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Paltac Corporation

A Japanese wholesaler that sits between makers and shopkeepers, Paltac moves cosmetics, daily necessities, and over-the-counter medicines from about a thousand manufacturers to drugstores, convenience stores, and supermarkets across the country. It began in 1898 as a cosmetics-and-sundries merchant in Osaka run by Tanejiro Kadokura, and took its current name in 1976. That name is a blend of "partner" and "tactical"—a nod to its focus on close ties with the stores and brands it serves.