Harris Teeter Seen Worthy of Best Price Since Pathmark: Real M&A

Harris Teeter Supermarkets Inc., the U.S. grocery-store chain that’s boosted sales every year for a decade, is poised to secure the industry’s highest takeover valuation since 2007.

The $2.1 billion company said this month it hired JPMorgan Chase & Co. to advise on talks with suitors after two private-equity firms expressed interest in acquiring the Matthews, North Carolina-based chain. Royal Ahold NV, the Dutch owner of Stop & Shop and Peapod in the U.S. Northeast, also is interested, people with knowledge of the matter said last week.