EXCLUSIVEBRANDSOURCING RETAILER/WHOLESALER ...

EB Identities: Spartan; President’s Choice (upscale licensed brand from Loblaws of Canada);
Aroma Store Bakery; Topcare health & beauty, Valu Time value brand and Full Circle natural and
organic range (all from Topco co-op)
EB skus: 3,200+
Profile: Established in 1917 as a co-op grocery distributor, Spartan in 1973 converted to a forprofit
business company and began acquiring supermarkets in 1999. That activity increased over
the past couple of years (50+ stores). Net earnings for fiscal 2010 were $ 25.6 million, down by
44.9%. Michigan lately has suffered from a weak economy and now has the dubious distinction of
being the state with the highest unemployment rate in the country. Nevertheless, Spartan is
optimistic, planning to add 70 stores in 2011. Also, the retailer has launched its Spartan Fresh
Selections range included in the 600 new private brand products introduced during this fiscal
period. Spartan’s corporate stores boast a private brand penetration of 24% of their total sales.
Procurement Contacts: Tom Berg, Director of Corporate Brands (e-mail:
tom_berg@spartanstores.com); Ken Kurzyniec, Corporate Brands Retail Marketing Supervisor
STAPLES, INC.
500 Staples Drive, Framingham, MA 01702 USA
Tel: (508) 253-5000
Fax: N/A
www.staples.com
Total Fiscal 2010 Consollidated Sales: $24.3 Billion +5%; North American Delivery Sales: $9.4
Billion +8%; North American Retail Sales: $9.4 Billion -1.3%; International Sales: $5.3 Billion
+13%
Percentage of Sales in Exclusive Brands: 22%
Principal Business: Staples claims to have invented the office superstore. Started in 1986, this
retailer is now the world’s largest office products retailer, operating 2,243 stores in 25 countries:
1,555 in the US, 316 in Canada, and 328 in seen other countries (mostly the UK, Germany and the
Netherlands). Stores range from 4,000 up to 14,600 square feet, stocking 8,000 SKUs. Its catalog
business covers 15 countries with some 15,000 skus. Staples trades on the NASDAQ under the
SPLS symbol.