Aug. 5--Harris Teeter's planned food distribution center and grocery warehouse in King George County is likely to be delayed, and the grocer is still exploring alternatives.

That's according to a news release put out yesterday by the Ruddick Corp., Harris Teeter's parent company. Ruddick's release was part of a quarterly earnings report.

"While the company continues with its due diligence procedures, it is also exploring other alternatives," the release says. "If the new distribution center is pursued, its anticipated construction time frame is expected to be deferred beyond the original contemplated time frame of fiscal 2011 and 2012."

Harris Teeter announced in January that it was buying 100 acres in King George's industrial park to build a $101 million, 500,000-square-foot distribution center. The facility would create 335 jobs with an average annual wage of $38,000 plus benefits.

The grocer would get $3 million in incentives from the county and state over four years.

The grocer was given 90 days to study the project before closing occurred. King George has since granted the company four 30-day extensions, including one this week that goes through the beginning of September.

King George Economic Development Director Nicole Thompson and Board of Supervisors Chairman Joseph Grzeika said the county assumes that the project is going forward.

"To the best of my knowledge, I don't know any reason why it's not going to be here," Grzeika said. "We're moving forward as planned."

Grzeika added that, "The economy's put a wrinkle into everything."

Harris Teeter spokeswoman Jennifer Thompson said the company is doing its due diligence and making sure the site is a good fit.

Ruddick's earnings report notes that Harris Teeter plans to continue the "expansion of its existing markets, including the Washington, D.C., metro market area which incorporates Northern Virginia."

But it also notes that the grocer has "reduced or delayed the number of new store openings originally planned for the current year, as well as for fiscal 2010 and beyond due to the current economic environment."

Harris Teeter already has stores in Warrenton and Manassas, and it leases industrial space in two Spotsylvania County locations. The North Carolina-based grocer has been rumored as a possible buyer for Ukrop's Super Markets, but nothing has materialized on that. -- FLS reporter Cathy Dyson contributed to this report.

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