From Moving Boxes to Leadership Lessons: What Harris Teeter Can Teach Us About Retail Success

While recently moving my daughter into her new apartment at App State, something unexpected caught my attention. My daughter mentioned how much her roommate enjoys working for Harris Teeter and how she was recently recognized as a Service Excellence Hero of the Month. This made me curious about what makes Harris Teeter, headquartered in my hometown of Matthews, NC, so successful.

Building a Connection

Moving your child to college is a milestone filled with mixed emotions. During this time for my family, my daughter’s roommate’s pride in her job at Harris Teeter got me thinking about the company’s culture and success.

What Can We Learn from Harris Teeter?

Harris Teeter’s approach to employee engagement and customer service offers valuable lessons:

• Employee Well-being: Harris Teeter prioritizes employee health, earning recognition like the 2023 Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation. A healthy workforce directly impacts business success.
• Inclusivity and Diversity: The company creates a welcoming environment where different ideas are valued, leading to innovation and better business outcomes.
• Customer Experience: Happy employees lead to happy customers. Harris Teeter’s commitment to service excellence is shown in how they treat both associates and customers.
• Recognition Programs: Regular recognition, like Employee of the Month awards and Supermarket Employee Day celebrations, helps keep morale high.

Questions for Leaders in Grocery Retail

• Are your employees as enthusiastic about your company as my daughter’s roommate is about Harris Teeter?
• What steps are you taking to make sure your team feels valued and supported?

Call to Action

As leaders, we must create places where employees can thrive. Harris Teeter’s approach shows that investing in your team pays off in customer satisfaction and business success.

Final Thought

Seeing my daughter’s roommate so proud of her recognition reminded me that the backbone of any successful retailer is its people. Harris Teeter’s focus on well-being, inclusivity, and recognition is something leaders in retail can learn from. A happy team leads to happy customers.