Harris Teeter 2002 Annual Report Download - page 9

of our goals. We run multi-week promotions to
encourage shopper loyalty throughout the entire year.
We believe that these programs have been very successful
in driving sales growth, and we expect to continue to
offer our customers the opportunity to earn additional
rewards next year.
Our VIC program also provides us
with information about our customers’
shopping habits and preferences, allowing us to
customize our offerings to them and better serve their
needs. We know who our customers are, and we know
how to provide them with the products and services
they want.
Our core markets are dynamic, fast-growing
geographic areas with above-average demographics,
including education, income and affluence. Although
the economic slowdown impacted some of our markets,
we believe that they continue to offer outstanding long-
term prospects. As these areas resume
their expansion, we intend to grow with
them, as we continue to locate our stores
where the growth occurs. Accordingly we opened 12 new
stores last year, remodeled 18 and maintain a leadership
position in those core markets.
We have chosen to take advantage of several strategic
locations available and to open new stores in our core
Ruddick Corporation and Subsidiaries
annual report 2002
page
5
Total Sales
In Billions of Dollars
Operating Profit
In Millions of Dollars
98 99 00 01 02 98 99 00 01 02
2.13 2.27 2.33 2.42 2.35 52.1 55.5 59.1 76.8188.11
1 before non-recurring
items.