Typically, manufacturers are told how their own products are selling in stores but are not permitted to find out how their rival suppliers are doing.

In 2003, Dana fought off a hostile takeover bid from ArvinMeritor, a rival supplier based in Troy, Mich.

Each database developer tailors its own SQL products to increase the functionality it is able to offer, and therefore gain a competitive edge over rival suppliers.

Then, too, there is increased competition from rival suppliers, such as Indonesia, which is emerging as a major coal exporter and is closer to Asian customers than Australia.

By contrast, rival suppliers like Nortel, which surpassed $10 billion in optical equipment revenue last year, are taking earnings hits because they also have big businesses in slumping sectors like wireless communications equipment.

An important factor that affects this is the degree of competition from rival suppliers.

The co-ops filed lawsuits, accusing rival suppliers of bribing the Koreans.

Every deal Seoul struck with a rival supplier set off a Congressional uproar.

Allowing South Korea to reduce tariffs on agricultural products over an extended period will ultimately earn the U.S. sufficient preference in this market, keeping out rival suppliers.

A Dole spokesperson said Oxfam's report was a "commercial move" aimed at backing a rival supplier which backed Oxfam, and Oxfam was "trying to destroy the Dole brand".