2022 Harris Teeter SE ROY, DeBoer FEOY, Antolock HOF

DECEMBER 2022

Harris Teeter President, Tammy DeBoer, and former President, Rod Antolock, honored with industry recognitions.

The Shelby Report of the Southeast Congratulates

2022 Southeast Retailer of the Year

Congratulations to Tammy DeBoer for being named 2022 Southeast Female Executive of the Year

Congratulations to Rod

on his induction into the Food Industry Hall of Fame

Antolock

Grocer’s offerings keep it at forefront of fresh, innovation

by Jack R. Jordan / content creator

Matthews, North Carolina-based Harris Teeter is The Shelby Report of the Southeast’s Retailer of the Year.

From its founding 62 years ago, the company has grown to become a premier regional grocery store brand in the Southeast. It boasts 258 stores and 70 fuel centers and two distribution centers in seven states.

The company has been on a path of expansion since 1997. Previous President Fred Morganthall II oversaw that growth as Harris Teeter moved into Georgia, Florida and Tennessee and later spearheaded growth into Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Craig McKenzie, SVP of operations, is a 40-year Harris Teeter veteran.

“The grocery business is extremely competitive,” McKenzie said. “Our Harris Teeter Team, which is made up of our store associates, our corporate associates and our warehouse associates press us to be better. In the end, the push ultimately pushes Harris Teeter into the future.”

The present-day Harris Teeter is headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina and employs approximately 35,000 associates.

The company continues to focus on expansions – adding stores, new innovation in merchandising, own brands and in-store offerings.

Butchers Market

The meat department, known as the Butchers Market, includes its own beef products under the Rancher Beef, Harris Teeter Reserve Angus Beef and Harris Teeter Naturals Beef brands.

According to a publication written and distributed by the company, titled “Harris Teeter Legacy – 50 Years,” this practice began as products were cut to order or sold under service case glass.

“Our butchers purchased sides of beef and proceeded to cut the beef in-store directly off

Please see page 14

‘It’s about meeting customers where they are, and we aim to do that in every part’ of our stores

the rail; customers did not have the wide variety of options to buy that which they are accustomed to purchasing today,” the publication reads.

In 2006, the grocer launched its Harris Teeter Fresh Market Expert program, which provides its stores with a certified butcher who offers custom cuts, recipes and knowledge about the products, according to the publication.

The meat program has been hailed by national beef and poultry associations, including recognitions in 2008 and 2010 during the Cattle Industry Annual Convention and the 2009 Beef Industry Visionary Awards. And in 2010, it became part of the USDA program, Certified Very Tender beef.

Harris Teeter remains among a small group of retailers nationwide to take part in the program, which highlights strict protocols for steak cuts and requires that beef must be aged at least 21 days.

The beef and poultry grab the limelight in the cases, but Harris Teeter takes care to keep current on trends and meet customers where they are. Formerly placed behind centerstore freezer doors, plant-based meat alternatives have risen in popularity and the grocer does not shy from sharing its meat cases with the newcomers.

“When we talk to our customers, they are looking for variety and the best cuts of meat,” said Shawn Cram, VP of fresh merchandising.

“To meet these needs, we focus on premiumization, we have Wagyu, Prime, Natural, Angus and Ranchers. And if you go into one of our stores and you are not sure which cut of meat you want, we have full-service meat cases with experienced butchers who can custom cut your selection.”

Fishermans Market

Harris Teeter’s Fishermans Market is another staple of its fresh merchandising. The market has advocated a buy-local philosophy, according to Cram.

All Harris Teeter locations offer a local fresh catch program. Much like its Butchers Market, the Fishermans Market keeps pace with customer trends and demand.

“Value added” seafood has become prevalent, made in store by Harris Teeter associates with fresh ingredients. These items include salmon stuffed with crab meat and premade sea-

“It really is about our people. Our people care so much about this brand. It’s more than just a grocery store. It’s a family of strong associates who truly believe in our purpose of enriching lives and the role that we play in all of our communities. You will not find a more passionate group of people that come to work every day.”

– Tammy DeBoer, President

food items such as marinated Mahi Mahi and crab cakes.

Chief Financial Officer Scott Nations noted that this – along with the other prepared foods in front of the meat counters –provide customers with extensive options.

“The feedback we get from our customers is that they appreciate variety,” he said. “The freshness and variety of the product offering, as well as the cleanliness of the store, all of that together excites our customers when they shop in our stores. They know that rather than going out for a meal, they can come to Harris Teeter and either pick up all the ingredients to prepare a meal at home or purchase a high-quality prepared offering.”

Nations added that Harris Teeter customers enjoy a personal connection with associates and value the opinions they provide for meal options and product information.

“They want to know that that high-end steak in the meat case can be cut to their specifications. That’s across the board. Regardless of what they are buying, they’re going to have a great experience from our associates who care.”

2022 Southeast Retailer of the Year

Fresh Food Market

The last – but certainly not least – of Harris Teeter’s instore branded departments is its Fresh Food Market, which is much more than a deli or bakery.

The market includes standard deli meat counters, with ready-to-eat options, but also a variety of prepared foods. Chef-made prepared meals include an entree and side, ready to serve along with a variety of à la carte options.

At the company’s super flagship stores, Harris Teeter offers a variety of bars that offer rotating meal options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Pairing that meat with a reasonable side is easy thanks to Harris Teeter’s Farmers Market. Back in 1936, when co-founder W.T. Harris, a farm boy from Georgia, opened his first Harris Super Market, he prided himself on providing the freshest, highest quality produce to customers, according to the company’s publication.

Farmers Market

Much like the previous two markets, customers can find associates in the Farmers Market who are trained and educated on its offerings. Since 2003, Harris Teeter has been training them through its Green Thumb Experts program, which requires associates to complete a rigorous certification program.

They are, according to the company’s publication, “experts in their fields who are able to answer any questions a shopper may ask, including how to best store or prepare a particular item in the Farmers Market.”

While Harris Teeter has a long history of successful vendor partnerships, Green Thumb Experts associates inspect every produce item several times before it is allowed onto the floor. This is a last line of defense for the Farmers Market, as quality assurance checks take place at the distribution center. If an item has blemishes or flaws, it will not be sold.

While not all produce is sourced from local farms, Harris Teeter encourages support of local produce in its communities. Regional store teams have great autonomy on where they source their products, and stores that share a market area sometimes won’t receive the same produce from the same farms.

Most recently, Harris Teeter has developed fresh merchandising programs that have been introduced in the Farmers Market. The program uses mobile merchandising displays that showcase the grocer’s in-store made fresh products, including fruit bowls, veggies bowls and seven-layer dips.

The program has had remarkable success and there are plans to add these display cases to additional Harris Teeter locations, according to Cram.

As a bonus to the Farmers Market, some Harris Teeter locations feature an adjoining juice bar.

Customers also will find a salad and olive bar; in-house pizza station, where customers can watch the pizza being made; a Murray’s cheese monger station with a variety of cheeses from around the globe; and a prepared meal event station at select stores.

Harris Teeter also offers an extensive fresh bakery selection, including dessert items and signature cakes.

The Fresh Food Market has a strong partnership with Boar’s Head that dates back 11 years. Since that time, associates working the deli counter have been required to take part in the Boar’s Head Premium Deli Professional Workshop. Much like Harris Teeter’s own programs, they gain knowledge on the products and learn customer service traits specific to the Boar’s Head company, according to the publication.

The grocer estimates it sells about 4 million made-to-order subs a year at its deli counters, while it averages one million cakes sold in that same span.

The bakery has a wide assortment of specialty dessert items, cakes, cookies and – depending on the area – culturalinspired desserts. The bakers bake over two dozen kinds of artisanal breads per day. Ranging from baguettes to ciabatta, they make up a third of bakery sales.

Please see page 16

2022 Southeast Retailer of the Year

“We recognize we have shortcomings but we’re going to overcome them. We look at barriers as detours. They’re not a roadblock…we’ve stayed not only current but we’ve looked [ahead] as to what the future holds for grocery retailing.”

– Craig McKenzie, SVP of Operations

to do that in every part of our store.

“There is intention behind every decision. We get the customers’ and associates’ feedback. We can see, we can measure what is working and what isn’t. We are dedicated to a wide variety of quality fresh products and exceptional customer service.”

In order to create the prepackaged products for all of the departments, Harris Teeter devised its own chef program. It was put together in the 1990s by certified chef Gianfranco DiCarlo, an Italian cuisine expert.

Our Brands

And just like the other markets within its stores, Harris Teeter has pre-packaged and in-store made bakery items.

“What really sets all that apart from everything else is the way that people can come in and get absolutely everything they could need or want,” said Matt Martin, VP of marketing. “It’s about meeting the customers where they are, and we aim

“We have an amazing group of people that create a culture that makes everyone give 110 percent. We have shared values and attitudes and behaviors. We put our customers and associates first…when you come to a store, you can just feel the pride that everybody takes in being the best they possibly can be. There is a sense of belonging.”

– Rory Snavely, VP of Distribution

Another area of emphasis for the company is private brands. While it has evolved over the years, the aspect that has not changed is quality. Much of Harris Teeter’s brands are supplied by the same national suppliers of the name brand.

“The quality of our own brands is equivalent to the national brand or better,” said Chuck Munn, VP of non-perishable merchandising. “We have a tremendous Own Brands program here at Harris Teeter for every customer, including entry level own brands to a more premium level product.”

The Harris Teeter private label can be found under many names – Simple Truth and Simple Truth Organic, H.T. Traders, Harris Teeter brand and Private Selection.

No matter which of the private label brands customers choose, there is a money-back guarantee if they’re not satisfied.

As of 2014, Harris Teeter is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kroger. The merger with Kroger created synergy between the

“You’re going to hear the same answer a bunch of times. It’s our associates that truly make the difference…it’s our strongest attribute and our biggest point of difference against our competition. It’s a very rewarding part of my job, hearing how much our customers enjoy shopping at Harris Teeter and how much they appreciate the way Harris Teeter associates treat them.”

– Chuck Thompson, SVP of Merchandising

two companies that allowed Harris Teeter to enhance and expand its Own Brand selections, including adding Kroger’s Simple Truth and Simple Truth Organic brand.

Simple Truth is a natural and organic food product that is free from artificial preservatives, GMO’s and free from 101 artificial ingredients.

Officials said the transition made sense for Harris Teeter as the Simple Truth brands continue to resonate with shoppers.

As of 2021, Harris Teeter stocked more than 700 Simple Truth items, with that expected to top 1,000 in early 2023.

2022 Southeast Retailer of the Year

Company continues to build on history of success

by Treva Bennett / senior content creator

Harris Teeter was co-founded in 1960 by North Carolina grocers William Thomas “W.T.” Harris and Willis Lee “W.L.” Teeter.

Harris, from Charlotte, and Teeter, from Mooresville, met through the North Carolina Food Dealers Association, according to Danna Robinson, director of corporate affairs for Harris Teeter.

Harris owned and operated Harris Super Markets; Teeter owned and operated Teeter Super Markets. In 1958, the two grocers came together to purchase a warehouse to leverage buying power for their companies.

They merged the companies on Feb. 1, 1960, with Harris as president and Teeter as EVP. The new company became the largest independent grocery organization in the Carolinas.

At the time of the merger, there were 15 stores. Within three years, that number had grown to 25 and a new, larger warehouse with office facilities opened.

In 1969, the Harris and Teeter families sold the company to Ruddick Corp., a diversified holding company, according to Robinson.

They initially had approached the company to help facilitate the sale of Harris Teeter, but Ruddick leadership decided to acquire it. At that time, Harris Teeter was operating 17 stores.

While under Ruddick Corp., Harris Teeter made several acquisitions. It purchased Charlottebased Hunter Dairy in 1980, and Greensboro-based Food World in 1984. Food World had 52 stores in North Carolina and Virginia at the time. This brought the total number of stores to 122 in four states – North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina and Virginia, according to Robinson.

The company continued closing unprofitable locations and acquiring others, including 52 Big Star stores. In 1993, Harris Teeter purchased five Bruno’s supermarket locations in

“We are always pushing to be an innovator and to give our associates and customers an incredible working and shopping environment. We don’t take it lightly that our customers refer to their Harris Teeter location as ‘my Harris Teeter.’ It means a lot to us, and we want to make sure our customers and associates always feel that way about Harris Teeter. So, we don’t rest easy on our success, we are always trying to get better.”

– Chuck Munn, VP of Non-Perishable Merchandising

South Carolina.

In the years since, the company “continued to grow organically, building new stores and entering new markets,” Robinson said.

2022 Southeast Retailer of the Year

From page 20

In spite of its success, as Harris Teeter approached its 50th anniversary, an economic downturn occurred which adversely affected the grocery industry. Even during this challenging time, the company continued to expand while remaining committed to its core values of high-quality products, excellent customer service and clean, modern stores.

In 2013, Harris Teeter Supermarkets and The Kroger Co. announced a merger agreement.

It’s our focus and commitment to customers. We’re focused on providing a great experience every day that starts with clean stores, friendly associates and great products and promotions that help customers feel good about that experience and that we’ve served their needs.”

– John Robinson, Director of Customer Marketing

About six months later, the deal was finalized. Harris Teeter is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co.

Throughout the transaction, both companies were transparent in their intentions, Robinson said.

Leaders of both companies – Rodney McMullen, current Kroger CEO, and Fred Morganthall, former Harris Teeter president and COO, outlined the benefits of the deal in a letter to Harris Teeter associates: “[Kroger has] long admired many things about Harris Teeter and hopes to apply these practices across our company.”

Robinson said Kroger continues to empower Harris Teeter to run the business the way its customers expect while leveraging the size and strength of the Kroger enterprise.

“Harris Teeter continues to have one story and one vision across our company,” she said.

In March 2018, Harris Teeter acquired 10 Farm Fresh stores, including three in-store pharmacies and three fuel centers. The company’s first fuel center purchase resulted in an agreement with Piggly Wiggly in 2013, according to Robinson.

Today, Harris Teeter operates 258 stores and 70 fuel centers in seven states and the District of Columbia. Harris Teeter also owns grocery, frozen food and perishable distribution centers in Greensboro and Indian Trail, North Carolina.

Tammy DeBoer is the current president of Harris Teeter. Previously the company’s SVP of merchandising, operations and marketing, she succeeded Rod Antolock as president on Feb. 1, 2022.

“I think we go to the market not as a traditional retailer. We are known to be able to compete with anybody. We are known for being proactive in making sure we are taking on challenges and coming out better.”

– Scott Nations, Chief Finanacial Officer

2022 Southeast Retailer of the Year

“We strive to be the best retailer in the United States, and I think we do an incredible job at setting ourselves apart from the competition. One of the things I see at every trade show is that companies and brands want to partner with us. They consider Harris Teeter a valuable partner.”

– Jacob Phares, VP of

Real Estate and Construction

E-Biz department leading the way

by Treva Bennett / senior content creator

At Harris Teeter, The Shelby Report of the Southeast’s Retailer of the Year, the E-Biz department encompasses a customer’s online opportunities to order groceries. According to Director Kevin Crainer, this includes ordering a sub in the deli or a full line of groceries for pickup or delivery.

Harris Teeter has been in the online space since 2001. At the beginning, it was one store that offered the services.

“It really started gaining some momentum probably about 10 years ago,” Crainer said.

When the E-Biz department was formed in 2013, about 40 Harris Teeter stores were using online services. That number is now 227, with eight more being added.

“Just about every store that can physically do it will have pickup, and if they don’t have the space to do pickup, they’ll at least have delivery,” Crainer said.

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co., Harris Teeter is in the final stages of integrating with Kroger’s systems. The process has been under way for several months.

“At the end of the day, it’s going to be a better system. It will allow us to roll into our fulfillment centers, which is the big play going forward,” he said. “This is all going to be delivery out of those units, so you have to tie your inventories…around the fulfillment centers to make all that work.”

By integrating with Kroger’s systems, Harris Teeter will be able to extend its footprint. Crainer said some of the areas the grocer will be entering do not have brick-and-mortar stores. He cited as an example Kroger’s Fulfillment Center in Groveland, Florida.

“They did that without stores…build your brand without having the expensive brick and mortar,” he said. “I think this is going to give us the opportunity to grow into the North and also down South and more East Coast.”

While Harris Teeter started out as a grocer in the Carolinas, it now has stores in Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and

Washington, D.C., as well as in Florida and Georgia.

Customers will continue to shop online through Harris Teeter’s website or new app, which will be integrated into Kroger’s structure, according to John Robinson, director of customer marketing. He said the new system will allow Harris Teeter to “be much more creative, to move much quicker.”

The new app will offer a “seamless experience,” allowing customers to be on their laptops, their iPads or their mobile phones, “and make it as easy as possible to do that,” said Crainer, who added that he believes they will love it.

More than 50 percent of Harris Teeter’s customers prefer to use their phones for online shopping, rather than a laptop, Crainer said. The app allows ease of use for customers.

The new app will have a different look but all the attributes of the former, “just rolling into the seamless platform…you’ll be able to store your list, you’ll be able to scan items in your pantry,” Crainer said.

In another benefit of tying into Kroger’s back-end systems, Robinson said it will allow integration with Instacart, which will “really make it a lot more convenient and flexible for our customers who are interested in delivery.”

In the past, customers had to go to a partner site to order for delivery. Through the new system, customers will be able to use coupons, which was not the case in the past.

“This new system is going to allow us to accept coupons immediately, which is going to be a real win for the customer.”

VIC program

The marketing department also includes Harris Teeter’s Very Important Customer loyalty program. Through this program, Harris Teeter gains insight into customer needs, which helps the company make better decisions and create a more personalized connection with shoppers.

Robinson said the program engages in unique ways with both online shoppers and in-store customers. Among the benefits of the VIC program are weekly discounts, a fuel points program, personalized e-mail communication, access to digital coupons and sweepstakes.

These programs work in tandem to “engage with customers, to encourage them to use the VIC card so the cycle can continue.”

“When shoppers use their VIC card, we are able to better understand what they are looking for when they shop at Harris Teeter. We use that information to offer them more value and enhance their shopping experience, creating long-term customer loyalty,” Robinson said.

The grocer’s Together In Education program, which is a loyalty program benefiting local schools, is also tied to the VIC cards.

“It allows schools to work with us to incentivize their customers to shop with us and use their VIC cards,” Robinson explained. “When they do that – and they’re linked to a school and buy Harris Teeter products – then we donate money directly to the school.”

The products involved include all of Harris Teeter’s private offerings.

Shoppers can link up to five schools to their cards online or in store with numbers that correspond to the respective schools, according to Robinson.

“Local schools sign up and are given a four-digit code. They keep that code forever…we have over 5,000 participating schools,” he explained. “We work together to encourage parents and alumni, grandparents – just anybody that’s interested in the community – to link their VIC card to that four-digit school number.”

While schools maintain the same codes, VIC rewards members are able to change their school beneficiaries.

“Harris Teeter starts with a purpose that’s bigger than itself. We enrich the lives of families, our customers, associates and communities. All of those areas are really important. We do that better, collectively, than any of our other very strong competitors in the region.”

– Matt Martin, VP of Marketing

“We build around the traditional school year, August through May, then we clear it out,” Robinson said. “Customers start fresh every year, so just as their kids are moving from preschool to elementary or middle to high, or if they move neighborhoods.”

Since its inception in 1998, the Together In Education program has donated more than $32.4 million to schools within the company’s market areas.

“We strive to be responsive to our customers. We are there for them. We are part of the community. They rely on us, but we rely on them as well. We want to be a big partner with them in the community.”

– Shawn Cram, VP of Fresh Merchandising

North Carolina native relishes ‘dream job’ with Harris Teeter Company’s

first female president seeks to make an impact, positive difference

by Jack R. Jordan / content creator

Tammy DeBoer, The Shelby Report of the Southeast’s Female Executive of the Year, has been in a leadership role with Matthews, North Carolina-based Harris Teeter for two years. But her experience with the brand dates back to childhood.

DeBoer grew up in the Tarheel State and started attending Appalachian State University in Boone before entering the grocery business. In early 2022, she became the first female president of Harris Teeter.

“I’m a local. A lot of times you meet so many great people, but not a lot of people are from here. It’s great to join a company that I have grown up with and know very well,” said DeBoer, whose grocery career began at Salisbury, North Carolinabased Food Lion.

“I have tremendous respect for Food Lion and all of our retailers,” she said. “I had the great fortune of working with incredible people. I had some wonderful mentors who gave me a lot of great opportunities to learn this business.”

“Tammy’s experience and incredible leadership skills are what led her to become president of this company. She inherited a much larger company than when I was there and it’s a big job to take over. The first year is always the toughest, and she’s exceeding.”

– Fred Morganthall II, former president of Harris Teeter

DeBoer started at Food Lion in 1989, working in the corporate office with customer service, which gave her insight into the consumer’s perspective.

“I think that’s where I first developed a long-standing connection with the customer, really understanding what it takes to meet and exceed their expectations in retail,” she said.

The position at Food Lion was just a means to help pay for a car, according to DeBoer. She didn’t know it would lead to a life-long passion for retail grocery.

DeBoer has worked in many different capacities in her career, including merchandising, marketing, operations, mergers and acquisitions, human resources and finance.

“In order to be most successful, you have to understand how all of those work together to have the greatest outcome,” she said. “I really enjoy this industry. It’s dynamic. It’s ever-changing.”

DeBoer rose through the ranks at Food Lion, leading large teams as VP of merchandising and also a VP of operations. She managed 235 stores with about $2.5 billion in annual sales. In her last role, she was the VP of Bloom, a test concept which was very similar to Harris Teeter.

“It was a new prototype, focused on more premium offerings. I studied Harris Teeter quite a bit, and was very impressed. I even shopped there occasionally. Of course, it was for research purposes,” she said with a laugh.

She specifically noticed the merchandising. “Harris Teeter is known for an incredible variety and selection of quality products, especially in the fresh categories and specialty categories.”

In 2012, DeBoer accepted a position with Family Dollar as

its VP of private brands and merchandise initiatives. In her time there, she took on new responsibilities with each promotion, including SVP of food merchandising, SVP of merchandising-consumables and eventually chief merchandising officer in 2016.

“I spent some time in China and Hong Kong, managing our import buying team there. It was exciting to learn that side of the business,” DeBoer recalled.

“I’d never been on the discretionary side of the business. So for me, it was a bit surreal when I was in a Christmas ornament factory and learning how they were made. Sourcing those directly was very intriguing to me.”

DeBoer remained in the dollar sector after the merger between Dollar Tree and Family Dollar. She worked two years post acquisition to help with the integration work. Afterward, she opened her own consulting firm, DeBoer Consulting, to have more flexibility and pursue some personal objectives.

DeBoer feels community involvement is important. She has served on multiple non-profit boards, including Network

“She’s driven. I think we’ve had some great leaders in place over the years. I don’t think we’ve ever had anyone quite as personable as she is. She really drives collaboration. She’s going to challenge us to make us better. I think what she’s trying to do is keep us current but also drive us into the future.”

– Craig McKenzie, SVP of Operations

“In her short tenure, I’ve seen Tammy lead by example – certainly, her vision and strategies for moving the company forward. Again, she checks all the boxes. She is looking to assemble a management team that is one of diversity. I think that is something that should be respected and appreciated…I’ve been really impressed with her.”

– Mark Finocchio, President of Pinnacle Food Sales

of Executive Women. DeBoer currently serves on the board of International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), Carolina Food Industry Council (CFIC) and the advisory board for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.

In 2020, DeBoer joined Harris Teeter as SVP of merchandising, operations and marketing, a position she became aware of thanks to a previous Harris Teeter president, Fred Morganthall II.

“I had always wanted to join Harris Teeter. This was a dream come true for me to work here,” she said. “Fred is the one who reached out to me a few years ago about this opportunity. I’m very thankful to Fred, and Rod.”

“I feel honored to have their advocacy and their support in leading the company that they care so deeply for. I came on board, got to know the people and visit all of our stores…Rod was here and answered any questions that I had. When he left, I was ready to take the helm.”

But her relationship with Harris Teeter alumni began a number of years ago before she joined the company. She had met Morganthall through a mutual friend. The friend thought it would be a good idea to have Morganthall mentor DeBoer, Morganthall said in an interview. The two would infrequently meet for lunch, he said. He was actually the one who recommended to Antolock and the Kroger executive staff that she be

“I think what’s big is the fact Tammy is a great president – not that she’s a female president. She is an outstanding leader. She is challenging. She is compassionate. She is driven. She is what this company needs today. The fact that she’s the first woman president is a plus, but she is first and foremost a great president.”

– Ted Harrington, VP of Human Resources

brought on.

“Every leader is different. It’s good for her to have some fresh ideas,” Morganthall said. “Rod and I are a great team together but thought it would be good to have some new thoughts and some new ideas. Tammy clearly brings that.”

He noted how, when DeBoer is in a store, she will stop and speak with everybody.

“She doesn’t miss anybody – nobody. It probably takes her four hours just to get through one store during her walk throughs,” he said with a chuckle. “She listens to their ideas and gets some feedback. She takes what they tell her back to her senior management and makes decisions on what should be implemented or not implemented.”

Danna Robinson, director of corporate affairs, shared a story of DeBoer doing a store walk-through at a busy time of day.

“She saw that the lines were getting a bit long, so she just started bagging groceries,” Robinson said. “She didn’t tell somebody else to help. She did and did it for a while, too.

“Imagine that, the president of the company springing in to help. It wasn’t a planned photo op or news coverage. She saw associates that needed help and she did it. It’s something like that that makes her special.”

Please see page 32

From page 31

But DeBoer doesn’t let the term “first female president” trouble her.

“I don’t think of it honestly, it does not occur to me,” she said. “I’ve always worked hard, surrounded myself with great people and developed teams. I really love that. It’s my favorite part of any leadership role.

2022 Southeast Female Executive of the Year Tammy DeBoer

“For me, I haven’t ever thought about it as being a female leader, but rather just a leader, an effective leader,” she explained.

As its first female president, she did say she is proud of the company’s dedication to improving diversity. But there are more steps that need to be taken nationwide.

“Progress is being made, but I don’t think we’re done. I don’t

think that we will ever be done,” she said. “Until we have much more diversity – women and people of color in general – on boards and in executive level positions. I think as a community, as a nation, we have a lot of work to do to further encourage and promote diversity at all levels. And there, I think, lies the biggest opportunity.”

DeBoer is continuing to foster leadership through Harris Teeter’s Leadership Development Program and Leadership Academy. LDP is the company’s store level and associate leadership training arm, while LA tackles leadership in the corporate environment.

Please see page 34

“I think it’s Tammy’s courageousness. It’s the pride she takes in Harris Teeter. Her years of experience make a huge difference for us. And she has great vision for Harris Teeter, loves this organization and the people in it…I just feel so great to have somebody that provides all those things.”

– Rory Snavely, VP of Distribution

“Tammy came into this opportunity with a lot going on. She had the wherewithal and insight – and maybe just enough good advice from others around her – to stay focused on how we can improve things…and she’s off to a great start. She’s continuing to help the company grow and evolve in a way that we will serve our customers well into the future.”

– John Robinson, Director of Customer Marketing

2022 Southeast Female Executive of the Year Tammy DeBoer

From page 32

DeBoer and Harris Teeter believe leadership comes from facing any challenge that may arise with “authenticity and inspiration.” They are making leaders, not managers.

As DeBoer guides Harris Teeter over the next few years, she sees technology playing the largest role in the company’s path forward.

“We’ve made tremendous investment in seamless technology, which enables the customer to shop how, when and where they want to shop,” she explained. “We are meeting the customers wherever they are in the shopping journey.”

She added that delivery and online shopping/pickup has been a large priority for Harris Teeter for some time. Still, consumers continue to want to shop in stores.

“We have a lot of customers that tell us that they want to shop in our stores because it’s more than just a shopping trip –it’s an experience,” she said. “They enjoy the engagement with our incredible associates. They like to go see the butcher, the produce manager or baker. They like to engage with them…we want to find ways to engage with our customers throughout the store.”

Please see page 36

“Tammy is coming to the organization with a passion. She leads by example. She’s always practicing what she’s talking about. You can see it when she visits our store teams. She’s here to help drive change for causes that make an impact on the lives of others…she’s been instrumental in developing a diverse and inclusive culture and our work environment.”

– Chuck Thompson, SVP of Merchandising

“Tammy has experience with other retailers in the market. I think that brings perspective. When I came here, it was all about how everyone’s voice is going to matter. She wants to make sure that we are building a strong team. And that was not just words. I have seen many actions that she has taken to help us develop and work better together.”

– Shawn Cram, VP of Fresh Merchandising

“She is an extremely intelligent person who values people, values relationships, partnerships and has a drive for success. She wants everyone to win. She wants our team to win. I think those characteristics aren’t personified in every leader. I think she personifies those characteristics in a way that isn’t self-serving.”

– Jacob Phares, VP of Real Estate and Construction

2022 Southeast Female Executive of the Year Tammy DeBoer

From page 34

Even through her many accomplishments and accolades, DeBoer remains humble. In 2016, while still at Family Dollar, she was named to The Mecklenburg Times’ 50 Most Influential Women in Charlotte. She has also previously been named as a Top Female Executive in the Grocery Industry by The Griffin Report of the Northeast, a Shelby publication.

As for Female Executive of the Year, she said: “It’s an honor that is absolutely humbling. I am very appreciative of the acknowledgement and the recognition. At the end of the day, it’s about having an impact. What I want to do is have the greatest impact that I can in my life with those that I come in contact with and make a positive difference.”

“She has led with integrity – and all with a smile, energy and passion. She was an outsider when she came in, but she has gained all our confidence and trust. She’s approachable and brings a lot of passion. She has a genuine sense of wanting to know people and the business.”

– Chuck Munn, VP of Non-Perishable Merchandising

“She’s doing a great job of taking this brand and energizing it, moving it. She definitely deserves to be Female Executive of the Year.”

– Scott Nations, Chief Financial Officer

2022 Southeast Female Executive of the Year Tammy DeBoer

“There are people who you meet in your career who you pull aside for a second and say, ‘If we ever get to work together, I hope [we can].’ And she’s in that bucket of people for me. It’s a big reason why I’m here…the words ‘enriching lives’ are not just words to her. It’s the way that she operates.”

– Matt Martin, VP of Marketing

“Tammy inspires those around her and pushes people to be their very best and to innovate. She cares deeply about people and that is reflected through every aspect of the organization. She cares about the associates. She cares about the stores and genuinely wants the best for everyone.”

– Taryn Mecia, VP of Legal Compliance

‘It’s a simple business, we just try to make it hard’ Colleagues hail former president for decisiveness, level-headed leadership

by Jack Jordan / content creator

Rodney “Rod” Antolock, former president of Harris Teeter and a vital part of the company for two decades before retiring in early 2022, has been inducted into The Shelby Report’s Food Industry Hall of Fame.

Antolock joined Harris Teeter in 2000. At the time, he was the division president for Albertsons in San Antonio, according to another former Harris Teeter president, Fred J. Morganthall II.

“We hired Rod to run operations,” Morganthall recalled. “We had been looking for a long time to find a great operator. And Albertsons had a good reputation for having good operators, although not just anyone from Albertsons would have fit into the Harris Teeter culture. Rod fit into the history and culture immediately.”

Morganthall was impressed with Albertsons’ operation and Antolock’s role in it. He said Albertsons was known at the time for its “great store conditions and profitability. When I interviewed Rod, it seemed very appropriate that he could bring that to Harris Teeter.”

Antolock joined the company as the SVP of operations. By 2007, he was EVP of operations and merchandising, though he had been

working in merchandising for Harris Teeter long before receiving a title for it.

“At the time [Antolock joined], we also had an opening for VP of merchandising,” Morganthall said. “It became apparent quickly that Rod was as good at merchandising as he was in operations. Within the first six months that Rod was with us, he had both operations and merchandising responsibilities.”

Within three years of Antolock’s arrival, Morganthall saw the full potential for him to be his successor.

“Good leaders need to replace themselves,” he said. “And the sooner you find good candidates, the better off you are. Looking for someone to succeed you a year before you retire, it doesn’t lead to good succession planning.

“With Rod, it was really easy. We shared a lot of time together and we shared philosophies together. I brought him in on many areas

that I was responsible for. I turned [over] store design fairly early on.”

In 2014, Cincinnati, Ohio, based Kroger purchased Harris Teeter. Morganthall didn’t have plans to leave Harris Teeter for three years following the merger. But after just a year, he was ready to move into a new position at Kroger.

“Rod had about a 24 hours’ notice that he was about to become president at Harris Teeter,” Morganthall said with a laugh. “We were supposed to have about a six-week transition and we had a 24-hour transition. But he was ready.”

Since that day, Morganthall has kept a close eye on Harris Teeter and watched Antolock’s moves as president.

“Rod established best practices for store operations at Harris Teeter,” Morganthall said. “We improved our customer service and that’s not something just to say we ‘improved

customer service,’ we measured it. When we found what needed to be improved, he developed methods to improve our customer service through training and development of our people.

“He rewrote all of our standard practices. Under Rod, we went to the certification of our department managers, along with our store managers. Everyone was certified every year.

Tammy DeBoer and Rod Antolock

“Rod is an incredible leader within this industry. He’s done an amazing job throughout his career, making a difference and making an impact on many people’s lives and incredible partnerships with the supplier community. He’s instilled high standards when it comes to execution. I believe he created an incredible brand that is sustainable. He has a tremendous legacy of making an impact on people.”

– Tammy DeBoer, President

“When Rod joined Harris Teeter, it was probably a $2 billion company. But when we sold it, it was a $5 billion company. Rod was part of that huge growth. Not only did we grow in sales, but the operating profit we delivered was 4.5 percent. For many years, Consumer Reports rated it in the top five supermarkets in the country. Clearly, Rod should be in the Hall of Fame.”

– Fred Morganthall II, former President of Harris Teeter

We improved our productivity in our stores. We decreased our shrink in our stores. I could go on and on.”

Antolock had begun decreasing the overall shrink at Harris Teeter after being named EVP in 2012. According to Morganthall, he did so companywide by nearly 50 percent.

Antolock was known for two things while president – decisive decision making and his love of being in the stores.

“It’s a simple business, we just try to make it hard,” was something he was known for saying, according to multiple sources, including Morganthall and Tammy DeBoer, current Harris Teeter president.

“Rod has an incredible insight into what makes this business so interesting and engaging,” DeBoer said. “He has expectations for his people. He has high expectations for the brand. And he knows how to meet those

expectations.”

Forty-year veteran Craig McKenzie, SVP of operations, worked closely with Antolock.

“He’s a great people person. He had a great vision and a great mind for business,” McKenzie said. “I was always amazed at spending time with him. He could spend a minimal amount of time inside a store. He could sense and identify what some of the root causes were inside that store.

“He could just walk the perimeter of the store, find where you may be missing some operating profit dollars. It could be a product mix. He could find waste opportunities…in no more than 30 minutes, he’d be able to identify those areas of the operation.”

McKenzie shared another memory of Antolock: “When he first came on to Harris Teeter, he said, ‘Keep Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays open. I’m going to be visiting

“I think he’s been a big part of who we are the last 20 some odd years. He’s helped us through some difficult times. I spoke earlier about the pandemic, but what we went through and his composure during that time – he was the calm, cool and collected leader.”

– Craig McKenzie, SVP of Operations

stores.’”

“Rod was a great president. He knew how to do grocery. He knew what it took to make money in grocery. He knew what it took to make sure the basics happened. He understood what this business was. If anybody had a Hall of Fame career, it’s Rod. He made Harris Teeter profitable when it was tough to make a profit in the grocery business.”

– Ted Harrington, VP of Human Resources

“Rod is an incredible operator, an incredible merchant. He was a great president. He was such a rare talent that any organization would have benefited by having him. We were lucky enough to get him when we got him. His love for the Carolinas and everything that they bring…it fits his mold to a ‘T’ and we’re all the better for it.”

– Jacob Phares, VP of Real Estate and Construction

As McKenzie recalled, a short time later Fred Morganthall called a meeting on a Thursday.

“Rod was relatively new at the time and Rod didn’t show up for the meeting. Fred called and asked, ‘Where are you at?’ Rod told him, ‘I won’t be there. I explained that I like to visit stores on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. I try to visit stores on these days.’”

Chuck Thompson, SVP of merchandising at Harris Teeter, also worked with Antolock for a long time, including at Albertsons in the San Antonio Division.

“Rod was an incredible teacher…He was very confident in his job, very empowering –not a micromanager,” Thompson said. “That was an incredible strength of his.

“He always told me – and taught anyone around him – that the grocery business is not

a hard business. We try to make it a hard business. But it doesn’t have to be that way. He was just constant on the fact that simplicity always creates better. One of his favorite phrases was ‘more is not better, better is better.’”

Antolock believed that the strength of Harris Teeter comes from the people – those who shop there and the stores’ associates.

“He taught me that it’s all about the people,” Thompson said. “He knew that you have to keep that in mind with every decision you make. It will ensure your people and your business are successful. That stayed with me my entire career. I try to keep those philosophies in my life to this day.”

Taking the helm as president came at a challenging time for Antolock. Morganthall had left not long after Harris Teeter had become part of the Kroger family. Antolock had Please see page 44

From page 41

to find a way to lead the company while navigating a big merger still in its infancy.

“It was a pretty tumultuous time for two mega companies to come together,” McKenzie recalled. “He’s been through some tough situations and came out very successful. He has a unique style of knowing what’s important and coaching us to focus on those things that set Harris Teeter and our people apart. It’s the reason he’s been successful.

“He has never taken a quick win. He’s always focused on the cure…tough decisions, easy decisions, you knew that what he was doing was going to benefit you, your family and your business.”

Being friendly yet authoritative was Antolock’s way. You knew what you had to do and how to get it done, according to Director

Food Industry Hall of Fame Inductee

of Customer Marketing John Robinson.

“He was not flashy. He had a real strong sense of purpose. He communicated his expectations really clearly,” Robinson said.

“When you did something wrong or when he needed you to do something different, you knew it. But he had a gift, he knew how to keep things simple.”

With his decisiveness and level-headed leadership, Antolock remained a humble man. He was known for giving great advice but also to admit when he was wrong.

Chuck Munn, Harris Teeter’s VP of nonperishable merchandising, developed a close relationship with Antolock. Even after retirement, Antolock and Munn can be found on hunting trips.

Munn echoed a sentiment that the customer helped guide the decision of the overall

Please see page 46

“Rod inspires people to be their very best. He is an innovator, he has very high standards and wants to operate first-in-class stores with respect to the products that are offered and the method in which stores are run. He really inspires the best in people.”

– Taryn Mecia, VP of Legal Compliance

“Rod created a working environment where relationships were important and valued. He knew the value of not just working together but working together well with all our retail locations and supplier community. We make sure that they know that we have their interest at heart and are thinking of them in the decisions we make every day.”

– Chuck Thompson, SVP of Merchandising

Rod Antolock with the Harris Teeter aviation team

Food Industry Hall of Fame Inductee

From page 44

company. “We always said there are no registers in the corporate office or the warehouse. All the registers are out there. At the end of the day, the customer makes the decision in the store through the registers.

“I think the point of view is, you’re going to see things. I think the reason he was in stores so much was he felt really comfortable out there. People would see him and he was not scary…if he was here in the room, you wouldn’t know he was the president of the company.

“Some presidents are scary, but you could talk to him about anything. That’s anybody. That’s the executive team. That’s the courtesy clerk and the customers. And the whole time he is listening… Rod knew the simple fact that if it didn’t look right here, it’s not going to look right in the next store and probably not in the other 257 stores.”

Antolock is enjoying retirement. He’s reportedly spending much more time with his family, as well as fishing and hunting.

“I love sports. So, when I think of the Hall of Fame, a couple of things jump out at me – longevity, best in class, teamwork and how you measure yourself against your peers. Those are all attributes where I would say that Rod checks every box. He’s been good – if not great – for a long time.”

– Mark Finocchio, president of Pinnacle Food Sales

Rod Antolock

“Rod was able to spend 22 years in various roles at Harris Teeter, making a difference in each one. He’s a super person. He obviously dedicated his career, his life to the grocery industry…his focus was on creating a great experience for associates and customers throughout that timeframe. He’ll always be in my Hall of Fame, on my Mount Rushmore.”

– John Robinson, Director of Customer Marketing

“Rod Antolock helped change Harris Teeter. He came in and made it simple. Retaught the business where he’d already seen tremendous amounts of success in the industry…We would not be where we are today without Rod. He brings a grace about himself. He’s very humble.”

– Chuck Munn, VP of Non-Perishable Merchandising

“Rod was a humble leader that really got us where we needed to be, whether it be during the years that he served in normal times or during the pandemic. He brought just a calmness to the organization…it was really nice to have a leader that just kept us grounded, took pride in what we were doing and then acknowledged we were heading in the right direction.”

– Rory Snavely, VP of Distribution

“He drove this organization. When we look at the financials of where we were before he came on board, we were middle of the pack. He drove that performance across the years through both his leadership and that of Fred [Morganthall II]. It allowed us to grow the brand, allowed us to invest in our associates, and in the customer experience.”

– Scott Nations, Chief Financial Officer

John Burgess and Rod Antolock