From the Harris Teeter website:
In 1984, Food World, a successful supermarket chain headquartered in Greensboro, NC, was purchased by Ruddick and merged with Harris Teeter. Food World was started in 1917 by George E. Hutchens of High Point, NC. Food World's market covered much of central North Carolina and parts of Virginia. The merger increased Harris Teeter's coverage to four states and 7,000 associates, making it the second largest food chain in the Carolinas.
Food World added 52 stores, a distribution center and nearly 3,000 associates to Harris Teeter.
http://www.harristeeter.com/about_us/history.aspx