| Ruddick Corporation is a holding company that, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Harris Teeter, Inc. and American & Efird, Inc. (A&E), is engaged in the primary businesses of regional supermarket operations and industrial sewing thread manufacturing and distribution, respectively. As of September 28, 2003, Harris Teeter operated 140 supermarkets located in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida. These supermarkets offer a full assortment of groceries, produce, meat and seafood, delicatessen items, bakery items, wines and non-food items such as health and beauty care and floral. A&E is a manufacturer and distributor of sewing thread, produced from natural and synthetic fibers, for worldwide industrial and consumer markets. |
