Ruddick Corporation Announces Results of Annual Shareholders’ Meeting and Quarterly Dividend

Ruddick Corporation (NYSE: RDK) reported at its Annual Meeting of the Shareholders today the retirement of Alan T. Dickson from the Board of Directors and reported on other actions approved by the shareholders.

Alan Dickson and his brother, Stuart Dickson, founded Ruddick Corporation in 1968. However, Alan’s association with the company predates the founding of Ruddick Corporation. After graduating from NC State and Harvard Business School, Alan joined American & Efird in 1957 on a full-time basis and held various management positions including president from 1967 to 1968. Upon the formation of Ruddick Corporation, Alan became President, a position he held until 1994 when he became Chairman of the Board. Alan served as Chairman of the Board until 2006 when he retired as an executive officer of Ruddick Corporation, but remained a director.

Subsequent to acknowledgement of appreciation for the wisdom, guidance and counsel provided over the years by the retiring director, the shareholders reelected the remaining ten directors to the Board of Directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Shareholders also ratified the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending October 3, 2010.

The Company also announced that its Board of Directors, at a regularly scheduled meeting, declared a quarterly dividend in the amount of $0.12 per share to be paid on April 1, 2010, to shareholders of record on March 12, 2010.

Ruddick Corporation is a holding company with two primary operating subsidiaries: Harris Teeter, Inc., a leading regional supermarket chain with operations in eight states primarily in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States, including the District of Columbia, and American & Efird, Inc., one of the world’s largest global manufacturers and distributors of industrial sewing thread, embroidery thread and technical textiles.