists and hospitals in the UK and abroad with branded and generic prescription drugs. Its subsidiary Amdipharm (launched in 2002) develops novel pharmaceuticals.

Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (API) has developed into one of Australia’s leading beauty and health retail companies. API was founded in 1910 and became one of Australia’s leading pharmaceutical distributors. Changes within the pharmacy industry propelled API to focus on the needs of consumers and patients thereby developing a retail footprint and retail services that provide growth opportunities for the company today. API is one of the leading service providers to the pharmacy industry in Australia and today has a relationship with more than 4000 independent pharmacies. The services include wholesale product delivery, retail services, marketing programs and business advisory services. API also owns and operates the Priceline retail store brand that is a leading health and beauty brand in Australia. The company has product manufacturing capabilities and it is a niche player in over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and toiletries, which supply the Australian and New Zealand markets.API believes that all its service and product offerings must ultimately end with meeting a need of a consumer or patient. As the leading distributor of pharmaceuticals in Australia, API has staff in warehouses across the country that ensure daily deliveries of medicines to pharmacies that aim to improve the life of their patients. API is the leading franchisor in the pharmacy industry, with more than 150 Priceline Pharmacy stores, it provides the pharmacist franchisees a total retail model. Combined with the traditional Priceline stores (no pharmacy service) that the company owns, API provide health and beauty products that meet the needs consumers. Every day staff in these stores are providing advice to consumers to add vitality and wellness to their lives. The manufacture of our products is undertaken to the highest standards so that patients and consumers can benefit from them and improve their lives. API’s story is one of growth and development, and today it continues to pursue growth by supporting its independent pharmacy partners and believes it is best placed to achieve this by focussing on what drives purchasing patterns of health and beauty products.

Sledd Co. is a leading wholesale supplier of food and non-food items to convenience stores and other retailers in half a dozen states, including Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. The company distributes such items as candy, dry groceries, frozen foods, tobacco products, and general merchandise. Formed in 1937, Sledd is owned by president Robert Sincavich.

SEC was founded in 1984 by Chairman Matth Toebben and CEO Judith Phillips. Customers include Coors and the Ohio Hospital Association. Stand Energy Corporation (SEC) took a stand in the 1980s when the US government deregulated the natural gas industry. The company markets natural gas to large commercial and industrial customers in nine states (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia) and the District of Columbia. SEC also constructs bypass pipelines for its customers (allowing companies to bypass the local utility) and designs and builds propane backup systems to take advantage of reduced gas rates.

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