Harris Teeter Introduces Happier, Healthier with Harris Teeter Initiative to Support Healthier Living

Rhea-AI Summary

Harris Teeter (KR) launched the Happier, Healthier with Harris Teeter initiative on Dec. 30, 2025, rolling out in January across stores and digital channels.

Key elements include the new Simple Truth™ Protein product line (breakfast, snacks, meals, powder), enhanced smart product tags (high protein, no added sugar, non-GMO, gluten free), FoodHealth Score data in the app, OptUP® Nutrition Insights, and a free 30-minute virtual nutrition coaching session for every VIC card household (not available in South Carolina).

Key Figures

Virtual nutrition coaching 30-minute session Free virtual consultation for each VIC card household

Program kickoff period January Happier, Healthier initiative launches throughout January

Protein product line Simple Truth Protein New protein-focused line across breakfast, snacks and meals

FoodHealth Score Product scoring system Scores items based on nutrient density and ingredient quality

OptUP Nutrition Insights Nutrition tracking tool Enables customers to understand and track nutritional value of purchases

KR share price $62.71 Price before wellness initiative announcement

Price vs 52-week high -16.28% Distance from 52-week high of $74.9 prior to news

Market capitalization $40,027,709,370 KR market cap before this announcement

Market Reality Check

$62.48 Last Close

Volume Volume 4,622,389 vs 20-day average 7,088,841 ahead of this wellness-focused news. low

Technical Shares at $62.71 are trading below the $67.94 200-day moving average, about 16.28% under the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

KR fell 0.85% while key peers were mixed: ACI up 0.46%, SFM up 1.2%, TGT down 1.37%, WMK down 0.11%, GO down 0.78%, suggesting stock-specific factors rather than a broad grocery move.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 23	Share repurchase	Positive	+0.0%	Board approved additional <b>$2.0B</b> buyback, lifting remaining authorization to <b>$2.9B</b>.
Dec 10	Product promotion	Positive	-2.6%	Murray’s Cheese holiday program and nationwide offerings announced across Kroger stores.
Dec 04	Real estate project	Positive	-4.6%	Partners bought <b>70-acre</b> site for Kroger-anchored center in larger mixed-use project.
Dec 04	Quarterly earnings	Negative	-4.6%	Q3 results with <b>$33.9B</b> sales, large automated network impairment and GAAP loss.
Dec 01	Seasonal promotion	Positive	+0.4%	Launch of <b>12 Merry Days</b> digital coupon event running through mid-December.

Pattern Detected

Recent promotional and product news has often seen muted or negative next-day reactions, while capital return and earnings updates have aligned more closely with their tone.

Recent Company History

Over the last month, Kroger announced several initiatives and financial updates. On Dec 23, a new $2.0B buyback authorization lifted total capacity to about $2.9B remaining and saw a flat 0.02% move. Earlier, holiday promotions and specialty offerings, including Murray’s Cheese programs and the 12 Merry Days event, drew mixed reactions, with moves from -2.64% to +0.4%. Third-quarter 2025 results, featuring $33.9B in sales and large impairment charges, coincided with a -4.62% move. Today’s wellness initiative fits the pattern of brand- and customer-experience news following heavier financial disclosures.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Harris Teeter’s storewide wellness strategy under Kroger, combining a new Simple Truth protein line, smart tags and digital tools like the FoodHealth Score with free 30-minute virtual dietitian sessions. It follows a series of recent promotions and financial updates, including Q3 2025 results with significant impairment charges. Investors may watch how these wellness offerings support customer loyalty and e-commerce engagement alongside ongoing capital return plans and network optimization.

Key Terms

non-GMO technical

"enhanced smart product attribute tagging (including high protein, no added sugar, non-GMO and gluten free)"

Non-GMO means a product or ingredient was produced without genetic modification techniques — the plant or organism’s DNA has not been intentionally altered in a laboratory. Investors care because non-GMO labeling can affect consumer demand, price premiums, shelf access and supply-chain cost; think of it like an organic or “no added hormones” label that can open certain markets, change margins, and create reputational risk or advantage for companies.

gluten free medical

"enhanced smart product attribute tagging (including high protein, no added sugar, non-GMO and gluten free)"

A "gluten free" label states that a food product meets defined safety standards for very low or undetectable levels of gluten — the protein found in wheat, barley and rye — so it is safe for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. For investors, that certification affects who can buy the product, the ability to charge a premium, and exposure to recall or regulatory risk, much like a "nut‑free" label opens a product to allergy‑sensitive customers.

registered dietitian medical

"virtual nutrition consultation with a licensed registered dietitian—at no cost"

A registered dietitian is a licensed health professional who has completed accredited education, supervised practice and exams to assess nutritional needs and create evidence-based meal and medical nutrition plans. For investors, their involvement signals scientific credibility, regulatory compliance and stronger consumer trust for food, supplement or healthcare products—like having a certified engineer on a product team, reducing risk and supporting reliable claims.

FoodHealth Score technical

"use the new FoodHealth Score, powered by FoodHealth Company, in the Harris Teeter app"

A foodhealth score is a single-number rating that summarizes how nutritious or healthy a packaged food or menu item is, based on factors like calories, sugar, salt, saturated fat, fiber and presence of whole ingredients. Think of it as a credit score for food: higher numbers indicate healthier choices and lower numbers signal less-healthy options. Investors watch these scores because they influence consumer buying, brand reputation, labeling rules and reformulation decisions that can affect sales and regulatory risk.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Explore healthier choices with the new Simple Truth™ Protein line, smart product tags, FoodHealth Scores data and a free 30-minute virtual nutrition coaching session exclusively for VIC card members

DIGITAL ASSETS

MATTHEWS, N.C., Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Harris Teeter announces the launch of its 'Happier, Healthier with Harris Teeter' initiative, a comprehensive, storewide approach to help customers achieve their health and wellness goals. The Happier, Healthier initiative spans every aisle, from pharmacy expertise and nutrition coaching to fresh high-quality produce, a new line of protein-packed items and a wide selection of products made without unwanted ingredients.

Happier, Healthier with Harris Teeter kicks off throughout January with the launch of Harris Teeter's new Simple Truth™ Protein line, enhanced smart product attribute tagging (including high protein, no added sugar, non-GMO and gluten free), new digital tools that include the FoodHealth Score data, and a free 30-minute virtual visit with a Harris Teeter dietitian for every VIC card household, making it easier than ever for customers to pursue their wellness journey with Harris Teeter.

"Our customers are looking for ways to improve their overall health and achieve their wellness goals," said Danna Robinson, director of corporate affairs and customer relations for Harris Teeter. "Happier, Healthier with Harris Teeter is designed to equip every customer with the tools and information they need to make smarter, more informed nutrition decisions. By helping people take meaningful steps toward healthier eating, we're making it easier to support their total well-being."

Simple Truth™ Protein Line
The Simple Truth™ Protein line spans breakfast, snacks, meals and meal components, giving customers convenient, nutritious choices that are packed with protein and free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Offering on-the-go convenience and workout recovery, to heat-and-eat meals and pantry staples, customers can satisfy cravings, while reaching their protein goals. New offerings include these registered dietitian-approved products:

• Simple Truth™ Protein Cheddar & Mozzarella Cheese Egg Bites
• Simple Truth™ Protein Hazelnut-Filled Protein Pancakes
• Simple Truth™ Protein Roasted Red Pepper and Lentil Soup
• Simple Truth™ Protein Brownie Mix
• Simple Truth™ Protein Grassfed Whey Protein Powder

A full list of Simple Truth™ Protein products available at Harris Teeter can be found here.

Free Nutrition Coaching for Every VIC Card Household
Every VIC card household has access to one 30-minute virtual nutrition consultation with a licensed registered dietitian—at no cost and from anywhere customers can connect online (nutrition services not available in South Carolina). The session will cover healthy eating and meal planning tips, along with trusted wellness support, to help customers jump-start their 2026 health and wellness goals. Dietitians will show how Harris Teeter customers can access and use the new FoodHealth Score, powered by FoodHealth Company, in the Harris Teeter app, which scores products based on the nutrient density and quality of ingredients in the food. They'll also introduce OptUP® Nutrition Insights, where customers can better understand the nutritional value of purchases, while tracking them over time.

To schedule a visit with a registered dietitian, VIC Card Members can visit: https://harristeeter.com/freenutrition.

For more information about Harris Teeter, visit harristeeter.com and stay connected on Instagram and Facebook.

ABOUT HARRIS TEETER 

For more than 60 years, Harris Teeter, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), has enriched lives—one meal, one family, one associate, and one community at a time. Headquartered in Matthews, N.C., Harris Teeter employs 36,000 valued associates across more than 250 stores and 70 fuel centers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida, and the District of Columbia. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/harris-teeter-introduces-happier-healthier-with-harris-teeter-initiative-to-support-healthier-living-302650786.html

SOURCE Harris Teeter

FAQ

What is Harris Teeter's Happier, Healthier initiative and when does it start (KR)?

The initiative is a storewide health program launching in January 2026 that adds Simple Truth™ Protein products, smart product tags, FoodHealth Score data, and free VIC card nutrition coaching.

What Simple Truth™ Protein products did Harris Teeter (KR) introduce?

New items include Protein Cheddar & Mozzarella Egg Bites, Hazelnut-Filled Protein Pancakes, Roasted Red Pepper & Lentil Soup, Protein Brownie Mix, and Grassfed Whey Protein Powder.

How can VIC card holders schedule the free 30-minute nutrition coaching from Harris Teeter (KR)?

VIC card households can schedule the complimentary 30-minute virtual visit by visiting https://harristeeter.com/freenutrition; service is not available in South Carolina.

What is the FoodHealth Score and how will Harris Teeter (KR) use it?

The FoodHealth Score, available in the Harris Teeter app, rates products by nutrient density and ingredient quality to help customers make informed choices.

Will Harris Teeter (KR) label products with dietary attributes as part of the initiative?

Yes; the rollout includes enhanced smart product attribute tagging such as high protein, no added sugar, non-GMO, and gluten free.

Are the new Simple Truth™ Protein items available in all Harris Teeter stores (KR)?

The Simple Truth™ Protein line begins rolling out in January 2026 across Harris Teeter stores and digital channels; availability may vary by location.