Some people may not like to eat Atomic Spears, but these guys think it is all A Matter of Taste. The company sells specialty food products, such as Atomic Spears (pickles) and Atomic Shrooms (mushrooms), Glow Babies (pickled carrots), P.B. Loco (flavored peanut butter), and cheddar beer soup. A Matter of Taste also peddles quilts and assorted commemorative figurines. While A Matter of Taste Inc. sells its products from its Web site, it also operates a single retail store in Washington.

In response, Albert Heijn has undergone an image makeover; from the most expensive supermarket in Holland to a price-competitive supermarket chain. There's nothing small time about Albert Heijn, who began selling groceries in the 1880s and whose namesake chain is now the #1 food retailer in the Netherlands. With more than 820 company-owned and franchised supermarkets and AH to Go convenience stores throughout the tiny country, the Albert Heijn chain is the flagship banner of Royal Ahold, contributing more than a third of its parent's sales. The grocery chain has a 22% share of the local market, but is losing ground to competitors, including hard discounter ALDI of Germany and region rivals Laurus N.V. and Edah.

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.

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.

xel Johnson is one of the region's largest food importers and retailers.Through interests in affiliated units,the company operates discount and upscale supermarkets and department stores, imports and wholesales food for supermarkets and restaurants,and invests in small and midsized Swedish companies.Operating primarily in Sweden, Axel Johnson is one of four financially and legally independent corporations that are owned by Antonia Ax:son("Ax:son" is an abbreviated form of Axelson)Johnson and make up the Axel Johnson Group.

Axfood gives the chilly Nordic region the Willys. Axfood AB is one of the largest food retailers in Sweden (behind ICA and Coop),operating about 110 wholly owned Willys (discount grocery stores),30-plus Willys hemma (neighborhood grocers),and some 165 Hemkp (upscale grocery stores for food enthusiasts) stores. Axfood also operates shops under the Handlar'n and Tempo banners. Its Axfood Narlivs unit is a nationwide wholesaler serving convenience store retailers, restaurants, and foodservice companies through about 20 cash and carry outlets and several distribution centers. Subsidiary Dagab serves as Axfood AB company's logistics arm. Swedish food importer and retailer Axel Johnson owns about 46% of Axfood.

B&R Stores operates about 20 supermarkets in six cities across Nebraska and Iowa that operate under the Super Saver,Russ's Market,and ALPS(an acronym for Always Low Price Store) banners.The stores offer the usual grocery selections as well as carpet cleaner and video rentals.Other specialties include smoked meat products produced by in-store smokehouses at all Super Saver stores.The regional grocery chain was founded in 1962 by Russ Raybould (father of company president Pat Raybould) and Clayton Burnett.The Raybould family owns a majority stake in B&R Stores;employees own the rest.

Balducci's has the right ingredients to attract hungry gourmands.The chain operates half a dozen upscale specialty food stores under the Balducci's name in Connecticut, Maryland, New York,and Virginia.The markets offer such fare as fresh pasta,Wagyu beef,and imported cheeses.It also stocks prepared meals and beer and wine.Louis "Pop" Balducci opened the first Balducci's in Brooklyn in 1915 and expanded to Greenwich Village in Manhattan in 1946.In 2009 the private equity firm Irving Place Capital (formerly Bear Stearns Merchant Banking)sold six Balducci's stores to an investor group led by Jim Demme,senior advisor to the New York City-based investment firm Angelo,Gordon&Co.

Bashas' is an Arizona-based, family-owned and -operated grocery chain known for made-from-scratch bakery items, a full-service butcher shop, fresh local produce and award-winning Chefs Entrees.Brothers Ike and Eddie Basha, Sr. opened the first Bashas' grocery store in 1932. Their mission: provide exceptional service, deliver their personal best, exceed customers' expectations and offer quality products at competitive prices.While much has changed over the years, our mission remains the same. We will always strive to grow and improve our business, but we will never forget who we are and where we came from.Arizona's our backyard, and we have a vested interest in the neighborhoods we serve.With more than 130 stores serving the state's 15 counties, we're proud to be your hometown grocer

BI-LO's stores house pharmacies and some boast in-store WI- FI cafs.Brands include national names, as well as BI-LO's own: Southern Hearth Bakery items,Full Circle natural and organic foods,Top Care health and beauty aids,and Paws Premium pet foods.Founded in 1964 by Frank Outlaw,the chain is majority-owned by allas-based investment firm Lone Star Funds, which acquired BI-LO and its former sister chain Bruno's Supermarkets in 2005.Falling sales, increased competition, and reluctant lenders led BI-LO to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2009; it emerged the next year after a reorganization.

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