Cleveland - In an article detailing the STORES Top 100 Retailers charts and the problems facing the nation's largest retail companies, David Schulz explains which businesses are thriving.

Schulz explains that many large retail companies had lower earnings than the previous fiscal year, while others like Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. had single-digit increases.

He said that Wal-Mart and other stores such as Aldi Foods, Inc., Save-A-Lot Food Stores. Inc. and the Kroger Co.'s Food 4 Less stores have taken advantage of the discount food trend, as consumers purchase private label brands instead of national brands. Twenty-six percent of Kroger's grocery sales in 2008 were from house brands, and Wal-Mart re-launched its Great Value line, capitalizing on shoppers' current tastes.