Champion Window Manufacturing is looking for a home-improvement boom as its window of opportunity. The company makes custom-built, vinyl-framed replacement windows and doors and sells them directly to homeowners through about 75 sales and installation offices in some 30 states. It also manufactures patio rooms, porch enclosures, and vinyl siding; remodels basements; and sells patio furniture made by third-party vendors. Champion Window, founded in 1953 by Alvin Levine and Arthur Stevens as a maker of aluminum storm windows, doors, and awnings, was owned by former executives Edward Levine (son of Alvin) and Bernard Barbash until mid-2007, when a private-equity investor gained control of day-to-day operations.

Paragon Pharmacies was formed by a reverse merger with Rinoa Enterprises in 2008. Paragon Pharmacies harkens back to the ideal of an old-fashioned community drugstore -- albeit one with electronic refills that has its own Facebook page. The company operates about 18 retail pharmacies, three central fill pharmacies, and one home healthcare operation in Western Canada. The stores -- operating under the Paragon Community Pharmacy and Super Drug Mart brands -- are located in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba. Paragon also offers prescription services to assisted living and long-term care facilities through its Paragon Home Health brand.

Hannaford Bros. may have started as a fruit and vegetable stand in 1883, but it has expanded from its Maine roots to become an upscale grocer with more than 170 stores under the Hannaford Supermarkets banner throughout Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, upstate New York, and Vermont. Still, produce continues to be a major focus at the Hannaford supermarkets, as are expansive meat selections and natural food products. More than 75% of the Hannaford stores are combination grocery stores and pharmacies. The stores average about 48,500 sq. ft. Maine's largest supermarket chain, Hannaford Bros. is owned by Delhaize America (parent of Food Lion), which in turn is owned by Belgium's Delhaize Group.

Here's a company that's traveled a fur piece from its 17th- century roots. Founded in 1670 as a fur trading enterprise, Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) is Canada's largest department store chain and oldest corporation. Its Zellers chain is the country's #2 discount department store (behind Wal-Mart Canada), with some 280 stores. HBC also runs about 90 the Bay department stores that focus on more upscale merchandise, 190-plus Fields general merchandise and apparel stores in Western Canada, more than 65 Home Outfitters superstores, and Hbc.com. The company also has its own credit card and financial services companies. HBC is owned by NRDC Equity Partners, which is looking to take the company public as early as 2011.

Groupe Bikini Village inc. was founded in 1978. Groupe Bikini Village (formerly Groupe Les Ailes de la Mode) sells itsy bitsy, teeny weeny bikinis, as well as all types of swimwear, travel clothing, and beach and swimming accessories for men and women through more than 60 Bikini Village and Ocean Bikini Village boutiques in Quebec and Ontario. Groupe Bikini Village sold its unprofitable Les Ailes department store subsidiary in 2005 and adopted the name of its remaining Bikini Village business. In 2004 Groupe Bikini Village emerged from bankruptcy court protection as Groupe Les Ailes de la Mode. It was known as Les Boutiques San Francisco prior to its bankruptcy filing in late 2003.

From 1946 to 1974, the Skogen family acquired a number of small IGA stores and eventually, in 1979, a Red Owl store in Holmen, Wisconsin. Paul Skogen passed away in 1976 at which point his son Dave, along Dave’s wife Barb, oversaw company operations.In 1990, the Skogen family realized a shifting trend in consumer buying habits and decided a change of store format was best for future growth of the company. On June 28, 1990, they opened their first Festival Foods store in Onalaska. In 1992 Dave’s son Mark joined the company full-time. Together, Dave and Mark lead Festival Foods to experience unprecedented growth by opening additional stores across Wisconsin in Marshfield, Green Bay, Bellevue, De Pere, Suamico, Oshkosh, Eau Claire, and Holmen.Dave transitioned to Chairman of the Board in 2006 and continues to be active in the company. With that change, Mark became CEO and President and has carried on the tradition of success built by his father and grandfather. Since 2006, Festival has opened stores in La Crosse, Appleton Darboy, Appleton Northland, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc and Suamico.

Scotmid Co-op was formed in 1981 following the merger of St Cuthbert's and Dalziel Societies. However, our roots go further back than that as St Cuthbert's was originally formed in 1859 and Dalziel in 1863. In 2009 we are celebrating our 150th anniversary.Today the Society has over 260 retail outlets in the shape of our community based food stores and our toiletry chain Semi Chem. And as one of the major funeral directors in the country, we're always there in times of need bringing real peace of mind.Completing the Scotmid picture is our Property Department, which has an extensive portfolio of both commercial and residential properties throughout Scotland. Scotmid is proud to be part of our country's history and will continue to develop to meet the needs of our customers and members.

Slumberland has some reclining, bedding, and sofa solutions. Primarily situated in the upper Midwest region of the US, the company operates more than 110 stores in 10 US states. It first opened its doors as a mattress shop and La-Z-Boy specialty shop in 1967, but today Slumberland has extended its reach into furniture for the bedroom, dining room, and living room. The company is a leading retailer of La-Z-Boy upholstery and also sells Natuzzi leather pieces and both Sealy and Simmons mattresses. Franchising has become an increasingly vital part of Slumberland's strategy for expansion.

Kowalski's Markets is struggling to expand while it straps on its leather boxing mitts. The company, which operates about 10 supermarkets in the St. Paul and Minneapolis area of Minnesota, wants to be a heavyweight contender among high-end grocery stores there. However, stiff competition from other grocery chains and discounters have limited Kowalski's share of the Twin Cities market to just under 2%: an eighth-place ranking in the market. Indeed competition led the grocer to close a one-year-old store several years ago. Founded by husband and wife team James and Mary Anne Kowalski as a single supermarket in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1983, the regional grocery chain is still owned and run by the Kowalski family.

Groupe Samse (formerly Society Samse SA) is helping build France. Samse is one of the country's top wholesale distributors of building and do-it-yourself materials, with about 250 outlets, serving some 260,000 customers across two dozen French provinces. It operates two commercial business segments: multi-specialists (supplying technical solutions to building professionals) and specialists (targeting building and public works professionals). Its third segment, do-it-yourself, caters to individual rather than commercial clients. Through La Boite a Outils and and Entrepot du Bricolage retail stores, Samse sells a variety of home building and improvement products similar to The Home Depot and Lowe's in the US.

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