EXHIBIT 21

RUDDICK CORPORATION

Affiliated CompaniesAs of
November 21, 2008

Listed below are the domestic
subsidiaries of Ruddick Corporation, (the Registrant) all of which are wholly
owned and are owned directly by the Registrant, unless otherwise indicated.

Subsidiary
    
    State of IncorporationAmerican & Efird, Inc. (3)
    North CarolinaAmerican
      & Efird Enterprises, Inc. (1)
    North
      CarolinaHarris Teeter, Inc. (3)
    North CarolinaHarris Teeter
      Properties, LLC (2)
    North
      CarolinaHarris-Teeter Services, Inc. (2)
    North CarolinaHTTAH, LLC
      (2)
    North
      CarolinaHTP Relo, LLC (2)
    North CarolinaRuddick of
      Delaware, Inc.
    DelawareRuddick Operating Company
    DelawareRuddco
      Management, Inc. (3)
    North
      CarolinaRDK Investments Company (3)
    North Carolina


(1) Owned by American & Efird, Inc.(2)
Owned by Harris Teeter, Inc.(3) Owned by Ruddick Operating
Company

In the normal course of business, RDK
Investments Company and Harris Teeter Properties LLC from time to time makes
investments in corporations and partnerships that may result in ownership of
capital stock or other interests as an investment.

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Listed below are the foreign
subsidiaries of the Registrant, all of which are wholly owned, directly or
indirectly, by American & Efird, Inc., unless otherwise indicated. Pursuant
to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, certain entities that
are not deemed to be significant subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate,
have been excluded from the list below.

Subsidiary
    
    Jurisdiction of IncorporationAmerican & Efird (H.K.) Limited (1)
    Hong KongDongguan
      Dongmei Thread Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    ChinaAmerican & Efird (G.B.) Limited
    EnglandAmerican
      & Efird Canada Incorporated
    CanadaAmerican & Efird International B.V.
    NetherlandsA&E
      Netherlands B.V.
    NetherlandsAmerican & Efird Italia S.p.A.
    ItalyHilos A&E
      de Costa Rica, S.A.
    Costa
      RicaDistribuidora A&E de Costa Rica, S.A.
    Costa RicaExportadora
      A&E de Costa Rica, S.A.
    Costa
      RicaCompañia Comercial A&E de Guatemala, S.A.
    (1)
    GuatemalaHilos A&E
      de El Salvador, S.A. de C.V. (1)
    El
      SalvadorHilos American & Efird de Honduras, S.A. de C.V.
      (1)
    HondurasAmerican
      & Efird de Mexico, S.A. de C.V (1)
    MexicoHilos American & Efird de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
      (1)
    MexicoServicios
      American & Efird de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (1)
    MexicoAmerican & Efird Mills (S) Pte. Ltd.
    SingaporeAmerican
      & Efird (Malaysia) SDN. BHD.
    MalaysiaHilos American & Efird de Nicaragua, S.A.
    (1)
    NicaraguaAmerican
      & Efird (Polska) Sp. z o.o. (1)
    PolandHengmei Spinning Company, Ltd. - Joint venture, 80% owned
    ChinaHilos A&E
      Dominicana, Ltd. - Joint venture, 51% owned
    Cayman
      IslandsAmerican and Efird Lanka (Private) Limited- Joint venture, 33 1/3%
      owned
    Sri LankaAmerican
      & Efird (Bangladesh) Ltd.  Joint venture, 33 1/3% owned
    BangladeshAmerican & Efird (South Africa) (Proprietary) Ltd. Joint venture, 80%
      owned
    South AfricaBieze Stork
      B.V.
    NetherlandsHuamei Thread Company Limited  Joint venture, 50% owned
    ChinaHilos A&E
      de Colombia S.A. (1)
    ColombiaA&E Iplik Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi
    (1)
    TurkeyJimei
      Spinning Company Limited  Joint venture, 80% owned
    ChinaLinhas Bonfio S.A.  Joint venture, 43% owned
    (1)
    BrazilTSP Tovarna
      Sukancev in Trakov d.d.
    SloveniaVardhman Yarns and Threads Limited  Joint venture, 49%
    owned
    India


(1) Single shares (or shares representing 2% or less of such
entities) are owned by persons designated by American & Efird, Inc. in order
to comply with local law.

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