Triangle grocery wars claim a victim as a Harris Teeter in Cary will close
Harris Teeter is closing its store at High House Crossing in Cary.
The store, which has 57 employees, will close Sept. 16, according to a company announcement. The in-store pharmacy will close Aug. 16. Employees will have the opportunity to transfer to other stores in the area. The company owns eight other stores in Cary, including a store 1 1/2 miles from the High House location.
The Matthews-based grocery chain, which is a subsidiary of The Kroger Co., said in an email that the closure of the 20-year-old store was a strategic decision, but gave no further details.
The competition in the Triangle grocery market has intensified over the past few years as new supermarket brands are attracted to the fast-growing Triangle.
Publix now has two stores in Cary and plans for more. Wegmans has also announced plans for two stores in Cary. And the recent acquisition of Whole Foods by Amazon adds another level of uncertainty to the mix.
Some of the area’s top grocery chains are already seeing their market shares eroding as a result of new competition, according to Chain Store Guide.
Three of the top four grocers in the Raleigh market – Walmart Supercenter, Food Lion and Kroger – lost market share from 2014 to 2016, while Sam’s Club, Costco and Publix posted gains.
To prepare for the competition, Harris Teeter has added home delivery services, including for beer and wine, and some locations have added fuel centers selling gasoline.
Its newest Raleigh store, at 4221 Corners Parkway in the Corners at Brier Creek shopping center, will have a sit-down wine and beer bar with 16 beers on tap and a drive-thru pharmacy. That store’s grand opening is at 8 a.m. July 19. It is one of six new stores Harris Teeter plans to open in the Carolinas and Maryland this year.
Harris Teeter opened 10 stores in 2016.
This story was originally published July 12, 2017 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Triangle grocery wars claim a victim as a Harris Teeter in Cary will close."