The Midwest Retail & Grocery Alliance (MRGA) will honor Harter House Supermarkets with its 2026 Legacy Award during the President’s Gala on October 22, at Camden on the Lake Resort in Lake Ozark, Missouri.
The Legacy Award recognizes an individual, family or organization whose contributions have created a lasting impact on the grocery industry, their employees, customers and the communities they serve. This year’s award celebrates more than five decades of family-owned grocery retailing and the enduring legacy of the Bettlach family.
Meet Harter House
Harter House was founded in 1973 by Jerry and Barbara Bettlach, who began with a small grocery operation and a simple commitment to quality products, friendly service and taking care of their customers. More than 50 years later, that vision continues through their children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, with members of the Bettlach family continuing to own and operate Harter House stores.
“Legacy in the grocery industry is not simply measured by the number of stores you build or the number of years you are in business,” said Dan Shaul, President & CEO of the Midwest Retail & Grocery Alliance. “It is measured by the people you employ, the families you support, the customers who trust you and the communities that are better because you are there. The Bettlach family embodies that kind of legacy. Jerry and Barbara built Harter House on hard work, family and service and generations of their family have continued to build on that foundation. We are proud to recognize Harter House with this year’s Legacy Award.”
For Amanda Jordan, Store Manager and Co-Owner of Harter House Eastgate and a member of the Missouri Grocers Association Board, the award is a deeply personal recognition of her family’s history and responsibility to the future.
“I’m incredibly honored to be part of the third generation carrying on the legacy my grandmother and grandfather started in 1973,” Jordan said. “What makes me most proud is that we are still a family-owned business, with our family working alongside our employees and serving the same communities that have supported us for more than 50 years.”
Jordan also carries forward her grandfather’s commitment to the grocery industry through her service on the Missouri Grocers Association Board.
“My grandfather served 20 years on the OEGA board and five years on the MGA board,” Jordan said. “To now have the opportunity to serve on these boards myself is something I’m extremely proud of. It’s an honor to follow in his footsteps and continue the example he set for me.”
Barbara Bettlach, who founded Harter House alongside her husband, Jerry, said the recognition is a meaningful reflection of what they hoped to build when they opened their first store.
“Jerry and I never set out to build a legacy. We simply wanted to build a good business, take care of our family, take care of our employees and serve our customers the right way. To see our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren continue working together and carrying those values forward is something that means more to me than I can put into words. We are incredibly grateful for everyone who has been part of the Harter House family over the years.”
The legacy of Harter House extends beyond the family business itself. The Bettlach family has continued to demonstrate a strong commitment to giving back to the communities Harter House serves. In memory of Jerry Bettlach and his brother-in-law, Jim Trimble, the family established an annual effort benefiting The Kitchen, Inc., with Harter House donating 5% of store sales during a designated week each year.
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Through March 2026, the tradition had contributed approximately $1.5 million to the organization. The 2026 Legacy Award recognizes that spirit of service alongside the family’s accomplishments in grocery retailing.
“Receiving this award is incredibly humbling,” Jordan said. “When I think about my grandparents starting with one small store and then look at where Harter House is today, it makes me extremely proud. But more than anything, it makes me grateful.”
Jordan said the award also serves as a reminder that the responsibility of a family business extends beyond one generation.
“You don’t just inherit a family business. You inherit the responsibility to take care of what the generations before you worked so hard to build.”
Legacy Award Presentation
The 2026 MRGA Event will be held October 21-23 at Camden on the Lake Resort. The President’s Gala and Legacy Award presentation will take place Thursday evening, October 22.
The MRGA Legacy Award presentation will celebrate the Bettlach family’s more than five decades of contributions to independent grocery retail, their employees and the communities they serve, while recognizing the next generation that continues to carry the Harter House legacy forward.
About the Midwest Retail & Grocery Alliance
The Midwest Retail & Grocery Alliance (MRGA) represents grocery retailers and industry partners across the Midwest, advocating for the grocery industry while providing education, resources, networking and opportunities designed to strengthen the businesses and communities its members serve.