Franz Haniel & Cie. is a five-headed hydra. The holding company is comprised of a handful of operating divisions -- Celesio, CWS-boco, ELG, TAKKT, and METRO -- each of which specializes in a different core business. Haniel derives the bulk of its sales from distributing pharmaceuticals to pharmacies worldwide through drug wholesaler Celesio. Its other divisions offer washroom and workwear products and services; stainless steel scrap recycling; mail-order of office and warehouse equipment; and retail store operations. Haniel has operations in some 30 countries. Members of the Haniel family have controlled Franz Haniel and Cie. GmbH company since its founding in 1756.

Krasdale Foods is a leading independent grocery wholesaler that supplies more than 7,000 products to food retailers, mostly in the New York metropolitan area. From its distribution center in the Bronx, the company offers Krasdale-labeled, private-label, and regional brands, as well as ethnic and specialty food items. Krasdale also provides merchandising and marketing services to its customers. Abraham Krasne founded the company as A. Krasne Inc. in 1908. The company adopted its current moniker in 1972 and today is led by Abraham's son, chief executive Charles Krasne. Krasdale remains family owned.

The Skor Food Group Inc., warehouses and distributes more than 7,000 private-label and branded food and grocery products to retailers and foodservice customers in Ontario, Canada. The company's Pizza Professionals unit supplies independent and chain pizza restaurants with ingredients and supplies. Its Aroma Foods and AMT Fine Foods businesses import and distribute specialty foods to Italian and Greek restaurants. Its Nicklen Central unit distributes ingredients and supplies to commercial bakeries and donut shops.

United Drug unites a lot of healthcare services under one roof. The company's Pharma Wholesale arm provides drug wholesaling in the Republic of Ireland (where it operates as United Drug), Northern Ireland (operating as Sanger), and the UK (Craig & Howard) and produces ingredients through Specials. United's Supply Chain group makes drug packaging in Europe and the US, and provides logistics through UniDrug Distribution Group. The Medical & Scientific division provides sales and marketing support to medical equipment manufacturers in the UK and Ireland, while subsidiary Ashfield In2Focus anchors United Drug's Contract Sales and Marketing organization offering healthcare-specific sales reps in the US and Europe.

Affiliated Foods is a leading wholesale distribution cooperative that supplies more than 700 member grocery stores and restaurants in half a dozen states, including Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. It distributes fresh produce, meat, and non-food products, as well as dairy products and beverages through its Plains Dairy unit. Its Tri State Baking Company supplies bread and other baked goods. In addition, Affiliated Foods owns a stake in private-label products supplier Western Family Foods. The company was founded in 1946 as Panhandle Associated Grocers, which merged with South Plains Associated Grocers to form Affiliated Foods in 1968.

Allied International imports packed food products from more than 35 countries for distribution to grocery retailers throughout the US. Its product portfolio includes breakfast cereals, candy, condiments, cookies, and crackers, as well as pasta products, oils, and salad dressings. It distributes such brands as Forrelli, Smith & Johnson, and Sunrise Valley. In addition, Allied International imports and distributes kosher products and general merchandise including cleaning products and personal care items. The family-owned company was formed in 1980.

Alex Lee, Inc. is a leading distributor of food and other products to retailers and foodservice operators. Its Merchants Distributors, Inc. (MDI) subsidiary supplies food and general merchandise to more than 850 retailers in 10 states, and MDI's own Consolidation Services business provides warehousing and logistics services. The Institutional Food House unit is a foodservice supplier that serves customers in the hospitality industry. Alex Lee also operates Lowe's Food Stores, a chain of about 110 grocery stores in the Carolinas and Virginia. Alex and Lee George started the company in 1931. The George family continues to control Alex Lee.

Wakefern Food is the largest member-owned wholesale distribution cooperative in the US, supplying groceries and other merchandise to a chain of more than 200 ShopRite supermarkets in five eastern states, including parts of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The company supplies both national brands and private-label products (ShopRite, Chef's Express, Readington Farms) to its member stores; Wakefern also offers advertising, merchandising, and other business support services. The co-op, which boasts more than 40 members, was founded by seven grocers in 1946.

Tamro is one of the top wholesalers and distributors of pharmaceuticals in Northern Europe, claiming a 54% market share in Nordic countries. Customers include hospitals, clinics, physician offices, and pharmacies. In addition to its 20 distribution centers in eight countries, the company has retail pharmacies in Estonia (as Apteek 1), Lativa (under the Gimenes Aptieka name), Lithuania (as Seimos Vaistine), Poland, and Norway (through Apokjeden Group). Tamro Corporation also operates in Russia through its 42% ownership of wholesaler ZAO Rosta. Tamro is owned by German drug distributor PHOENIX Pharmahandel.

Founded in 1992 as an industrial, oil, and food products supplier, ITERA moved into gas markets in 1994. ITERA had interests in chemicals, construction, finance, insurance, securities, and agriculture, but shed most of these to focus on gas production and marketing. ITERA Group Ltd. company has teamed up with Gazprom to develop infrastructure to deliver gas condensate from production sites. Executives, including CEO Igor Makarov, control ITERA Group Ltd. company. Rags to riches -- Russian style. ITERA Group, Russia's largest private gas trader, delivers natural gas via pipeline to several former Soviet republics. It also produces natural gas in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region in Western Siberia.

Inviting Real Estate Agents, Job Placements Agents, Educational Institutes, Software Service Providers, Real Estate Builders, Marriage Bureaus, Travel Agents, Restaurant Owners, Health & Fitness Centers and other Local Businesses to Post a FREE Classified Advertisement on Cootera.com Classifieds Website.