Harmons Marks 77 Years as Utah’s Neighborhood Grocer

Doreen Harmon, And all the Harmon Family

It all started in 1932 with a young couple who sold local produce from a fruit stand in Salt Lake City. Now four generations later Harmons Grocery Stores has grown to 13 stores, and is ranked as Utah 16th largest privately-owned company headquartered in Utah,* employing 2,230 people and investing $71 million in Utah’s economy through salaries, benefits and training for its associates. Harmons is celebrating 77 years in business.

“We take great pride in the growth that our family-owned business has seen over 77 years in Utah,” says Bob Harmon, company vice president and grandson of founders Jake and Irene Harmon. “It’s also rather exciting to look at the impact that Harmons makes on Utah’s economy and its people. Last year Harmons invested more than $246,000,000 in goods and services from more than 700 locally-owned food distributors, manufacturers and service providers in Utah. And, a large percentage of those dollars stayed in the state because we make an effort to support local businesses.”

Harmons employs 150 - 200 associates in each store including chefs, butchers, bakers and food experts who prepare Harmons’ signature made-from-scratch artisan breads, and specialty meat, produce and delicatessen items from the freshest ingredients.

“We have certainly evolved over the past 77 years and created a different kind of grocery store in Utah,” adds Harmon. “You can shop our stores and get great prices on the basics like milk, cereal and bread. But, Harmons’ real value to our customers is that we eliminate the middleman whenever possible and train our associates to produce countless fresh items in our stores that taste better, last longer and are consequently more nutritious than food shipped from a grocery commissary located hundreds of miles away.”

For the 2009 birthday celebration the Harmon family is saying thank you to the community for 77 years of support by donating $1,000 to the Utah Food Bank and encouraging those who can, to purchase Harmons’ $10 pre-filled Food for Families bags and drop them in Utah Food Bank barrels placed at the front of Harmons’ stores.

Harmons is now working on plans for new stores and continues to reinvest in updating its existing stores. A fourth generation of Harmons is currently working in various positions across the company, fulfilling the wishes of their grandfather and great-grandfather to develop a deep understanding of the grocery business.

“We intend to continue our investment in the state that has been so good to us, and plan to remain a local, family-owned company,” adds Harmon. “We have the best customers and will continue to deliver everything they expect and more for many years to come.”

Visit their website to locate their stores: www.harmonsgrocery.com