Celesio likes being a middleman when it comes to pharmaceuticals. The company is one of Europe's largest drug wholesalers, holding market-leading positions in several of the countries it serves. Its largest wholesale markets are France, Germany, and the UK. In addition to more than 140 wholesale distribution branches, Celesio owns retail chains consisting of 2,300 pharmacies in Europe, including Norway, Italy, and the UK. The company also offers marketing, logistics, and transportation solutions to pharmaceutical manufacturers through its manufacturer solutions division (and its Movianto and pharmexx units). German conglomerate Franz Haniel & Cie. owns a majority stake in Celesio, which was founded in 1835.

Grupo Corvi, S.A. de C.V., once traded on the Mexican stock exchange, had subsidiaries in chocolate candy manufacturing (Empresas Chocolates La Corona), grocery stores (Superpack and Despensa del Hogar), and grain sales (Empacamex). Unable to compete with the likes of Wal-Mart de Mexico, by 2009 Grupo Corvi sold off everything but its food and consumer products distribution company, Sahuayo Abarrotes. Sahuayo Abarrotes operates a trucking fleet from 26 distribution centers, supplying more than 3,500 products to almost 40,000 wholesalers and retailers throughout Mexico.

Sigma Pharmaceuticals provides medicines and medical supplies to the UK's pharmacies and hospitals. The company offers a wide product line of pharmaceuticals -- focusing on generic and over-the-counter drugs -- to thousands of UK clients. Other products sold include medical mobility equipment (through its Sigmobility unit) and wound care and surgical supplies. Much of Sigma Pharmaceuticals' business involves parallel importing, in which the company buys generic medications abroad, reprocesses them through subsidiary OPD Laboratories, and repackages them for sale in the UK.

Synergy Brands Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and distribution of baking mixes, spices, and packaged meals in the United States. It also involves in the wholesale distribution of private label groceries, general merchandise, and health and beauty aid products. In addition, the company provides cruise and resort hotel packages to airline employees and their retirees. Synergy Brands Inc. was founded in 1988 and is based in Syosset, New York.

Associated Grocers of Maine is a member-owned grocery wholesale distributor that serves about 300 independent retail grocers throughout Maine and New Hampshire, and in parts of Massachusetts. It delivers brand name and private label products, including bakery goods, deli and meat products, and a wide range of fresh produce. It also provides services such as advertising, accounting, information systems, insurance, marketing, procurement and warehousing for its customers. Associated Grocers of Maine was founded by a group of retailers in 1953.

Omnicare, Inc., a pharmaceutical services company, provides pharmaceuticals and related pharmacy and ancillary services to long-term healthcare institutions. Its Pharmacy Services segment distributes pharmaceuticals and provides related pharmacy consulting and other ancillary services, data management services, and medical supplies to skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, retirement centers, independent living communities, hospitals, hospice, and other healthcare service providers. It purchases, repackages, and dispenses prescription and non prescription pharmaceuticals; provides computerized medical record-keeping and third-party billing services; and offers consultant pharmacist services. This segment also provides intravenous medications and nutrition products, respiratory therapy services, medical supplies and equipment, clinical care planning and financial software information systems, electronic medical records systems, pharmaceutical informatics services, retail and mail-order pharmacy services, pharmaceutical care management for hospice agencies, and product support and distribution services for specialty pharmaceutical manufacturers, as well as offers pharmaceutical case management services for retirees, employees, and dependents who have drug benefits under corporate-sponsored healthcare programs. As of December 31, 2009, it served long-term care facilities, and chronic care and other settings comprising approximately 1,377,000 beds in 47 states in the United States, the District of Columbia, and Canada. The company’s Contract Research Organization Services segment offers product development and research services to client companies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and diagnostics industries, as well as provides support for the design of regulatory strategy and clinical development of pharmaceuticals for its client’s drug development programs. Omnicare, Inc. was founded in 1981 and is based in Covington, Kentucky.

Certco is a food distribution cooperative that serves independent grocers in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and in parts of Iowa and Illinois. It distributes an inventory of more than 45,000 items, including bakery goods, frozen foods, meat products, and produce, as well as general merchandise under the Surefine, Surefresh, and Top Care labels. In addition, Certco offers its member-operators such services as advertising, merchandising, and other business support services. The cooperative was formed in 1930 as Central Wisconsin Cooperative Food Stores.

Swiss-American, Inc., which stocks more than 500 products and slices and wraps more than 300, also delivers blue, brie, brick, colby, cheddar, farmers, feta, fontina, gouda and havarti cheeses, among many others. Swiss-American's stable of brands includes Capricorn, Dutch Garden, Epic, Fire Jack, Mr. Sharp, and Saint-Louis. Swiss-American serves supermarkets across the US. Founded in 1938 by Joseph Weil, today the company is run by his sons, Jerry and Ronald.

Global Partners LP, through its subsidiaries, engages in the wholesale and commercial distribution of refined petroleum products and natural gas, and provides ancillary services in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Wholesale and Commercial. The Wholesale segment sells gasoline, home heating oil, diesel, kerosene, and residual oil to unbranded retail gasoline stations and other resellers of transportation fuels, home heating oil retailers, and wholesale distributors. The Commercial segment sells unbranded gasoline, home heating oil, diesel, kerosene, and residual oil to the public sector, and commercial and industrial customers. This segment also purchases, custom blends, sells, and delivers bunker fuel and diesel to cruise ships, bulk carriers, and fishing fleets generally by barges. It serves federal and state agencies, municipalities, and industrial companies; autonomous authorities, such as transportation authorities and water resource authorities, colleges, and universities; and a group of small utilities. As of December 31, 2009, the company owned, leased, or maintained storage facilities at 22 refined petroleum product bulk terminals with the capacity of approximately 50,000 barrels. Global GP LLC serves as the general partner of the company. Global Partners LP is based in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Value Drug Company was formed in 1934 as a cooperative by 19 local Independent Pharmacists to consolidate their purchasing power. Rated as one of the top independent wholesale drug distributors in the United States, we have continually been able to meet our goal to offer our customers the very best value in products and services that can be obtained. The mission of Value Drug Company is to serve as a support system for all aspects of Independent Pharmacy. Our Board of Directors and Management are committed to this mission. Combining our strength with yours, we form a powerful distribution channel to help you service the Independent Pharmacy's customer needs.

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