Ruddick Co-Founder Alan Dickson Dies at Age 81

CHARLOTTE — A memorial service was scheduled May 5 for Alan Dickson, co-founder of Ruddick Corp., the former parent company of the Harris Teeter supermarket chain. He died on Thursday at age 81 after a battle with lung cancer.

Dickson and his brother, Stuart Dickson, founded Ruddick in 1968, and grew it into a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate. Dickson had previously been president of the American & Efird industrial thread concern, which remained a subsidiary of Ruddick until the company sold it last year.

Ruddick acquired the Harris Teeter chain in 1969 and grew it into a major regional powerhouse operating more than 200 locations. Ruddick changed its name earlier this year to Harris Teeter Supermarkets.

Dickson is survived by his wife of 20 years, Mary Anne Dickson, two stepchildren and four grandchildren, as well as his brother, Stuart Dickson.