Harris Teeter's 50 Years and Then Some

1936

W.T. Harris borrows $1,500 to open a grocery store in Charlotte.

1939

Harris Teeter has long touted its store atmosphere.

Willis L. Teeter and his brother, Paul, borrow $1,700 to open their first store in Mooresville, N.C.

1949

Harris, a pioneer in the development of the modern supermarket, relocates his original store to a new site three blocks away. The new store is the first in the area to offer air conditioning and late hours — until 9 p.m. on Fridays. That site, at 1704 Central Ave., is still open today.

1958

Harris and Teeter combine buying and warehousing facilities.

1960

Harris Super Markets and Teeter's Food Stores officially merge under the Harris Teeter moniker. The companies, with 15 stores already in operation, open the first under the Harris Teeter name in Kannapolis, N.C.

1963

Company expands to 25 stores, purchasing five supermarkets from Tilman's Grocery, Shelby, N.C., and independent stores in Charlotte and Gastonia, N.C.

1969

Harris Teeter purchased by Ruddick Corp., a Charlotte-based holding company that also owns American & Efird, an industrial sewing thread business.

1970

Opens a discount format known as Big M, eventually expanding it to six locations.

1976

Big M discontinued, with stores converted back to Harris Teeter “More Value” brand.

1980

Overtakes A&P to become the market share leader in Charlotte; purchases Hunter Farms Dairy, its supplier of milk, ice cream and other dairy products.

1984

Ruddick purchases Food World, adding 52 stores and expanding Harris Teeter's geographic reach to central North Carolina and Virginia.

1988

Harris Teeter purchases 52 supermarkets operating under the Big Star name from Grand Union.

1990

Harris Teeter acquires a Borden dairy plant, expanding dairy operations.

1991

New warehouse facility in Greensboro, N.C., opens.

1997

Adds extension to its Indian Trail warehouse; introduces VIC loyalty card chainwide.

1998

Sales exceed $2 billion; Fred Morganthall named president of Harris Teeter.

1999

First Harris Teeter store in the Washington, D.C., metro area opens in Arlington, Va.; acquires 10 Kroger stores in Greensboro and Winston-Salem, N.C.

2000

Introduces H.T. Traders line of imported private-label items.

2001

Sells 27 stores — 15 in the Atlanta area and 12 in South Carolina — to competitors Kroger, Bi-Lo and Piggly Wiggly.

2002

Stuart Dickson and Alan Dickson announce plans to retire as officers of the company; rolls out Harris Teeter Rancher private-label beef.

2003

Begins rebranding perimeter departments, including Farmer's Market for produce and Fisherman's Market for seafood.

2004

Adds Reserve Angus Beef private label to meat.

2007

Expands to Delaware for the first time.

2008

Harris Teeter opens its first store in Washington in the historic Citadel building.

2009

Sales reach $3.8 billion.

2010

Celebrates its 50th anniversary. Plans to open its 200th store.

SOURCES: Company reports, groceteria.com, SN archives.