Harps Food Stores to buy 18 grocery stores in Tennessee, Kentucky

Springdale-based grocer Harps Food Stores Inc. plans to acquire 18 stores from Joey and Jeanie Hays, owners of Dyer Foods, an independent grocery retailer with multiple locations across western Tennessee and Kentucky. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The stores that will be acquired are in the following Tennessee towns: Alamo, Bells, Brownsville, Covington, Dyersburg, Halls, Henderson, Humboldt, Jackson, Millington, Newbern, Somerville, Tiptonville and Trenton. A store in Fulton, Ky., is also part of the deal.

“We are excited to be able to acquire these stores from the Hays Family,” said Kim Eskew, chairman and CEO of Harps Food Stores. “We love small stores in small towns, and these stores fit our strategy perfectly. We have the greatest respect for what the Hays family and their staff have been able to accomplish and look forward to having this great group of people join our company.”

Dyer Foods’ store banners, employment, and operations will continue “with minimal change or interruption,” according to a news release. The deal is expected to be completed by summer 2026. The Food Partners served as financial adviser to Dyer Foods in the transaction.

“When Jeanie and I decided it was time to make this transition, Harps was our first choice,” said Joey Hays, owner of Dyer Foods. “Their commitment to the associates and communities they serve is what we were looking for in a company, and to continue to grow the brand.”

Harps is a 100% employee-owned company that operates 160 stores in six states, including Arkansas. Harps is the largest employee-owned company in Arkansas and was founded by Harvard and Floy Harp in Springdale in 1930. The company has more than 6,900 employees.