Monday, September 23, 2002

Wilmington, NC – Harris Teeter, Inc., and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington today announced a pilot partnership to take the successful pre-k, k-12 “Together in Education” program to college to benefit UNCW students.

At a news conference on the UNCW campus, Harris Teeter president Fred J. Morganthall II explained that the first collegiate partnership will allow VIC card customers to designate UNCW to receive a portion of the proceeds on Harris Teeter brand merchandize.

“This is an exciting day for Harris Teeter,” said Mr. Morganthall. “Educating our children has been a top priority to since our first day of business. Each year we give thousands of dollars to pre-schools, elementary, middle and high schools through our Together in Education program.

“In the 2001-02 school year, we gave over $1 million to schools throughout our market areas. We’ve given almost $3 million to schools since the program began in 1998. And today, we’re pleased to announce that we are taking the next step.”

Continuing its commitment to education, Mr. Morganthall announced a $10,000 gift from Harris Teeter Inc. to the North Carolina Legacy Hall, a museum focusing on the contributions of the state’s teachers that will be a focal point in the new $14 million, 85,000-square-foot education facilities currently under construction. He also noted that Harris Teeter will match all funds raised through the UNCW “Together in Education” partnership to go toward the North Carolina Legacy Hall.

Schools superintendents have praised the “Together in Education” program as being an excellent example of how business partnerships work to benefit students.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Pat Leonard urged UNCW students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends to link their VIC cards to the program by giving the cashier the UNCW account code, which is 5034. She said proceeds from the “Together in Education” program will be used to enhance student projects.

“UNCW is honored to be selected to participate in this partnership with Harris Teeter,” said Vice Chancellor Leonard. “I hope our community members will show gratitude for this opportunity by participating in the program. The funds provided by this partnership will be used to enrich campus life for our students. Students will be actively involved in making recommendations regarding how the money should be used.”

Harris Teeter customers at any of its 142 retail stores in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida may designate the UNCW code and participate in the program.

About UNCW

Located between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington is committed to becoming the best undergraduate teaching university in the South. An internationally recognized undergraduate marine biology program, coupled with a modern facility for its Center for Marine Science and a new Ph.D. program in marine biology, has put UNCW at the forefront of research to learn how the world's oceans affect human health and quality of life. In addition, the university has a critically acclaimed Creative Writing Department that attracts Pulitzer Prize-winning visiting writers and a growing Film Studies major that works closely with Wilmington-based EUE Screen Gems Studios and other productions filmed locally, such as Dawson's Creek which often uses the university's campus as a filming location. For more information, go to www.uncw.edu.

About Harris Teeter, Inc.

Harris Teeter, Inc., with headquarters in Matthews, N.C., is a subsidiary of Ruddick Corporation (NYSE:RDK). Harris Teeter is ranked as one of the top 50 largest supermarkets in the United States with fiscal year 2001 sales of $2.4 billion. The grocery store chain employs about 14,000 people and has 142 stores in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida.