Does Kroger own Harris Teeter? (all you must know)
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Kroger is one of the largest supermarket retailers in the United States, operating directly or through its subsidiaries.
As part of its expansion, Kroger acquired several stores in the United States, boosting its presence and profits. Because of this, many wonder if Kroger has Harris Teeter. If you want to know, keep reading!
Will Kroger have Harris wobbly in 2022?
Kroger bought Harris Teeter, which owns 212 supermarket chains, for $2.5 billion in 2013 and will become a Kroger subsidiary in 2022. Although Harris Teeter became a subsidiary of Kroger, the company continued to operate under its brand name. The move expands Kroger’s reach, making it one of the largest retailers in the U.S., with operations in 35 states.
For more information on the deal between Kroger and Harris Teeter, read on for helpful and interesting facts!
What was the deal between Kroger and Harris Teeter?
Harris Teeter is a subsidiary of supermarket giant Kroger.
The acquisition was announced in 2013, when Cincinnati-based Kroger Supermarkets expanded by adding Harris Teeter to its chain.
At the time of the acquisition, the deal was valued at approximately $2.5 billion. In addition, Kroger took on about $100 million of Harris Teeter’s outstanding debt.
However, despite the merger in 2014, Harris Teeter has retained its brand name to this day.
Why did Kroger buy Harris Teeter?
You might be wondering why grocery giant Kroger bought a relatively small grocery chain like Harris Teeter. Here are some reasons:
Competition intensifies
Competition in the grocery industry has intensified as new retailers enter the market.
Kroger’s main competitors, such as Target and Walmart, have opened grocery sections, and some dollar stores have food aisles to meet customer demand.
Also, grocery stores have been consolidating to stay competitive.
Additionally, the Kroger CEO mentioned that the 2014 acquisition happened because the company foresaw Amazon’s entry into the competitive grocery business.
The move was anticipated before Amazon bought Whole Foods in 2017.
So Kroger acquired Harris Teeter to effectively compete in the market with other supermarket chains and retail brands.
where harris wobbles
While Harris Teeter is a little over 200, it’s very conveniently located.
Harris Teeter stores are located in college communities, resort destinations and fast-growing markets.
Additionally, the stores are in areas where Kroger is losing Walmart and Food Lion. Thus, Harris Teeter presents an opportunity to increase its market share.
Currently, Harris Teeter mainly has branches in the southeast, making it a gem of the south.
This enables Kroger to meet customer needs in states such as Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Georgia.
Harris’ shaky earnings
Although Kroger had to take on $100 million in debt during the acquisition, Harris Teeter still earns a reasonable income.
By the time of the acquisition, the retailer’s sales had grown each year for the past decade, reaching about $4.5 billion in 2012.
So Kroger took this as an opportunity to increase the company’s overall revenue by acquiring Harris Teeter.
How many other brands does Kroger own?
Kroger is a NYSE-listed company with operations in 35 US states.
In addition to Harris Teeter, Kroger has acquired and merged several other stores over the years, including:
- Fred Meyer
- Fry’s
- Ralphs
- king spoon
- Smith’s
- less food 4
- Baker’s
- Dillion
Currently, approximately 2,800 grocery retail stores in different U.S. states operate under the Kroger name
Because of its size, Kroger competes with other stores that stock the same products and have major U.S. operations, such as Walmart.
Most of its subsidiaries provide customers with a one-stop shopping experience and cover a range of products beyond food.
Kroger is the largest supermarket chain in the United States and the second largest general retailer after Walmart.
Can you use your Kroger card at Harris Teeter?
Unfortunately, Harris Teeter does not accept Kroger gift cards from customers. Although subsidiaries, the two operate independently in some respects.
Therefore, you can only use gift cards at individual chains.
Can you return Harris’ wobbly items to Kroger?
Since Kroger owns Harris Teeter, you can return items purchased at Harris Teeter or any Kroger family of stores.
According to Kroger’s return policy, the company accepts returned products from any of its stores as long as they are within the 30-day purchase window.
However, when returning an item, you need to know that Kroger will not accept certain items, such as women’s, infant and children’s (WIC) products, alcohol and tobacco, and infant formula.
Therefore, if you purchased any of these items from the Harris Teeter store, you may not be eligible for a refund or exchange.
In addition, you can confirm with Kroger’s staff or store manager which products you can return.
If you want to learn more, you can also read our posts on whether Kroger owns Meijer, whether Kroger owns Fred Meyer, and whether Kroger owns Frys.
in conclusion
Kroger bought Harris Teeter, which owns 212 supermarkets, for $2.5 billion in 2013. Although Harris Teeter became a subsidiary of Kroger, it continued to operate under its brand name.
The move expands Kroger’s reach, making it one of the largest retailers in the U.S., with operations in 35 states. If you purchased items at any Harris Teeter store, you can return them to Kroger for a refund or exchange, although some items are exempt from returns.
