It knits the acquisitions into the Ahold information network and introduces purchasing and logistics scale economies to the stores its buys.

FORBES: The Anti-Wal-Mart

Even as Chuao focuses on larger-scale logistics, managers keep an eye on little details.

FORBES: How A California Chocolatier Is Going National

In addition, because no other country can replicate the massive scale of China, logistics will become a larger part of costs as companies are forced to slice up their manufacturing over several countries, analysts say.

WSJ: China's Rising Wages Propel Prices

Its infrastructure in Germany, which involved two headquarters (for a while) and three logistics centres, piled up costs without achieving economies of scale.

ECONOMIST: Retailing

Australian Oil and Gas pumps oil in Libya, while logistics firm Korea Express is taking over a large-scale water project in the North African country.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

The IMAT consists of operations, planning, logistics, program, technology and emergency information staff who specialize in coordinating large-scale, multi-agency disaster responses.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House