The grocer in 16 neighborhoods: Harmons continuing its legacy of quality and value.

• Author: Little, Candace M.
• Position: Company Profile - Company overview

With its 14th, 15th and 16th stores in progress, and an expected 500 jobs to add to the Utah economy, this Utah's Own company is not only a local business itself, but it also promotes other Utah's Own products. Harmons is a 78-year-old family-owned business in the hands of its third and fourth generations. Bob Harmon, vice president for the customer, says in order to understand Harmons now, it's helpful to understand where it's been.

Harmons first began when Bob's grandparents--a young husband and wife (Jake and Irene Harmon)--sold produce from a fruit stand on 3300 South and Main Street in Salt Lake City. Harmon says hard work and the American Dream was infused into Jake and Jake's siblings, many of whom started their own businesses. One of Jake's younger brothers opened Utah's first Kentucky Fried Chicken after meeting Colonel Sanders and tasting his chicken. The Harmon family quickly showed a knack for finding quality products and bringing them to the community.

But the business of doing just that didn't come without adversity. Jack and Irene's stand was demolished when a truck ran into the back half of the structure, but it didn't keep them away from the grocery business for long and they built their first store, continually adding on throughout the years. When that store burned to the ground, the Harmon children drew upon their parents' example of endurance and reopened, determined to continue serving the community and living out their parents' legacy.

Bob Harmon grew up in the grocery business--one of his first memories of the store is riding inside a grocery basket while his brother pushed the cart through the aisles. Of course as both he and his brother got older, their role in the family business became a little more serious. Even with his early emersion to the world of produce and life as a grocer's son, Harmon says he was still surprised by a few things.

"I was blown away by all of the people it takes," he says. "People think a store is a simple process--a supplier brings the food, the store stocks the shelves, and customers go and buy it--but it's so much more than that, and what's surprised me is how many people it actually takes who care enough to get your food to your table."

And those caring people are exactly what Harmon says has made his grandfather's store an ongoing success. "We've been taught that if you're good to your employees and to your customers, they'll be good to you--and we have great people at Harmons--the...