Harris Teeter Wins 2009 Retail Beef Backer^® Chain Award

Regional Chain Recognized for Outstanding Beef Marketing and Merchandising

Posted to BeefRetail.org in conjunction with March 2010 issue of Retail Beef Blast.

The Beef Checkoff Program announced Harris Teeter as the winner of the 2009 Retail Beef Backer^® Award in the large chain category. Harris Teeter, headquartered in Matthews, NC, employs more than 21,000 associates and has 194 stores in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia. The company was recognized for their outstanding beef marketing and merchandising.

Pictured above from left to right: Ashley Williams, North Carolina Cattlemen’s Beef Council; Bryan K. Blinson, North Carolina Cattlemen’s Beef Council; Jon Gardner, Harris Teeter Supermarkets; Luke LaPerriere, Harris Teeter Supermarkets

“We are very pleased to receive this year’s Retail Beef Backer Award,” said Luke LaPerriere, vice president of meat merchandising and operations for Harris Teeter. “It is an honor to be recognized for our merchandising efforts. In 2010 we will once again strive to provide value and top-quality products for our customers. We look forward to another successful year as we continue tying into beef checkoff-funded promotions.”

Harris Teeter participated in several beef checkoff-funded programs and also implemented their own retailer-initiated programs.

These programs include:
• Summer Grilling 2009: Harris Teeter featured beef in every circular throughout the summer. They also participated in the "Welcome Back Steak" and "Grill It and Save" beef checkoff-funded programs.
• On-Pack Nutrition Labeling: Harris Teeter continues to implement a company-wide on-pack nutritional labeling program highlighting the positive health attributes of beef.
• Lean Section: Harris Teeter conducted a Lean Section pilot test, funded in part by the beef checkoff, in 10 stores for 10 weeks.
• Middle Meat Promotions: The company conducted an extremely successful middle meat promotion including coupon mailings, print and tv advertising and hot feature prices on beef including 41 front page and 51 inside ad promotions of middle meats.
• Holiday Roasts: Harris Teeter used the 2008 holidays as an opportunity to introduce an underutilized beef cut, the Rancher/Reserve Angus Steakhouse Striploin Roast. They introduced the new roast with a direct mailer, on-pack labeling, and a promotional insert in their circular.
• Beef Alternative Merchandising (BAM): Harris Teeter launched the Top Sirloin Filet BAM cut with point-of-sale materials and on-pack recipes for the top sirloin filet, roast and steaks.
• Tailgating Promotion: The company also teamed up with the Carolina Panthers^® and the Washington Redskins^® for a tailgate celebration promotion to launch the 2009 National Football League^® (NFL) season.
• Training: As a company focused on customer service, Harris Teeter launched a Meat Expert Training Program to drive sales at the full-service counter.

This is the second time Harris Teeter has won a Beef Backer Award. They won in the chain category in 2007.

Congratulations, Harris Teeter!