Barks, mews, and caws are music to the ears of Pets at Home. The retailer operates about 230 pet-oriented stores throughout the UK, and also offers its own-brand products through a retail Web site. Pets at Home offers veterinary services, called Companion Care, at the majority of its stores. The company also offers 24-hour emergency services as well as ordinary care. Many Pets at Home stores also offer pet behavior training for some animals. Founder Anthony Preston developed the stores' concept in 1991; in 2004 he sold the majority of his stake in the company to private equity firm Bridgepoint. Management and employees retain an almost 20% interest in the company, which is being groomed to go public in 2010.

Naturopatch of Vermont takes a natural path to promote wellness. The company manufactures and markets nonprescription aromatherapy patches containing essential oils. The patches contain herbal ingredients, such as cayenne, rosemary, lemon grass, and ginger, and are used to soothe tired muscles, reduce stress, and ease cold symptoms. Its line is sold in pharmacies, spas, and specialty stores throughout the US, as well as online through the company's Web site and through online beauty retailers the likes of Beautorium.com.

Actionrack Manufacturing company makes stock store fixtures and displays (brochure holders, garment racks, mannequins, metal shelves, sign holders, tables, and counters, other accessories) for a variety of retail formats. Selling its products by phone and through a catalog, Actionrack has manufacturing facilities in China and Korea and warehousing and its headquarters operations in Brooklyn, New York. Actionrack Manufacturing company also makes custom metal and wood units, such as counters and showcases, and creates prototypes for special projects.

Abbeycrest Plc company was founded in 1979. Abbeycrest's UK jewelry production is officially past its peak. One of the UK's leading jewelry designers and manufacturers, the company's products are sold through retailers, such as discount giant ASDA. In addition to gemsets (gold jewelry inset with gemstones, such as rings, necklaces, and pendants), Abbeycrest makes jewelry parts, including clasps and chains. The company boasts manufacturing facilities in Bangkok, Thailand, and the UK. Abbeycrest has been restructuring its business and transitioning all production to Thailand (named Abbeycrest Thailand Limited or ATL) in order to focus its UK operations on distribution and other functions.

The New Jersey-based company imports and distributes wine, champagnes, sparkling wines, fortified and dessert wines, aperitifs, and other spirits. Winebow boasts a portfolio of more than 4,000 labels from around the world; it maintains agreements with 75 producers in Italy and 20 in Spain. The company's Italian selections represent wines from from most of that country's 20 regions. Winebow distributes wine in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC.

Founded by Joe Sloan and Geoff Salter in 1975, SHS Group has locations spread across the UK and Ireland. (Ownership of the company is still divided evenly between the Salters and Sloan families.) The company's food distribution subsidiaries include Farmlea, British Pepper & Spice, and Gourmet Garden. SHS Group has expanded its range with its purchase of cider and juice maker Merrydown. SHS Group will get your juices going -- and your cider, alcopop, and frozen foods, too. The firm makes and markets the WKD line of alcopop (made from a mixture of vodka and fruit juice) throughout the UK, and also distributes Cobra beer, Tropicana juice, Douwe Egberts coffee, and various types of groceries.

Founded in 1854, Timex is owned by the family of chairman Annette Olsen, whose grandfather bought the company in 1942. Timex is strapping on fresh faces so it can tap new markets worldwide. The nation's largest watch manufacturer has expanded its lines from simple, low-cost watches to include high-tech tickers capable of paging or downloading computer data. Its sports watches have gone upscale and gadgety with its Expedition and Ironman lines. Timex Corporation company also makes and markets thermostats, pedometers, and weather instruments. Through a licensing agreement, Timex makes watches for Guess? and Versace, among others.

Admiral Beverage Corporation and its sister company, Fremont Beverages, keep Wyoming residents well hydrated. The companies bottle and distribute PepsiCo products, as well as Dr Pepper beverages in the areas of Casper, Cheyenne, Laramie, Powell, Riverton, and Worland, as well as selected sites in Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota. Admiral and Fremont have two production sites, one in Worland, Wyoming, and another in Pleasantview, Utah. The facilities have a production capacity of 1,200 cans and 500 bottles of soda per minute. The business also operates in Alaska as 7UP Alaska.

Chairman and CEO Jose Quant founded the firm in the 1970s. Paris Blues hopes that Neil Diamond can transcend the age gap and make "forever in blue jeans" big with today's teen girls. The company makes denimwear (including jeans, shorts, jackets, dresses, and miniskirts), primarily targeted at the juniors market. Its jeans, which have traditionally retailed at moderate prices, come in a wide variety of denim fabrications, tints, and washes. Paris Blues also makes non-denim items, such as its Zebra-print capri pant. The firm licenses its name for knitwear, footwear, outerwear, and other items. Paris Blues' apparel is sold through major US department stores (Kohl's, Macy's, Nordstrom) and specialty retailers.

J.J. Taylor Companies, Inc. was founded in 1958 by John J. "Joe" Taylor, originally a Knickerbocker Beer distributor servicing the greater Brockton area of Massachusetts. J.J. Taylor Companies distributes beer in Florida through its Ft. Myers and Tampa locations, as well as in Minnesota, where it owns the former East Side Beverage Company. Now named the J.J. Taylor Distributing Company of Minnesota, it serves the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The company, which has some 10,800 retail customers, sells MillerCoors brands, in addition to a mix of imported and microbrewed beers.

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