Harris Teeter is closing 60 stores by the end of 2026 as Kroger trims its grocery footprint, with 39 locations across nine banners already shuttered as of mid-August. Harris Teeter, one of Kroger’s 20-plus grocery banners, has confirmed six closures so far, affecting stores in Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina.
Kroger disclosed the 60-store closure plan in its first-quarter 2025 earnings release, describing the move as part of a broader effort to shed underperforming locations. The company took a $100 million impairment charge tied to the closures and said the restructuring would deliver a “modest financial benefit” to be reinvested into customer experience.
Harris Teeter operates roughly 260 stores across eight states, with North Carolina home to the largest concentration at over 150 locations. The chain’s closures in North Carolina include the Mintworth Commons location in Charlotte, which shut down in April after what Harris Teeter described as a “careful consideration and strategic market review.” Employees at affected stores are being offered positions at nearby locations.
Kroger Chairman and interim CEO Ron Sargent framed the restructuring in the company’s earnings call, stating: “We’re simplifying our business and reviewing areas that will not be meaningful to our future growth. Unfortunately, today, not all of our stores are delivering the sustainable results we need.”
The Harris Teeter closures are part of a larger Kroger overhaul. Beyond Harris Teeter’s six confirmed closures, the 39 shuttered locations span Kroger, Fred Meyer, Fry’s Food and Drug, Jay C Food Stores, King Soopers, Mariano’s, Pick ‘n Save, and QFC banners across 15 states. Roughly 21 additional closures remain to be announced before year-end.
The move comes as Kroger restructures following the collapse of its $24.6 billion merger with Albertsons in December 2024. Federal and state courts blocked the deal on antitrust grounds, leaving Kroger to pursue a standalone optimization strategy. Kroger’s broader store closure plan reflects the company’s shift toward focusing resources on higher-performing markets and newer formats.
Similar consolidation patterns are visible across the grocery industry, with other chains also closing underperforming locations as consumer spending shifts and competition intensifies. Harris Teeter’s closures reflect broader challenges in traditional grocery retail, where smaller, older stores often struggle to compete with newer formats and e-commerce alternatives.
Sources
- Inc. Magazine — Harris Teeter store closure count, affected locations, and company background on 260-store footprint.
- MassLive — Kroger’s 60-store closure plan, $100 million impairment charge, Ron Sargent quote, and complete list of 39 closed locations across nine banners.
- Fox Business — Confirmation of Harris Teeter closures as part of Kroger’s broader overhaul.
- The Independent — Status of 39 closed locations across 15 states as of mid-August 2026.
- The Sun — Harris Teeter’s Mintworth Commons Charlotte closure details and strategic market review rationale.
