From Deseret News archives:
Changes help Harmons compete
Professional chefs and sous chefs whipping up gourmet, fresh and organic foods not for a European-style market but for a new Harmons in Draper. The store, at 125 E. 13800 South, will be open to the public at 6 a.m. today.
The 70,000-square-foot venue is the 13th store for the 75-year-old company based in West Valley City, said Bob Harmon, co-owner and a company vice president.
The concepts in the store are the result of research by Harmons management, including visits to grocery stores in Manhattan, Chicago and California.
"The nature of this is you must be competitive to go forward," Harmon said. "We're bringing a choice and an offering to the public."
Harmons management has added some speciality items to its stores in recent years. The Draper store "is one where we were able to bring a lot of those to one location," Harmon said.
"I think it's just more awareness and education," Harmon said. "I think the consumer is becoming more aware of the product, how it's produced and how it's handled by the retailer. I think they're making that choice, and there's more availability of the product."
The Harmons store in Draper will have about 300 new jobs with an annual payroll estimated at $3.5 million.
David Livingston, a grocery-industry analyst for the past 26 years, says the Harmons business strategy is smart.
"They're trying to differentiate themselves against the other conventional operators," said Livingston, of Pewaukee, Wisc.
High-end and organic markets such as Whole Foods are expanding and taking more customers from what Livingston calls the "plain vanilla" grocery stores such as Albertsons and Smith's Marketplace.
"A lot of stores like Albertsons and Smith's have been upgrading over the years," Livingston said. "They're raising the bar of what plain vanilla is."
On the other end of the spectrum, Wal-Mart stores, with ultra-low prices, are also taking customers from traditional grocery stores.
The grocery market is shaped like an hourglass, Livingston said. "The middle-of-the-road, conventional stores those are shrinking."
E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com
Recent comments
I am so glad I live right by this new Harmon's I've been anxiously...
LisA | April 30, 2008 at 7:36 p.m.
Can't wait for the downtown Harmons!!
Catherine | April 29, 2008 at 10:09 a.m.
- U.'s Henderson more than a shooter 10:53 p.m.
- Kearns jumps on T-Birds early 10:49 p.m.
- Knights 'D' powers past Vikes 10:44 p.m.
- NBA roundup: Pistons survive 10:42 p.m.
- Jazz notes: 15th most-valuable team 10:24 p.m.
- Top 25 roundup: Kentucky wins 10:22 p.m.
- No. 4 Kentucky edges No. 14 UConn 10:20 p.m.
- Davis seeking donations for seniors 10:15 p.m.
- Wildcats hold off Montana Tech 10:15 p.m.
- Balanced Utes knock off Michigan 10:14 p.m.
- Hot Rod behind mic for Lakers
- Cougars use depth to beat ASU
- Max Hall wants to look ahead
- Non-BCS schools not given fair shot
- Panel passes BCS playoff bill
- Psychologist: Mitchell schizophrenic
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
- Small plane crashes near Lehi
- Snow brings big chill
- Jazz go up against 'the best'
- Letters: Global warming a lie
229 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
206 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
179 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
147 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
138 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
121 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
119 - Revive full food tax?
100 - Store planning for Palin crush
93
It's probably too late to get them to soldiers stationed overseas in...
Love him or hate him, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch knows how to get attention.
when you consider that the team is mainly composed of freshmen & sophmores....
Nice job Marshall! Keep up the good work!
It's nice that so many fans turned out to get Palin's book. I just hope it...
Reservation 9:43 raises a good question. They have compared Fuji apples to...
Nixon is washed up
That's so great. It's the same feeling I had when I found out there is no God...
Tonights loss I blame on everyone coaches and every player Every one of...
This is a young, inexperienced team with good talent. This means that the...
Emery is an athletic freak of nature. I remember his freshman year, he was...
@Radical Moderate 6:16 p.m.: "What gives YOU the right to put more smoke...


