Sur La Table, Inc sells appliances, bakeware, cookbooks, housewares, specialty foods, and other goodies for professional and home chefs from about 80 stores in some 30 states, a website, and catalogs that make foodies drool. For customers who aren't sure how to best use the Le Creuset casserole dish, Cuisinart food processor, or Chef's Choice waffle maker, the company offers cooking classes and cookbook signing events in many of its stores. Founded in 1972 at Seattle's famous Pike's Place Market, Sur La Table is owned jointly by the Behnke family, including its chairman Carl Behnke, and private investor Freeman Spogli.

The Foschini Group (TFG) is an investment holding company operating in the retail and financial services segments within southern Africa. The Group trades primarily in South Africa with retail turnover emanating from Botswana, Swaziland and Namibia accounting for 3,8% of the Group turnover. Comprising 14 trading brands in over 1 500 stores, the Group brings a lifestyle range of brands that are prominent household fashion brands into the retail market. TFG Apparel Supply Company manages the supply of locally made apparel and co-ordinates the merchandise sourcing, shipping and quality assurance activities. A further two trading divisions offer financial services. All the trading divisions are supported by numerous service divisions which provide centralised support services. Foschini Limited, which commenced trading in 1924, has been listed on the JSE Limited since 1 January 1941 and is regarded as one of the foremost independent chain store groups in the country. It is listed on the main board in the Consumer Services – Retail sector.

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.

Charles Hyde and David Vredenburg founded the employee-owned firm in 1930. It takes its name from a combination of its founders' names.Give Hy-Vee a high five for being one of the largest privately owned US supermarket chains, despite serving some modestly sized towns in the Midwest. The company runs more than 200 Hy-Vee supermarkets in eight Midwestern states: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. About half of its stores are in Iowa, as are most of its two dozen Hy-Vee drugstores. It distributes products to its stores through several subsidiaries, including Lomar Distributing (specialty foods) and Perishable Distributors of Iowa (fresh foods).

Founded in 1998, Service Partners acquired some 40 businesses before being purchased itself by Masco in 2002. If you can't stand the heat, try getting better insulation from Service Partners. Through some 55 centers in about 30 states, the firm is a leading distributor of residential fiberglass insulation and related products, including fireplaces, roofing, gutters, shelving, drywall, and acoustical ceiling material. Contractors and home improvement retailers are Service Partners' primary customers. It also runs more than a dozen laminating facilities that produce insulation for use in prefabricated buildings, as well as a training center where contractors learn how to install the company's products.

GameStop Corp. operates as a retailer of video game products and personal computer (PC) entertainment software. It sells new and used video game hardware; video game software; video game accessories, including controllers, memory cards, and other add-ons; PC entertainment software; and strategy guides and trading cards. GameStop Corp. sells its products through its stores, as well as through electronic commerce Web sites, including gamestop.com, ebgames.com.au, gamestop.ca, gamestop.it, and micromania.fr. As of January 30, 2010, it operated 6,450 stores in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Europe primarily under the GameStop and EB Games names. GameStop Corp. also publishes Game Informer, a video game magazine in the United States. GameStop Corp. was founded in 1994 and is based in Grapevine, Texas.

One of the largest automotive parts distributors in North America, Keystone Automotive Operations keeps a solid logistics plan locked in place. Keystone Automotive Operations provides more than 700 lines of automotive parts and accessories to some 17,000 customers, mostly small specialty retailers and installers, in the US, Canada, and about 40 other countries. It operates four warehouses and about 20 stocking facilities in the US and Canada, as well as a fleet of more than 300 delivery trucks. In addition, Keystone Automotive Operations runs about 25 retail stores in Pennsylvania under the A&A Auto Parts banner. Founded by the Amato family in 1971, Keystone Automotive is controlled by Bain Capital.

Mattress Giant Corporation sells mattresses, bed frames, headboards, futons, daybeds, pillows, and other sleep-related products through its website and some 360 stores in about more than a dozen states. Most Mattress Giant locations are in or around big cities, including Boston, Dallas, Houston, Miami, and Philadelphia. The firm offers more than 40 mattress brands, including Simmons, Serta, Sealy, Tempur-Pedic, and AirSprung. Founded in 1992, Mattress Giant is owned by private equity firm Freeman Spogli & Co., which acquired the business in 2006.

Lawrence Robert McCoy incorporated the company in 1922. Today, it is employee-owned. If only his name was Robert Lawrence, the company could have called itself the "RL McCoy". Lawrence R. McCoy & Co. (LR McCoy) is a wholesale distributor of lumber products, fencing materials, landscaping supplies, and wood flooring to contractors, home centers, retail outlets, and industrial clients in the Northeastern US and Canada. Customers can access accounts online through the My LR McCoy service. The Davenport Peters Company division of the company wholesales lumber.

Syms Corp operates a chain of ‘off-price’ apparel retail stores under the Syms and Filene’s Basement names in the United States. Its stores offer a range of in-season merchandise for men, women, and children. The company’s in-season merchandise includes men’s tailored clothing and haberdashery; women’s dresses, suits, and separates; children’s apparel; and men’s, women’s, and children’s shoes. Its Filene’s stores also offer a selection of jewelry and home goods. As of August 28, 2010, the company operated a chain of 48 off-price apparel stores located predominantly on the east coast. Syms Corp was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey.

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