Research

GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORP

DESCRIPTION

Georgia-Pacific (GP) may be on your mind when you think about paper, but the world's #1 producer of tissue products (bath tissues, paper towels, and napkins) is also made of sturdier stuff such as building products (plywood, lumber, OSB, gypsum wallboard, particleboard, adhesives). Consumer products include bleached pulp and paper. Brawny paper towels and Quilted Northern bath tissue products are some of its top brands. The paper and building products giant, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, is the second-largest US forest products manufacturer behind International Paper

MEIJER

DESCRIPTION

Meijer (pronounced "Meyer") is the green giant of retailing in the Midwest. The company operates about 180 combination grocery and general merchandise stores; about half are in Michigan, while the rest are in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. Its huge stores (which average 200,000 to 250,000 sq. ft. each, or about the size of four regular grocery stores) stock about 120,000 items, including Meijer private-label products. Customers can choose from about 40 departments, including apparel, electronics, hardware, and toys. Most stores also sell gasoline, offer banking services, and have multiple in-store restaurants. Founder Hendrik Meijer opened his first store in 1934; the company is still family owned.