Matthews, North Carolina-based Harris Teeter today announced President Rod Antolock’s retirement, effective Feb. 1. He will be succeeded by Tammy DeBoer, currently Harris Teeter’s SVP of merchandising, operations and marketing.
Antolock has been with the company almost 22 years.
“Rod’s leadership has been instrumental to the growth and success of Harris Teeter for more than two decades. His commitment to customer service and quality will continue to guide Harris Teeter into the future,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO.
Antolock joined Harris Teeter in 2000, and he has served in numerous executive positions, including SVP of operations and SVP of operations and merchandising. He was promoted to EVP in 2012, where he led several teams, including merchandising, operations, marketing, human resources, loss prevention, store development, quality assurance and distribution and manufacturing.
He was named president of Harris Teeter in 2015. Prior to joining Harris Teeter, Antolock served in various leadership roles for the Albertsons Cos. between 1978 and 2000.
During his time with Harris Teeter, Antolock led the development of the company’s “Service Excellence” customer engagement model and introduced new ways of operating, including an urban upscale model, expanded store format and a model store walk concept. Under his leadership, Harris Teeter also expanded into multiple geographies, including Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Delaware.
In his retirement, Antolock and his wife look forward to traveling and spending time at their lake house.
DeBoer promoted to president
DeBoer has been promoted to president of the company, succeeding Antolock.
She has more than 25 years of retail experience. DeBoer joined Harris Teeter in 2020, leading operations, merchandising and marketing and overseeing the company’s 258 stores across seven states and Washington, D.C.
Previously, DeBoer served as an executive with Family Dollar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dollar Tree Inc., where she most recently served as the organization’s EVP and chief merchandising officer. Prior to joining Family Dollar, she spent 19 years with Delhaize, where she held various leadership roles in merchandising and operations and led the company through acquisitions and introduction of pilot stores.
“Tammy is a seasoned veteran of the retail industry. Her broad and deep experience, including brand transformation, merchandising, operations and more, make her a true asset to Harris Teeter and the leading choice to assume the role of president,” said Mary Ellen Adcock, Kroger’s SVP of operations.
DeBoer has been recognized several times as “One of the Most Influential Women in Mass Market Retail” by MMR, The Griffin Report listed her as a “Top Female Executive in the Grocery Industry” and the Mecklenburg Times recognized her as one of the “50 Most Influential Women in Charlotte.”
She holds a bachelor’s degree in technology from Appalachian State University and completed the Supermarket Business Executive course with Cornell University.
Harris Teeter is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. The regional grocery chain employs approximately 35,000 associates and operates stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia.
