v2.3.0.11

Segment and Geographic Data

6 Months Ended

Jun. 25, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Segment Data

Note 2.  Segment Data

We conduct our business through two reportable segments: healthcare distribution and technology.  These segments offer different products and services to the same customer base.  The healthcare distribution reportable segment aggregates our dental, medical, animal health and international operating segments.  This segment consists of consumable products, small equipment, laboratory products, large equipment, equipment repair services, branded and generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines, surgical products, diagnostic tests, infection-control products and vitamins.

Our dental group serves office-based dental practitioners, schools and other institutions in the combined United States and Canadian dental market.  Our medical group serves office-based medical practitioners, surgical centers, other alternate-care settings and other institutions throughout the United States.  Our animal health group serves animal health practices and clinics throughout the United States.  Our international group serves dental, medical and animal health practitioners in 23 countries outside of North America.

Our technology group provides software, technology and other value-added services to healthcare practitioners, primarily in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.  Our value-added practice solutions include practice management software systems for dental and medical practitioners and animal health clinics.  Our technology group offerings also include financial services on a non-recourse basis, e-services and continuing education services for practitioners.

The following tables present information about our reportable segments:

		Three Months Ended								Six Months Ended
		June 25,				June 26,				June 25,				June 26,
		2011				2010				2011				2010
Net Sales:
Healthcare distribution (1):
Dental (2)		$	709,338			$	677,560			$	1,372,121			$	1,292,209
Medical (3)			317,263				286,291				637,058				570,880
Animal health (4)			260,307				234,734				490,872				441,380
International (5)			781,675				602,435				1,460,647				1,211,888
Total healthcare distribution			2,068,583				1,801,020				3,960,698				3,516,357
Technology (6)			62,057				48,381				117,703				93,354
Total		$	2,130,640			$	1,849,401			$	4,078,401			$	3,609,711

(1)   Consists of consumable products, small equipment, laboratory products, large equipment, equipment repair services, branded and generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines, surgical products, diagnostic tests, infection-control products and vitamins.

(2)   Consists of products sold in the United States and Canadian dental markets.

(3)   Consists of products sold in the United States' medical market.

(4)   Consists of products sold in the United States' animal health market.

(5)   Consists of products sold in dental, medical and animal health markets, primarily in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

(6)   Consists of practice management software and other value-added products and services, which are distributed primarily to healthcare providers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

		Three Months Ended								Six Months Ended
		June 25,				June 26,				June 25,				June 26,
		2011				2010				2011				2010
Operating Income:
Healthcare distribution		$	134,010			$	121,134			$	243,542			$	209,972
Technology			17,205				16,872				31,973				31,793
Total		$	151,215			$	138,006			$	275,515			$	241,765

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- Definition

This element may be used to capture the complete disclosure of reporting segments including data and tables. Reportable segments include those that meet any of the following quantitative thresholds a) it's reported revenue, including sales to external customers and intersegment sales or transfers is 10% or more of the combined revenue, internal and external, of all operating segments b) the absolute amount of its reported profit or loss is 10 percent or more of the greater, in absolute amount of 1) the combined reported profit of all operating segments that did not report a loss or 2) the combined reported loss of all operating segments that did report a loss c) its assets are 10 percent or more of the combined assets of all operating segments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131

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