T.K. Maxx takes bargain-hunting to the max. A subsidiary of US-based TJX Companies, T.K. Maxx is a leading off-price retailer in Europe. Launched in 1994, T.J. Maxx operates about 225 stores in the UK and Ireland and another 10 in Germany. The stores, which measure about 32,000 square feet, sell steeply discounted designer and brand-name apparel, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and children; toys; sporting goods; furniture and assorted housewares, among other things. The deep-discount retailer has been expanding its footwear and accessories departments, which now number about 25. Ultimately, T.K. Maxx plans to grow to about 275 stores the UK and Ireland and as many as 300 stores in Germany.

Kwik Trip operates about 350 Kwik Trip and Kwik Star convenience stores throughout Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The company also runs several Hearty Platter restaurants, about 40 Tobacco Outlet Plus (TOP) cigar stores, and car washes at some Kwik Trip store locations. All Kwik Trip stores built since 1990 are owned by Convenience Store Investments, a separate company, which leases the land and stores to Kwik Trip. Kwik Trip, which opened its first store in 1965 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is owned by the family of CEO Don Zietlow.

Fred's, Inc. and its subsidiaries sell general merchandise through retail discount stores and pharmacies in the southeastern United States. It offers pharmaceuticals, household goods, food and tobacco products, apparel and linens, health and beauty aids, household cleaning supplies, disposable diapers, pet foods, paper products, and various beverage products principally to low, middle, and fixed income families. The company also sells general merchandise to franchised Fred's stores. As of April 3, 2010, it operated 669 discount general merchandise stores, including 24 franchised stores. The company was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.

Atlantic Plywood Corporation was founded in 1974 by by Nick Cucci and Dave Larson and is owned by its employees. Atlantic Plywood - the name says it all. The company is a wholesale distributor of hardwoods and other mill products along the Atlantic seaboard. It supplies hardwood, softwood, and imported plywood products; medium density fiberboard; cabinet hardware; high-pressure laminates; hardboard; and other items to customers in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. It also supplies architectural panels and doors along with veneers. Atlantic Plywood has nine branches in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

Charming Shoppes, Inc. operates as a specialty apparel retailer primarily for women in the United States. Charming Shoppes, Inc. operates retail stores and related e-commerce Web sites under the LANE BRYANT, LANE BRYANT OUTLET, FASHION BUG, and CATHERINES PLUS SIZES names. Its retail stores offer plus-size, misses, sportswear, dresses, coats, and intimate apparel, as well as accessories and casual footwear. Charming Shoppes, Inc. also sells food and specialty gifts through its FIGI’S catalog and related e-commerce Web site. As of January 30, 2010, it operated 2,121 retail stores. Charming Shoppes, Inc. was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

RaceTrac Petroleum hopes it's a popular pit stop for gasoline and snacks in the Southeast. The company owns some 545 gas stations and convenience stores in about a dozen states under the RaceTrac and RaceWay names. (RaceWay stores are operated by independent contractors.) The chain plans to grow by expanding its store count by about 10% a year. Carl Bolch founded RaceTrac in Missouri in 1934. His son, chairman and CEO Carl Bolch Jr., moved the company into high-volume gas stations with long, self-service islands that can serve as many as two dozen vehicles at one time. RaceTrac's convenience stores sell fresh deli food and offer some fast-food fare. The Bolch family owns the company.

Guyenne et Gascogne and Carrefour jointly own Sogara, which operates about a dozen Carrefour hypermarkets in southwest France. In addition, Sogara owns about 8% of Centros Comerciales Carrefour (Carrefour's Spanish subsidiary), which operates some 165 Carrefour hypermarkets and 100-plus Carrefour Express supermarkets and Carrefour City stores. The Beau family owns about a fifth of Guyenne et Gascogne.Guyenne et Gascogne cares for Carrefour. Established in 1913, Guyenne et Gascogne is a leading franchise operator for French-based supermarket giant Carrefour. Guyenne et Gascogne (named after two ancient French provinces) runs 30-plus Carrefour hypermarkets and Champion supermarkets in southwestern France.

Mingledorff's, Inc., is a wholesale distributor specializing in equipment and parts for heating, ventilating and air conditioning. It is a total support organization dedicated to meeting the overall needs of the HVAC industry. The company has been a distributor of Carrier equipment for over 60 years. It began as a contracting firm that designed and installed air conditioning systems. It became a strictly wholesale distributorship in 1958, when Carrier realized the need for an extended network of dealers and contractors to handle Georgia's rapidly expanding economy and population. Mingledorff's, Inc., was asked by Carrier to help develop this customer base. At that time the company relocated from Savannah to Atlanta so it could better serve its distribution area. Mingledorff's, Inc. is now a major distributor for Carrier, Bryant, Payne, and over 150 other manufacturers of heating and air conditioning equipment and accessories with a sales territory covering most of GeorgiaThroughout our 17 locations in Georgia, we carry in inventory around 120,000 items. The company has roughly 4,000 retail customers. Of those, 1,000 are very active accounts, and the rest are occasional customers who maintain a charge account with us. Our services to customers include: equipment sales, sales assistance, advertising and sales promotion programs, engineering aid, product and service training, business management assistance, technical assistance and parts supply. Because the HVAC industry is constantly evolving with more technologically advanced equipment, it's crucial for Mingledorff's to assist our staff and customers in keeping pace by offering excellent, on-going training. Credit for the success and growth of the company can be given to the support and training received from Carrier and other vendors, a well-trained staff with knowledge of new technology, new equipment and new parts, and a solid base of good, knowledgeable customers. In order to provide fast and efficient order processing and management information, in 1998, the company made the substantial investments required for the latest in modern computer systems specifically designed for distributorships. All locations are networked on a computer system that can be accessed from all sales and parts locations. Customers can place orders with our staff, or be quickly provided information on order status, product availability, pricing, etc. Engineering support plays a vital role in the application of much of the highly specialized equipment the company distributes. A completely staffed engineering department assists customers in every phase of equipment application, and in the design of controls and energy saving programs.

Menard is owned by president and CEO John Menard, who founded the company in 1972. If sticks and stones break bones, what can two-by-fours and two-inch nails do? That is what Menard is wondering now that its biggest rivals (#1 home improvement giant The Home Depot and #2 Lowe's) are hammering away at its home turf. One of the largest home improvement chains in the Midwest, Menard has more than 250 stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The stores sell home improvement products, such as floor coverings, hardware, millwork, paint, and tools. Unlike competitors, all the company's stores have full-service lumberyards.

Norkus Enterprises was founded when Francis Norkus opened his first grocery store, called Table Talk, in Freehold, New Jersey in 1935. Today Norkus' three sons, Gerry (president), Mark (VP), and Stephen (VP), run the firm, which is a member of the Foodtown Supermarket cooperative.They sell pasta shells by the Jersey sea shore. Norkus Enterprises operates about half a dozen grocery stores under the Foodtown and Super Foodtown banners in Monmouth County and Ocean County, New Jersey. The regional grocery chain also offers online shopping and home delivery in some areas

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