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.

The legendary single-location Nebraska Furniture Mart got its start in 1937 when Russian immigrant Rose Blumkin ("Mrs. B") began selling furniture at a slight markup out of a shop basement. Her motto: "Sell cheap and tell the truth!" The famed Omaha location (called the Mart) was built in 1968 and rebuilt by Mrs. B and her son in 1975 after a tornado hit. Two decades later, an electronics and appliance store was added in Omaha; the 77-acre location now boasts some 500,000 sq. ft. of retail space. The firm also operates stores in Des Moines, Iowa, and Kansas City, Missouri. Omaha investor Warren Buffett (owner of Berkshire Hathaway) bought a majority stake in Nebraska Furniture Mart in 1983.

Trendy Zara is the flagship brand for Europe's fastest-growing apparel retailer Industria de Diseno Textil (commonly know as Inditex). Zara, the cheap-chic subsidiary of the Spanish fashion giant, runs about 1,520 stores, including some 230 Zara Kids shops, in more than 75 countries worldwide. Zara has about 40 shops in the US and 60 in Mexico. The chain sells women's, men's, and children's apparel and also offers plus-size and maternity lines to clothe its larger customers. Zara Home, which sells home fashions, has about 250 stores, in about 25 countries. Zara is Inditex's principal chain and accounts for about two-thirds of its parent company's sales.

Hahn Automotive Warehouse, Inc. has a history in the automotive aftermarket dating back to 1958. Since founded by Mike Futerman, Hahn Automotive Warehouse has relied on some timeless principles that transcend the decades. The basic principles include doing whatever it takes to make the customer more successful. Today his son, Eli Futerman and son-in-law, Dan Chessin carry on the family tradition with the same effort and energy as their predecessor. Hahn Automotive Warehouse company is comprised of nine full service warehouses and twenty two pick up warehouses that distribute automotive hard parts within their fifteen state geographical reach from the Midwest through the Northeast and down to the Mid-Atlantic states. In addition, Hahn Automotive Warehouse owns the RAAC accessory warehouse in Batavia, NY to fill in products that compliment the hard parts. On the retail side, the company owns eighty Advantage Auto Stores and Genuine Auto Parts stores that sell parts to the professional service dealer and the do-it-yourselfer. This entire portion of Hahn Automotive Warehouse company belongs to the national Auto Value group for marketing and support to both the part stores and service centers.One additional division of the company is the Nu-Way Auto Parts stores that also deal directly with the professional service dealer and the do-it-yourselfer. This group operates nine locations in Western New York and Northwest Pennsylvania and features the ACDelco and Motorcraft brands. Hahn Automotive’s products consist predominately of nationally branded automotive hard parts as well as many maintenance items, accessories and private label products for domestic and foreign cars, vans, and light trucks. The cornerstone of Hahn Automotive Warehouse company is innovation and teamwork, giving customers exemplary service and value. There is a deep sense of loyalty and family throughout Hahn Automotive. This has extended to its relationships with its customers and suppliers, some who have done business with Hahn Automotive Warehouse company for more than forty-five years. The underlying philosophy that guides daily business is trust, cooperation, and respect, and with that Hahn Automotive is able to keep its customers coming back.

TBC Corporation is the nation's largest vertically integrated marketer of tires for the automotive replacement market. The Company's retail operations include Company-operated tire and automotive service centers under the " Tire Kingdom", "Merchant's Tire & Auto Centers", and "National Tire & Battery" brands, and franchised stores under the "Big O Tires" brand. TBC markets on a wholesale basis to regional tire chains and distributors serving independent tire dealers throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Through its Carroll Tire wholesale distribution centers, the Company also markets directly to independent tire dealers across the United States. Carroll Tire Company sells a wide variety of proprietary and national brands from 38 distribution centers.TBC markets and sells nine proprietary brands of tires through North America. The Multi-Mile, Cordovan, Sigma, Vanderbilt, Sumitomo, Eldorado, Laramie, Telstar, and Jetzon brands are produced by nationally recognized manufacturers and have a reputation for quality, safety, and value. These brands are distributed through TBC Private Brands and Treadways to independent retailers and wholesalers throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In 2005, TBC Corporation was purchased by Sumitomo Corporation of America (SCOA). SCOA is the largest subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation (SC), one of Japan's major integrated trading and investment business enterprises. TBC Corporation still functions as an independent company of SCOA providing the same services and products it has for many years, but has ended its 22-year stint as a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ.

H&M opened its first women's clothing store in 1947 as Hennes (Swedish for "hers"); it later bought the hunting and men's clothing store Mauritz Widforss. H&M is controlled by the family of chairman Stefan Persson (the billionaire son of founder Erling Persson). H&M Hennes & Mauritz targets the Hip & Modish. The firm designs cheap yet chic clothing, mainly for men and women ages 18 to 45, children's apparel, and its own brands of cosmetics. Fast-growing H&M operates about 2,000 stores in some 35 countries and has direct sales operations in selected areas. Germany is H&M's #1 market, accounting for about 25% of sales. About 60% of its clothing is made in Asia, the rest is manufactured primarily in Europe.

Retailing giant Daimaru Matsuzakaya opened for business Monday, bringing to fruition the 2007 mega-merger between department store chains Daimaru Inc. and Matsuzakaya Bargain hunt: Shoppers flock for bargains at the Matsuzakaya department store in Tokyo's Ueno district Monday as the merged Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores Co. began operations. KYODO PHOTOThe new chain, which combined under holding firm J. Front Retailing Co., will take over strategic planning and product procurement duties from J. Front to save costs amid the current deflation.

HOM Furniture, Inc is a middle-market to high-end home furnishings retailer operating more than a dozen stores in Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and Wisconsin. HOM stores offer wooden (cherry, maple, oak, pine), upholstered (including leather), and patio furniture, as well as mattresses, area rugs, and other decorative accessories. Many locations also provide free design consultations to assist customers with buying decisions. In addition to its namesake chain, HOM operates Gabberts Design Studio & Fine Furnishings, based in Edina, Minnesota. HOM's retailing roots reach back to 1973, when CEO Wayne Johansen established JC Imports, the chain's forerunner.

James Halstead was founded in 1915. The Halstead family still retains control of more than half of James Halstead plc company's ownership, while company employees account for more than 10% of ownership. James Halstead wants to give the floor over to its customers. James Halstead manufactures, markets, and distributes products that include commercial flooring, industrial trailers and trailer tents, and motorcycle accessories. Customers include hospitals, pubs, prisons and schools. James Halstead plc operates mainly in the UK and Germany, but also in Australia and New Zealand.

GNC is owned by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Board Plan, its affiliate Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund II, and management. GNC filed to go public in September 2010.What's good for the customer is good for GNC Acquisition Corporation (formerly General Nutrition Centers). GNC operates the world's leading nutritional-supplements retail chain devoted solely to items such as vitamins and dietary products. The company also makes Rite Aid private-label products. It sells its products online, as well, through a partnership with drugstore.com. GNC has 2,800 company-owned retail stores in the US and Canada; 1,900 store-within-a-store sites in Rite Aid's drugstores; and 2,220 franchised stores in 47 countries.

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