Top 75 trivia

We know our readers look forward to the annual Top 75 list of the largest retailers and wholesalers to analyze sales figures and see how chains compare. But what about some of the other data included as part of the list that may be overlooked?

For example, the most popular name for top executives is Robert, with five chairmen, CEOs and/or presidents bearing that moniker this year. Not far behind, there are four each for Richard (two Richards and two Ricks) and Steven (three Stevens and a Stephane).

While some chains have made progress in adding female board members and executives, only three Top 75 top executives are women — and two of them are named Laura.

2014 Top 75: Click here to access the Top 75 list, a gallery and more

Guess which two Top 75 companies are headquartered in Los Angeles?

When it comes to location, several retailers must contend with some hometown competition. Two members of the list are headquartered in Boise, Idaho; Commerce, Calif.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Los Angeles and Minneapolis. (The latter narrowly missed topping that category with three entries after the new SpartanNash opted to name Spartan Stores’ Grand Rapids for its HQ instead of Nash Finch’s Minneapolis.)

Given their size, it should come as no surprise that California and Texas are the most common states for retailers to be based, with 11 and seven, respectively, calling those places home. However, two unexpected states in the Northeast and Southeast are almost as popular: five retailers each make their headquarters in New Jersey and North Carolina.