J. Front Retailing fronts the retail operations of leading Japanese department stores The Daimaru and Matsuzakaya Holdings. The holding company was created by the merger of the two ailing rivals in 2007. The Daimaru, founded as a drapery shop in 1717, operates about 15 upscale shops in western Japan. Matsuzakaya, founded in 1611 as a kimono retailer, runs eight department stores in central Japan, including its flagship location in Nagoya. J. Front's Peacock Stores unit operates some 90 supermarkets in the Chubu, Kansai, and Tokyo districts of Japan. The company's other activities include construction, credit services, direct marketing, furniture making, restaurants, and wholesale textiles.

Founded in 1892 as a local hardware store, the retailer was acquired by The Boots Company (now Alliance Boots) in 1989 and sold off in 2002; in 2004 it floated as a publicly traded company for the first time. Halfords Group is more than just mechanically inclined: It serves others who are also DIY mechanics. The retailer sells vehicle maintenance necessities (parts, tools), luxury automobile items (stereos, navigation systems), and travel-related products (car seats, camping equipment), as well as bicycles and related components. Halfords operates about 470 stores across the UK and Ireland, as well as about a half a dozen locations in the Czech Republic and Poland.

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.

Established in 1940, USG is a subsidiary of Colonial Commercial. Though Universal Supply Group (USG) doesn't supply the entire universe, it does have HVAC in the tri-state area covered. Through about 10 locations in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, Universal Supply Group, Inc. distributes air conditioning, heating, and ventilation equipment and supplies. Its Universal Energy Products division designs and sells systems and control panels for energy conservation along with indoor air quality equipment while its Goldman Universal division distributes appliances to retail stores in the region. USG also offers training and climate control consulting for contractors and building engineers.

Auer Steel & Heating Supply Co. is a full-service distributor of high quality indoor comfort products, featuring the Bryant, Carrier (Milwaukee only) and Payne brands of furnaces, air conditioners, humidifiers, air cleaners, heat & energy recovery ventilators, controls and other accessories. Auer Steel company began in 1940 in Milwaukee, when Don Curtes, Sr. founded the business on his philosophy of superior customer service. Now, over 65 years and two generations later, the Curtes family still owns and operates Auer Steel with the same valued-added service ideals.During the late 1980's and early 1990's, Auer Steel opened three satellite branch operations to provide even better service to its customers. Although our Carrier/Bryant/Payne product lines are limited to Southeastern Wisconsin, we will gladly ship other products throughout the state. May 1995 brought the expansion of Auer Steel to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. From its location in suburban New Hope, Auer Steel/Twin Cities serves customers in nearly all of Minnesota, eastern North Dakota and northwestern Wisconsin. November 2004 brought us another opportunity for growth. Our acquisition of the Bryant distributor serving Appleton, Green Bay, Wausau, northeastern Wisconsin and western Upper Michigan allows us to bring our superior customer service to exciting new territory.

Foot Locker, Inc. operates as a retailer of athletic footwear and apparel. Foot Locker, Inc. operates in two segments, Athletic Stores and Direct-to-Customers. The Athletic Stores segment offers athletic footwear and apparel under various formats, including Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Footaction, and CCS. This segment offers footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories, as well as casual wear for various activities, including basketball, running, training, walking, toning, and fitness for young males, women, and children. The Direct-to-Customers segment, through its affiliates, sells athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, team licensed, and private-label merchandise through catalogs and Internet Websites. As of March 9, 2010, Foot Locker, Inc. operated 3,500 stores in North America, Europe, and Australia. It also franchises its Foot Locker stores in the Middle East and the Republic of Korea. As of January 30, 2010, the company had a total of 22 franchised stores. Foot Locker, Inc. was founded in 1879 and is based in New York, New York.

Robertson Heating Supply Co. was founded in 1934. When the Buckeyes, Wolverines, and Nittany Lions get cold, Robertson Heating Supply helps to warm them up. The company distributes heating, air conditioning, and plumbing supplies as well as kitchen products through about 30 locations in Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Designers and engineers are also available to help with kitchen, commercial HVAC, and hydronic projects. In addition to its retailing activities, Robertson Heating Supply offers state-certified training programs.

Waterloo Gardens was founded by James and Anna Paolini, parents of CEO Linda LeBoutillier, in 1942. Waterloo Gardens, Inc. is owned by the LeBoutillier family. Waterloo Gardens will defeat dull lawns and gardens. Waterloo Gardens, Inc. operates two nurseries in Devon and Exton, Pennsylvania, as well as a home-decor and outdoor furniture showroom in Wilmington, Delaware. Waterloo Landscaping by Design is the company's landscaping design and installation subsidiary. Waterloo Gardens offers potted plants, trees, shrubs, edible plants, and all the accessories needed to tend to them. The gardening retailer also sells grills, fountains, gifts, and home-decorating items and hosts gardening seminars and special events.

AUTOBACS STRAUSS INC. was created in 1982 through the acquisition of Strauss, a New York City auto-parts chain founded in 1919, by R&S Auto. It spent two years under the ownership of Japan's AUTOBACS SEVEN CO. before being sold back to its former owner Glenn Langberg in 2009. If your car conks out in the city that never sleeps you might seek out AUTOBACS STRAUSS (formerly Strauss Discount Auto) for a wake-up call. The auto parts and service chain has about 75 locations in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The stores sell accessories and car-care products, as well as hard parts such as batteries, mufflers, radiators, and spark plugs, tires, and tools. Many locations also offer repair services.

Bradfords Building Supplies Ltd. was founded in 1770 by William Bradford, and today is run by his great, great, great grandson chairman Peter Bradford. From pressboard to brads, and everything in between, Bradfords Building Supplies offers builders things to swing hammers at, with, and on. Operating through about 25 branches in England, Bradfords Building Supplies provides contractors with appliances, bricks, decking, doors, electrical items, insulation, lumber, nails and screws, paint, plumbing and heating fixtures and equipment, roofing, safety wear, tools, and other construction or related materials. Bradfords also offers tool hire at about 10 branches. It also operates a company retail Web site.

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