In 1978 a group of 13 pharmacists banded together to form what is now known as Value Drug Mart Associates Ltd. Their mission was clear—to provide quality healthcare and great products in community-minded, independently owned and operated stores. Today, the association consists of 35 member shareholder Value Drug Mart stores, 11 Apple Drugs member stores, 11 Rxellence Professional Dispensaries, and 300 affiliated stores. Our Central Office and Distribution Centre in Edmonton, AB is located in 85,000 square feet that is owned and operated by the member shareholders, under the direction of an elected Board of Directors. The original concept of the founding member shareholders was to provide the existing and future member shareholders with an organization designed to provide increased profitability to individual store owners rather than to create a wholesale profit centre. That direction remains to this day.

Old homes in the New World and new homes in the Old can find home-improvement supplies from this "mister." Mr. Bricolage is a retail chain (whose name means do-it-yourself in French) that sells home-improvement and related items at about 600 stores in France, Belgium, Argentina, Bulgaria, Madagascar, Spain, and Uruguay. Mr. Bricolage SA operates its business under the Bricolage and Catena brand names; the Tabur family owns more than 25% of Mr. Bricolage SA company.

The story of Wilkinson Hardware defines DIY, and not just because the do-it-yourself trend has made the business a success and has allowed it to ride out a couple recessions. Founded in Leicester in 1930, Wilkinson Hardware Stores operates more than 330 home and garden shops throughout England and Wales. Each of its locations peddles some 25,000 products. Wilko, as the company is known, is one of the largest privately-held companies in the UK. The business is led by the founding Wilkinson family. J.K. Wilkinson founded the original store after gathering the seed money by saving £1 a week from his wages for nearly six years. Chairwoman Karin Swann is the founder's granddaughter.

PPR has transformed itself from a conglomerate to the world's third-largest luxury group (behind LVMH and Richemont). PPR's stable of global luxury brands includes a 99% stake in Italian luxury goods company Gucci Group, and luxury brands Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Boucheron, Bottega Veneta, Stella McCartney, and Yves Saint Laurent, among others. The group's other activities include the multichannel merchant Redcats, Fnac music and book stores, the Conforama chain of household furniture and appliance stores, and the German athletic shoemaker PUMA. More than half of PPR's sales are generated outside of its home country. PPR is run by Francois-Henri Pinault, the son of its founder Francois Pinault.

President Eduardo Bedoya founded the company in 1990. Choosing a new computer can be as easy as EBC. EBC Computers sells computers and related products through its four retail outlets in Orem, Salt Lake City, Sandy, and Walnut, Utah. Customers can buy complete computer systems, parts to build or upgrade a computer, and accessories like Web cameras, speakers, and microphones. The company will also build computers and systems to customer specifications. EBC's technical support includes advice and assistance for those who build their own computers as well as diagnostics and repair of all computers.

Tastefully Simple boasts more than 28,000 sales representatives in all 50 US states, and it buys its products from specialty food vendors. Jill Blashack Strahan and Joani Nielson founded the company in 1995. CEO Blashack Strahan owns about 70% of Tastefully Simple.Taste buds get the Tupperware treatment at Tastefully Simple. The company promotes its line of gourmet soups, dips, desserts, and convenience foods through in-home parties where attendees can taste products among friends and family prior to purchasing them. Its standard food items range in price from about $5 for beer bread mix to more than $40 for large gift packs. Many items are ready-to-eat, while others require only one or two extra ingredients.

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton is the world's largest luxury goods company, with brands that are bywords for the good life and everything showy. LVMH makes wines and spirits (Dom Perignon, Moet & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Hennessy), perfumes (Christian Dior, Guerlain, and Givenchy), cosmetics (Bliss, Fresh, and BeneFit), fashion and leather goods (Donna Karan, Givenchy, Kenzo, and Louis Vuitton), and watches and jewelry (TAG Heuer, Ebel, Chaumet, and Fred). LVMH's selective retail division includes Sephora cosmetics stores, Le Bon Marche Paris department stores, and 61% of DFS Group (duty-free shops). Chairman Bernard Arnault and his family, through Groupe Arnault, own about 47% of LVMH.

American Sale is a family-run casual furniture retailer. The company sells outdoor furniture, pool and spa products, hot tubs, home tanning systems, barbecue grills, tableware, gaming tables, and seasonal items. American Sale Corporation has about a half dozen stores throughout the Chicago suburbs and in Indiana, including an outlet store at the company's headquarters and distribution center. If customers cannot make it into a store, they can buy products on from the company's Web site. Owner and CEO Robert Jones selects many of the items the store adds to its inventory.

PCC (stands for Puget Consumers Co-op) today is the largest consumer-owned natural food cooperative in the US, with about 40,000 members. Lifetime membership in the regional cooperative costs $60.PCC Natural Markets operates about 10 organic and natural food stores in Washington. More than 90% of the produce sold by the coop is certified organic, according to USDA rules. It also offers cooking classes featuring guest chefs, natural foods, exotic dishes, and lessons for children. PCC Natural Markets watches out for its customers' health, removing all products from its shelves that contain trans-fats and the like.

Alon Holdings Blue Square - Israel Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, operates supermarkets and retail outlets in Israel. It offers food and beverages products; non-food items, such as houseware products, toys, small electrical appliances, computers and computer accessories, entertainment and leisure products, and textile products; and near-food products comprising health and beauty aids, baby and young children products, cosmetics, and hygiene products. The company owns and operates 207 supermarkets under the Mega, Mega in Town, Shefa Shuk, Mega Bool, and Eden Teva brand names; and 260 non-food retail outlets under the Naaman, Vardinon, Sheshet, Kfar Hasha’ashuim, Rav-Kat, Dr. Baby, and All for a Dollar brand names. In addition, it owns, leases, and develops commercial properties. The company was formerly known as Blue Square – Israel Ltd. and changed its name to Alon Holdings Blue Square - Israel Ltd. in July 2010. The company was founded in 1988 and is based in Rosh Ha'ayin, Israel. Alon Holdings Blue Square - Israel Ltd. is a subsidiary of Alon Retail Ltd.

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