Regional US retailer Harris Teeter has said talks with a number of companies about an acquisition of the group are “ongoing”.

The retail group confirmed it was exploring a possible sale of the company in February. At the time Harris Teeter said it was approached by two private-equity firms that had expressed an interest in purchasing the company.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Since then, Dutch retailer Ahold and US supermarket group Publix have been reported to be interested in purchasing the company.

In a securities filing this week, Harris Teeter said it was holding discussions with “certain parties” regarding “strategic alternatives”.

“These discussions are continuing; however, there can be no assurance that these discussions will result in any transaction. If a transaction were entered into, there can be no assurance regarding the price, timing or other terms of such transaction. The company does not plan to provide any additional information until discussions are concluded.”

The retailer last week revealed a drop in operating profit as higher costs more than offset sales gains in the first half.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Sales edged up in the six months to 2 April, climbing to US$2.33bn, up from $2.23bn in the prior year, while operating profit was dented by higher selling expenses, dropping to $96.77m from $98.75m.

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact