Walmart

In spite of ongoing economic and market challenges, the manufacturers of these brands showed their grit in 2010. They invested to understand the roles their products could play in helping consumers navigate difficult financial waters. And, they used that knowledge to develop and deliver powerful new products.

The last two decades could aptly be described as the Wal-Mart era in retailing. In 1990, its revenue was $32 billion. In 2010 it ballooned to $405 billion. Today, however, cracks are appearing in the empire Sam Walton built.