A long-simmering cold-cut conflict is picking up again, as Dietz & Watson, the meat maker dropped by Harris Teeter, says the grocery chain backed out of a deal to carry its pre-packaged meats.
Philadelphia-based Dietz & Watson has vocally opposed Harris Teeter's chainwide switch to Boar's Head brand premium deli meats since the grocery announced the move last summer, fighting back with a ramped-up advertising campaign in the Charlotte area.
D&W says the grocery chain, second to Wal-Mart in Charlotte market share, agreed this spring to carry D&W's packaged offerings – such as hot dogs, sausages and resealable packs of high-end deli meats – while still switching fresh-sliced meats to Boar's Head.
But that agreement fell apart at the last minute, says D&W president and CEO Louis Eni, after his company had designed new items specifically for Harris Teeter, such as a line of pre-cooked bacon.
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