While living in Toronto for 10 years I came to know the Northwest Companies and a number of their senior people back in the 90's. I also worked in retailing in Canada and I will say that the Northwest Company was a very well respected business. They had developed very strong capabilities when it comes to operating general merchandise retail businesses in very remote locations. Think.. the Yukon, Northwest Territories and other remote communities. I would suggest that they could have some key capabilites that would help Riteway and the folks who shop there.