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Harmons Grocery Stores has grown from a fruit stand in West Valley City to a few supermarkets in the Salt Lake Valley to a 16-store, statewide chain with an emphasis on fresh foods.
To celebrate its transformation and 80-year anniversary, the grocer will feature free pie and ice cream, and giveaways from noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 4 and 11-12, along with its annual birthday food drive for needy families.
The homey touch is a natural for brothers Bob and Randy Harmon, the grandsons of founders Jake and Irene Harmon. They say the latest reinvention of the family-owned business began about a decade ago when they decided to move away from a big-box store format that offered food prepared and shipped from distribution centers.
Instead, the Harmons looked at shortening the time it takes to get fresh produce, meat, fish, dairy and baked goods to each store. They began grinding their own beef and creating freshly ground pork, chicken sausages and brats. They also offered fresh, all-natural turkey and chicken.
Another addition was its artisan breads, made from scratch onsite.
The concept required more employees to create hand-crafted foods and to educate shoppers.
"We work closely with our growers and food producers so that we have a much shorter window from crop to shop," said Bob Harmon. "We receive and shelve our produce six days a week — which is not the norm in the industry. We also get fresh meat and fish brought in daily, and more frequent dairy deliveries, as well."
That means the food "will last longer until our customers are ready to serve it," added Randy Harmon. "The food is more nutritious and it tastes better."
Dave Davis, president of the Utah Food Industry Association, said Harmons has focused "on providing a food experience. You can see that commitment from its cooking centers, to seating areas, to the way the store is laid out in their newer facilities. They also offer exotic types of things, from expansive olive and cheese bars to gelato stands. There's a lot of variety in their markets."
Today, the chain employes nearly 2,800 associates, representing an investment this year of more than $76 million in wages, salaries, benefits and training. Harmons also is known for its contributions to the Utah Food Bank, Special Olympics Utah, the National MS Society and other charities. And, it recycles cardboard and paper and sends green waste to a local compost organization.
The chain also has built different types of stores to suit various communities. In Salt Lake City, its Emigration Market is a small neighborhood store and at City Creek Center downtown there's a teeming new urban store. In suburban Farmington, there's an expansive supermarket at the sprawling Station Park shopping center at the intersection of Interstate 15, U.S. 89, Legacy Parkway and FrontRunner commuter rail line. All have opened within the past year.
"It's in our DNA to push, to keep growing," said Bob Harmon. And that "is a good reason to pause," interjected his older brother Randy.
The Harmons say they don't anticipate opening more stores right away. They want to concentrate on making sure that each store achieves a uniform standard of excellence.
In the future, the Harmons are looking at providing more customized service through digital devices, enabling shoppers to quickly retrieve coupons and recipes, and shortening the truck-to-shelf time for its packaged foods.
The chain operates stores in the Salt Lake Valley, Farmington, Orem, Ogden, Roy and St. George. Its corporate offices are in West Valley City, not far from their grandparents' store where the brothers grew up sweeping floors and stocking shelves.
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Harmons Grocery Stores' 80th anniversary
During the two-week celebration, Harmons will feature in-store events:
Pie and ice cream, giveaways • noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 4 and Aug. 11-12
Donate • $10 in groceries to needy families. Drop-off barrels at front of stores