Carlin Group

Advantage Sales and Marketing specializes in providing outsourced sales, merchandising, category management and marketing services. It offers various services to manufacturers, food product suppliers and consumer packaged goods manufacturers. It services a variety of trade channels, such as grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware and home stores. The company provides several services, including brand and category management, consumer marketing, retail services, and finance and supply chain management. It additionally offers sales and marketing services to various departments, such as dry and frozen grocery, bakery, health and beauty care, meat and deli items, and natural and specialty products. The company is located in Grand Rapids, Mich.

CROSSMARK is a privately owned professional services company that provides business solutions to consumer goods manufacturers and retailers. It serves a variety of trade channels, including supermarket, mass merchandise, convenience, drug, dollar and specialty stores. The company specializes in selling, retail merchandising, store level marketing and streamlining trade practices. It also provides category management, in-store and field marketing, business process outsourcing and order processing services. Operational for more than 100 years, CROSSMARK employs over 20,000 associates in nearly 50 offices throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. The company has partnerships with ACNielsen, a marketing information firm, as well as EDS/eXchangeBridge, which offers order management services to retailers and manufacturers. CROSSMARK is headquartered in Plano, Texas.

Established in 1981, Michaels & Associates is a foodservice solutions company that manufactures and markets food products. Its products include beverages, breads, cakes, muffins, condiments, desserts and salads. The company additionally provides sauces, sandwiches, snacks, soups and entrees. It also offers appetizers, breakfast, lunch, marinades and vegetables, as well as Asian cuisines. The company provides a variety of products manufactured by Cargill, Minh, Minor s and Rich s. It offers shipping and delivery services. Michaels & Associates client base includes schools, hotels, motels, colleges, universities, hospitals, restaurants and nursing homes. The company is affiliated with the Foodservice Sales & Marketing Association, International Food Service Executives Association, Michigan Restaurant Association and School Nutrition Association. Michaels & Associates is located in Grand Rapids, Mich.