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{{Short description|American retail company}}
{{About|the company|other uses|Kroger (disambiguation) }}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Advert|date=October 2024}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2024}}
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{{Use American English|date = August 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}
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'''The Kroger Company''', or simply '''Kroger''', is an American [[retail]] company that operates (either directly or through its subsidiaries<ref>{{Cite web |last=Securities and Exchange Commission |date=2022 |title=The Kroger Co. Form 10-K for Fiscal Year Ended January 29, 2022. (Part IV, Item 15, Exhibit 21.1) |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000056873/000155837022004595/kr-20220129x10k.htm |access-date=2022-08-31 |website=www.sec.gov}}</ref>) supermarkets and multi-department stores throughout the United States.<ref name="ourbusiness" /><ref name="opera"/>
Founded by [[Bernard Kroger]] in 1883 in [[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]], Kroger operates 2,719 grocery retail stores under its various banners and divisions in 35 states (mostly in the South, Midwest and West) and the District of Columbia.<ref name=opera>{{cite web|url=http://www.thekrogerco.com/about-kroger/operations|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018233040/http://www.thekrogerco.com/about-kroger/operations|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 18, 2012|title=The Kroger Co. – Operations|access-date=February 28, 2013}}</ref> Its store formats include 134 [[hypermarkets|multi-department stores]], 2,273 [[supermarket|combo stores]], 191 [[big-box store|marketplace stores]], and 121 [[warehouse store|price-impact warehouse stores]].<ref name=ourbusiness/><ref name=opera/> Kroger operates 33 manufacturing plants, 1,642 supermarket fuel centers, 2,254 pharmacies, 225 The Little Clinic in-store medical clinics, and 127 [[jewelry store]]s (782 [[convenience store]]s were sold to [[EG Group]] in 2018).<ref name=ourbusiness /><ref name=opera /> Kroger's headquarters are located in [[downtown Cincinnati]].<ref name="10K">{{cite web|date=February 2, 2013|title=Form 10-K: The Kroger Co.|url=http://services.corporate-ir.net/SEC/Document.Service?id=P3VybD1hSFIwY0RvdkwyRndhUzUwWlc1cmQybDZZWEprTG1OdmJTOWtiM2R1Ykc5aFpDNXdhSEEvWVdOMGFXOXVQVkJFUmlacGNHRm5aVDA0T0RNM05EYzFKbk4xWW5OcFpEMDFOdz09JnR5cGU9MiZmbj1UaGVLcm9nZXJDby5wZGY=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912225249/http://services.corporate-ir.net/SEC/Document.Service?id=P3VybD1hSFIwY0RvdkwyRndhUzUwWlc1cmQybDZZWEprTG1OdmJTOWtiM2R1Ykc5aFpDNXdhSEEvWVdOMGFXOXVQVkJFUmlacGNHRm5aVDA0T0RNM05EYzFKbk4xWW5OcFpEMDFOdz09JnR5cGU9MiZmbj1UaGVLcm9nZXJDby5wZGY=|archive-date=September 12, 2014|access-date=December 17, 2013|publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}}</ref>
The Kroger Company is the largest [[supermarket]] operator in the U.S. by revenue<ref name="SupermarketNews">{{cite web|date=2021-07-07|title=Top 25 supermarket operators by sales|url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/top-25-supermarket-operators-sales|access-date=2022-05-05|work=Supermarket News|publisher=Informa USA}}</ref> and the country's fifth-largest general retailer.<ref name="Kantar">{{cite web|title=Kantar's 2019 Top 50 US Retailers|url=https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3788602/Top%2050%202H%202019/2019_12_Kantar_Top_50_US_and_%20global_retailers.pdf|publisher=Kantar Retail IQ}}</ref> The company is one of the [[List of largest employers in the United States|largest American-owned private employers in the United States]].<ref>{{cite web|date=February 2013|title=Global Powers of Retailing 2013|url=http://www.kamcity.com/library/download/2013GlobalPowersofRetail.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217234702/http://www.kamcity.com/library/download/2013GlobalPowersofRetail.pdf|archive-date=December 17, 2013|access-date=December 17, 2013|publisher=Deloitte|page=G11|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Additionally, Kroger is ranked No.
About two-thirds of Kroger's employees are represented by [[collective bargaining agreement]]s,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kroger Union|url=https://www.ufcw.org/actions/campaign/kroger-union/|access-date=2022-01-21|website=The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union|language=en}}</ref> with most being represented by the [[United Food and Commercial Workers]] (UFCW).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nbc29.com/story/32004567/kroger-union-workers-vote-to-reject-contract-authorize-strike|title=Kroger Union Workers Vote to Reject Contract, Authorize Strike|access-date=January 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202032550/http://www.nbc29.com/story/32004567/kroger-union-workers-vote-to-reject-contract-authorize-strike|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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==History==
=== Early history (1883 to 1950s) ===
In 1883, 23-year-old [[Bernard Kroger]], the fifth of ten children of [[German Americans|German immigrants]], invested his life savings of $372 ({{inflation|US|372|1883|fmt=eq}}) to open a grocery store at 66 Pearl Street in downtown Cincinnati.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hinds |first=Conrade C. |title=Made in Ohio: A History of Buckeye Invention & Ingenuity |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2023 |isbn=978-1-4671-5294-5 |location=Charleston, SC |pages=161 |language=en}}</ref> The son of a merchant, he ran his business with a simple motto: "Be particular. Never sell anything you would not want yourself."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thekrogerco.com/corpnews/corpnewsinfo_history.htm|title=The Kroger Co. - Corporate News & Info: History|website=www.thekrogerco.com|access-date=October 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030035526/https://www.thekrogerco.com/corpnews/corpnewsinfo_history.htm|archive-date=October 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19730826&id=xSAsAAAAIBAJ&pg=2516,5072168&hl=en|title=First Kroger Opened 90 Years Ago|work=Times Daily|date=August 26, 1973|access-date=November 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209000846/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19730826&id=xSAsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=850FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2516,5072168&hl=en|archive-date=December 9, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> He experimented with marketing products his company had produced so that his customers would not need to patronize separate stores and farms.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
In 1884, Kroger opened his second store. By 1902, Kroger Grocery and Baking Company had been incorporated.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ingham |first=John N. |title=Biographical Dictionary of American Business Leaders |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |year=1983 |isbn=0-313-23908-8 |location=Westport, CT |pages=744 |language=en}}</ref> By this time, the company had grown to forty stores and sold $1.75 million worth of merchandise each year. In addition, Kroger became the first grocery chain to have its own bakery.<ref name="ohiohistorycentral.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Kroger_Company|title=Kroger Company - Ohio History Central|website=www.ohiohistorycentral.org|access-date=August 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801164333/http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Kroger_Company|archive-date=August 1, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
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In the 1930s, Kroger Grocery and Baking Company became the first grocery chain to monitor product quality and to test foods offered to customers. It also became the first company with a store surrounded on all four sides by parking lots.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Dan |date=August 22, 2018 |title=10 Things You Didn't Know About Kroger |url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/10-things-didnt-know-kroger-194530350.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEfDkMPNoiGBzhOt8ZZ6RfVQF2om2lzwrI2MW0Po23eAl-5j3SvTU436s0VgTw9IUCnN6Mrc-QrwLYtr09Qrv3KojLR8XthxFASghoT0D01DRhnkMkdGIigCrB-NQyorEa6JOgyv1IMR4gLIQ18gR9ZEFuMPpcSRa9Kafib6-Zdk |access-date=July 7, 2023 |website=Yahoo!}}</ref> In 1932, the company tested a pilot project after it opened a grocery store in Indianapolis.<ref name=":3" /> The facility, which was surrounded by a 75-car parking space, allowed the company to determine the close relationship between parking facilities and gross sales.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Halper |first=Emanuel B. |title=Shopping Center and Store Leases, Vol. 1 |publisher=Law Journal Press |year=2001 |isbn=1-58852-003-X |location=New York, NY |pages=9–36.105 |language=en}}</ref>
===1950s and 60s ===
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Beginning in 1955, Kroger began acquiring supermarket chains, expanding into new markets. In May, Kroger entered the [[Houston|Houston, Texas]], market by acquiring the Houston-based 26-store chain [[Henke & Pillot]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://blog.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2010/10/houstons-own-henke-pillot/|title=Houston's own Henke & Pillot|first=J. R. |last=Gonzales|date=2010-10-20|website=Bayou City History|access-date=2019-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107212507/https://blog.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2010/10/houstons-own-henke-pillot/|archive-date=November 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In June, Kroger acquired the Krambo Food Stores, Inc. of [[Appleton, Wisconsin]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1955/06/16/archives/kroger-acquires-wisconsin-chain-takes-over-25-supermarkets-of.html|title=KROGER ACQUIRES WISCONSIN CHAIN; Takes Over 25 Supermarkets of Krambo Food Stores -- Details Not Given|date=1955-06-16|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-11-07|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107212457/https://www.nytimes.com/1955/06/16/archives/kroger-acquires-wisconsin-chain-takes-over-25-supermarkets-of.html|archive-date=November 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In July, it purchased Child's Food Stores, Inc. of [[Jacksonville, Texas]], and operated 25 supermarkets in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana.<ref>{{Cite book |author=United States Congress House Committee on the Judiciary |title=Premerger Notification |year=1957 |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=408 |language=en}}</ref>
In January 1956, the company bought out Big Chain Stores, Inc., a chain of seven stores based in [[Shreveport, Louisiana]], later combining it with the Childs group. All of these chains adopted the Kroger banner in 1966.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
During all the acquisitions, in September 1957, Kroger sold off its [[Wichita, Kansas]], store division, which consisted of 16 stores, to [[Dillons|J. S. Dillon and Sons Stores Company]], then headed by Ray S. Dillon, son of the company founder.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
In October 1963, Kroger acquired the 56-store chain Market Basket, providing them with a foothold in the lucrative southern California market. Prior to this time Kroger had no stores west of Kansas.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1 October 1963|title=Market Basket, Kroger Chain Finish Merger|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57734274/market-basket-kroger/|access-date=2 June 2021|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|page=46}}</ref> Kroger, however, failed to make significant headway, only managing a 5 percent market share. By 1982, it withdrew from the California market.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Laulajainen |first=R. |title=Spatial Strategies in Retailing |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |year=2012 |isbn=978-94-010-8267-9 |location=Dordrecht |pages=69 |language=en}}</ref>
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In the 1970s, Kroger became the first grocer in the United States to test an electronic scanner and the first to formalize consumer research.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Grewal |first=Dhruv |title=Retail Marketing Management: The 5 Es of Retailing |publisher=SAGE Publications |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-5264-4684-8 |location=Thousand Oaks, CA |pages=16 |language=en}}</ref>
Although Kroger has long operated stores in the [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]]-[[Decatur, Alabama|Decatur]] area of northern [[Alabama]] (as a southern extension of its [[Nashville, Tennessee]], region), it has not operated in the state's largest market, [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], since the early 1970s, when it exited as a result of intense competition from [[Winn-Dixie]] and local chains [[Bruno's Supermarkets]] and Western Supermarkets.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
Kroger built an ultra-modern dairy plant (Crossroad Farms Dairy) in Indianapolis in 1972. At the time, it was considered the largest dairy plant in the world.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
Kroger exited the [[Chicago market]] in 1970, selling its distribution warehouse in Northlake, Il. and 24 stores to the Dominick's Finer Foods grocery chain.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
Kroger exited the [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]] area in 1970, selling 16 stores to Quality Foods, which rebranded the stores to [[Piggly Wiggly]].{{cn|date=October 2024}}
Kroger exited Milwaukee in 1972, selling a few stores to [[Jewel Food Stores|Jewel]]. Kroger would later return in 2015 upon its acquisition of [[Roundy's]].{{cn|date=October 2024}}
Kroger entered the [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]] market in 1977 and expanded rapidly throughout the 1980s when it bought some stores from [[BI-LO (United States)|BI-LO]]. However, most stores were in less desirable neighborhoods and did not fit in with Kroger's upscale image. Less than three months after BI-LO pulled out, that company decided to re-enter the Charlotte market, and in 1988, Kroger announced it was pulling out of the Charlotte market and put its stores up for sale. [[Ahold]] bought Kroger's remaining stores in the Charlotte area and converted them to BI-LO.<ref name="ReferenceA">Charlotte Observer, Kroger will Close Charlotte, Charleston Stores in January. Nov 17, 1988</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3F5JAAAAIBAJ&pg=6566%2C859451 |title=Advertisement – Final Clearance |page=10–A |work=The NEws and Courier |access-date=January 3, 2013 |date=January 4, 1989 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
In 1978, sixteen retail members of Parkview Markets Inc., filed an anti-trust lawsuit against Kroger.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Associated Press |date=December 29, 1978 |title=Wholesaler refiles suit against Kroger |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-herald-wholesaler-refiles-suit-agai/154210646/ |access-date=August 28, 2024 |work=News Herald |pages=2}}</ref>
===1980s===
Kroger had a number of stores in the [[Western Pennsylvania]] region, encompassing [[Pittsburgh]] and surrounding areas from 1928 until 1984 when the U.S. began experiencing a severe economic [[Early 1980s recession|recession]]. The recession had two significant and related effects on Kroger's operations in the region. One of them was that the highly cyclical manufacturing-based economy of the region [[Steel crisis|declined in greater proportion than the rest of the U.S.]], which undercut demand for the higher-end products and services offered by Kroger.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
Kroger sought wage rollbacks in several areas during this time period including in Western Pennsylvania,<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 13, 1984 |title=All Stores Sold, Kroger Announces |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-all-stores-sold-kr/154139880/ |access-date=August 28, 2024 |pages=Page 1}}</ref> Eastern Ohio, the West Virginia Panhandle<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 19, 1985 |title=Kroger May Close Stores |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-business-roundup-k/154139369/ |access-date=August 28, 2024 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |pages=29}}</ref> and Michigan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andrew |first=Chris |date=April 4, 1982 |title=Now Grocery Stores Seek Pay Rollbacks |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-now-grocery-chains/154138977/ |access-date=August 28, 2024 |work=Lansing State Journal |pages=51}}</ref> The second effect of the economic recession was to worsen labor-management relations, causing a protracted labor strike in 1983 and 1984. During the strike, Kroger withdrew all of its stores from the Western Pennsylvania market, including some recently opened "superstores" and "greenhouses", selling these stores to Wetterau<ref>{{Cite news |last=Buchholz |first=Barbara B. |date=February 14, 1984 |title=Kroger Company selling 45 Stores to Wetterau |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-kroger-co-selli/154209942/ |access-date=August 28, 2024 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |pages=10}}</ref> (now part of [[SuperValu (United States)|SuperValu]]), who promptly [[Flipping|flipped]] the stores to independent owners while continuing to supply them under the [[FoodLand]] and [[Shop 'n Save (Pittsburgh)|Shop 'n Save]] brands.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/02/14/business/kroger-selling-stores-in-strike.html|title=Kroger Selling Stores in Strike|date=February 14, 1984|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306215845/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/02/14/business/kroger-selling-stores-in-strike.html|archive-date=March 6, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=UPI |date=March 15, 1984 |title=Kroger Stores to close |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/latrobe-bulletin-kroger-stores-to-close/154139193/ |access-date=August 27, 2024 |work=Latrobe Bulletin |pages=11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Boyle |first=P.J. |date=June 5, 1984 |title=Lucchino seeking ban on key loans to Food Distributor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-lucchino-seeking-ba/154140284/ |access-date=August 28, 2024 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |pages=13}}</ref> Kroger's exit ceded the market to lower-cost, locally owned rivals, most notably [[Giant Eagle]] and the SuperValu-supplied grocers. (Kroger purchased Eagle Grocery company, whose founders went on to create Giant Eagle.) Kroger still maintains a presence in the nearby [[Morgantown, West Virginia]], [[Wheeling, West Virginia]], and [[Weirton, West Virginia]]/[[Steubenville, Ohio]], areas where Giant Eagle has a much smaller presence and the SuperValu-supplied stores are virtually nonexistent, though in all of these cases, Walmart remains a major competitor and [[Aldi]] is the only other supermarket with any market overlap.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
Kroger entered the competitive [[San Antonio|San Antonio, Texas]], market in 1980 but pulled out in mid-1993. On June 15, 1993, the company announced the closure of its 15 area stores. From 1984 to 1986, Kroger exited the Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Akron, and St. Louis markets. The company cited that higher wages for union employees made it unable to compete.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kagler Leaves Grocery Chain |url=https://apnews.com/article/cca18edd3c49dd0798cdd2340368b263 |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref>
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The chain closed several stores around [[Flint, Michigan]], in 1981, which were converted by local businessman Al Kessel to a new chain called [[Kessel Food Markets]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uEMiAAAAIBAJ&pg=4812,1965226&dq=kessel+saginaw&hl=en |work=The Argus-Press |date=November 24, 1981 |title=Kessel buys Corunna, Saginaw Kroger Stores |page=1 |access-date=January 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121001137/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uEMiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Uq0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4812,1965226&dq=kessel+saginaw&hl=en |archive-date=November 21, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kroger bought most of these stores back in 1999 and began reverting them.<ref>{{cite web |author=File Photo |url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/12/grocer_al_kessel_remembered_fo.html |title=Grocer Al Kessel remembered for kindness, dedication to employees |publisher=MLive.com |date=December 29, 2012 |access-date=January 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101030819/http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/12/grocer_al_kessel_remembered_fo.html |archive-date=January 1, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Several other Michigan stores were sold to another Flint-based chain, [[Hamady Brothers]], in 1980.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=16haAAAAIBAJ&pg=7269,8368925&dq=hamady-brothers&hl=en |title=Kroger selling Manistee store |work=Ludington Daily News |date=June 28, 1980 |page=1 |access-date=January 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121002036/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=16haAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eEsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7269,8368925&dq=hamady-brothers&hl=en |archive-date=November 21, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Hamady acquisition was short-lived.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://home.comcast.net/~steelbeard1/flinn022004.htm |title=Hamady Sacks and Yankee Hats |access-date=October 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513184101/http://home.comcast.net/~steelbeard1/flinn022004.htm |archive-date=May 13, 2009}}</ref>
In 1982, Kroger sold the 65-store Market Basket chain it had operated for several years in southern California. The stores were reverted to the [[Boys Markets]] branding, after acquiring the chain. Boys Markets was acquired by the [[Yucaipa Companies]] in 1989. When Yucaipa acquired [[Ralphs]], the Boys brand disappeared.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
In 1983, The Kroger Company acquired [[Dillons|Dillon Companies]]<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/dillon-companies-inc Dillon Companies, Inc.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113230613/http://www.answers.com/topic/dillon-companies-inc |date=January 13, 2009 }}, answers.com</ref> grocery chain in Kansas along with its subsidiaries ([[King Soopers]], [[King Soopers & City Market|City Market]], [[Fry's Food and Drug|Fry's]] and [[Gerbes]]) and the convenience store chain [[Kwik Shop]]. [[David Dillon (businessman)|David Dillon]], a fourth-generation descendant of J. S. Dillon, the founder of Dillon Companies, became the CEO of Kroger.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
In northeastern Ohio, Kroger had a plant in [[Solon, Ohio]], until the mid-1980s. When that plant shut down,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F2/828/828.F2d.19.86-3912.html|title=828 F.2d 19|date=September 3, 1987|work=resource.org|access-date=October 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124101143/https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F2/828/828.F2d.19.86-3912.html|archive-date=November 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Kroger closed its northeastern Ohio stores in the Cleveland, [[Akron, Ohio|Akron]], and [[Youngstown, Ohio|Youngstown]] areas. Some of those former Kroger stores were taken over by stores like Acme Fresh Markets, [[Giant Eagle]], and [[Heinens]].{{cn|date=October 2024}}
Kroger opened and had about 50 stores in [[St. Louis]] until it left the market in 1986, saying that its stores were unprofitable. Most of its stores were bought by [[National Supermarkets|National]], [[Schnucks]], and [[Shop 'n Save]]. Most of the remaining Kroger stores in eastern Missouri and west-central Illinois became a western extension of the Central Division (headquartered in [[Indianapolis]]).{{cn|date=October 2024}}
Kroger also experienced a similar withdrawal from [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]], in 1989. Many of these stores were sold to the local grocery chain [[Red Food]], which was in turn bought by [[BI-LO (United States)|BI-LO]] in 1994. Today, Chattanooga is the only metropolitan market in Tennessee in which Kroger does not operate with the nearest location being [[Dalton, Georgia]], with 2 stores (Walnut Avenue and Cleveland Highway).{{cn|date=October 2024}}
===1990s===
[[File:Kroger in Fort Worth, TX.png|thumb|A regional Kroger in [[Fort Worth, Texas]], opened in 1997 (2014) (Store #035-00536)]]
In the 1990s, Kroger acquired Great Scott (Detroit), [[Pay Less Food Markets]], [[Owen's Market]], [[JayC Food Stores]], and [[Hilander Foods]]. Additionally, the Houston market was strengthened when Kroger bought several stores from [[AppleTree Markets]], which were former Safeway stores in early 1994.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
In 1998, Kroger merged with the then fifth-largest grocery company [[Fred Meyer]], along with its subsidiaries, [[Ralphs]], [[QFC]], and [[Smith's Food and Drug|Smith's]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/20/business/kroger-to-buy-fred-meyer-creating-country-s-biggest-grocer.html|title=Kroger to Buy Fred Meyer, Creating Country's Biggest Grocer|last=Canedy|first=Dana|date=October 20, 1998|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=January 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030141946/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/20/business/kroger-to-buy-fred-meyer-creating-country-s-biggest-grocer.html|archive-date=October 30, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the late 1990s, it acquired many stores from [[A&P]] as it exited many markets in the South.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
Kroger also swapped all ten of its [[Greensboro, North Carolina]]-area stores in 1999 to [[Matthews, North Carolina]]-based [[Harris Teeter]], for 11 of that company's stores in central and western Virginia. Kroger in turn would acquire Harris Teeter 15 years later.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
===2000s===
Long the dominant grocer in western Virginia, Kroger entered the [[Richmond, Virginia]], market in 2000, where it competes against market leaders [[Martin's Food Stores|Martin's]] (including former Ukrop's stores) and [[Food Lion]]. Kroger entered the market by purchasing [[Hannaford Bros. Co.|Hannaford]] stores that either already existed or were being built in Richmond. Hannaford purchases also included the competitive [[Hampton Roads]] market, where it now competes with [[Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy|Farm Fresh]], Harris Teeter (which is owned by Kroger), and Food Lion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thekrogerco.com/corpnews/corpnewsinfo_pressreleases_05312000.htm |title=Kroger Press Release, May 31, 2000 |website=TheKrogerCo.com |date=May 31, 2000 |access-date=October 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060433/http://www.thekrogerco.com/corpnews/corpnewsinfo_pressreleases_05312000.htm |archive-date=October 23, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Hannaford locations in these markets were purchased from [[Delhaize Group|Delhaize]] by Kroger as a condition of Delhaize's 2000 acquisition of the Hannaford chain, which had previously competed against Food Lion, also owned by Delhaize.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2000/07/hannaford.shtm |title=FTC Agreement Allows Delhaize America, Inc. and Hannaford Bros. Co. Merger of East Coast Supermarkets |website=FTC.gov |date=June 24, 2011 |access-date=January 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219004109/http://ftc.gov/opa/2000/07/hannaford.shtm |archive-date=February 19, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Walmart Supercenters are also major competitors in both markets, and the chain briefly competed against [[Winn-Dixie]], which has now exited Virginia.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
In 2001, Kroger acquired [[Baker's Supermarkets]] from Fleming Companies, Inc.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USA: Fleming reaches agreement to sell Baker's Retail Stores to Kroger Co. and agrees to three-year supply arrangement for Baker's Stores |date=December 15, 2000 |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/usa-fleming-reaches-agreement-to-sell-bakers-retail-stores-to-kroger-co-and-agrees-to-three-year-supply-arrangement-for-bakers-stores/ |access-date=September 16, 2023 |publisher=www.just-food.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Baker s Supermarkets was acquired by The Kroger on January 1, 2001 |url=https://mergr.com/baker-s-supermarkets-acquired-by-the-kroger |access-date=September 16, 2023 |publisher=mergr}}</ref>
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In 2004, Kroger bought most of the old Thriftway stores in [[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]], when [[Winn-Dixie]] left the area. These stores were reopened as Kroger stores.<ref>{{cite web |author=Brynlee |title=Kroger Acquired Thriftway Stores in Cincinnati, Ohio and Reopened as Kroger Stores |url=https://www.kroger-feedback.info/kroger-acquired-thriftway-stores-in-cincinnati-ohio-and-reopened-as-kroger-stores/ |work=kroger-feedback.info|date=January 19, 2024 }}</ref>
In 2007, Kroger acquired [[Scott's Food & Pharmacy]] from [[SuperValu Inc.]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wane.com/2016/10/05/kroger-kicks-off-38th-annual-fight-cancer-day/|title=Kroger kicks off 38th annual Fight Cancer Day|date=October 5, 2016|website=WANE|access-date=January 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202033239/http://wane.com/2016/10/05/kroger-kicks-off-38th-annual-fight-cancer-day/|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and in the same year, also acquired 20 former Michigan Farmer Jack locations from A&P when A&P exited the Michigan Market.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
[[File:Wright Brothers Memorial Kroger.jpg|left|thumb|A plaque commemorating the [[Wright brothers|Wright Brothers]] in a [[Dayton, Ohio]] Kroger]]
In 2008, Kroger began a partnership with [[Murray's Cheese]] of New York City.<ref name=Lippman>{{cite news|last=Lippman|first=Daniel|title=Not Your Grandmother's American Cheese|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304367204579270480576072704|access-date=April 29, 2014|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=January 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107225030/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304367204579270480576072704|archive-date=January 7, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Murray's Cheese counters within Kroger stores sell a variety of artisanal cheese from all parts of the world.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
===2010s===
On July 9, 2013, Kroger announced that it would acquire the 212 stores of Charlotte-based Harris Teeter in a deal valued at $2.5 billion and that it would assume $100 million in the company's outstanding debt.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/kroger-to-buy-harris-teeter-for-2-4-billion/ |newspaper=New York Times |title=Kroger Buys Rival Grocer Harris Teeter, Citing Potential for Growth |access-date=July 11, 2013 |first=Stephanie |last=Clifford |date=July 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130711182710/http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/kroger-to-buy-harris-teeter-for-2-4-billion/ |archive-date=July 11, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Harris Teeter's stores are in eight Southern states, with a major portion of them in its headquarters state of North Carolina.<ref>News & Observer Staff Reports. [http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/07/09/3018795/kroger-buying-harris-teeter-in.html "Kroger buying Harris Teeter in $2.5 billion merger"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130712221022/http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/07/09/3018795/kroger-buying-harris-teeter-in.html |date=July 12, 2013 }}. newsobserver.com. Retrieved July 9, 2013</ref> Doing so, Kroger acquired Harris Teeter's click-and-collect program, which allows online ordering of groceries. Some industry experts saw this as a competitive move against [[online grocer]]s such as [[AmazonFresh]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nreionline.com/retail/mid-market-grocers-continue-struggle-fiercely-competitive-sector |publisher=National Real Estate Investor |title=Mid-Market Grocers Continue to Struggle in Fiercely Competitive Sector |access-date=July 11, 2013 |date=July 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716022202/http://nreionline.com/retail/mid-market-grocers-continue-struggle-fiercely-competitive-sector |archive-date=July 16, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Harris Teeter acquisition marked Kroger's return to the Charlotte market after a 25-year absence. It also allowed Kroger to enter [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]] for the first time. Charlotte and Asheville had been the only large markets in North Carolina where Kroger had no presence.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}
In 2013, Kroger announced that the spouses of the company's unionized workers would no longer be covered by the company's insurance plan. The company cited the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] as a prime reason for the move. The benefit cut affected roughly 11,000 workers in Indiana.<ref>{{cite news |last=Epstein |first=Joseph |url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/kroger-workers-union-oks-dumping-spouses-into-obamacare/article/2535352 |title=Kroger Workers' Union OKs Dumping Spouses into Obamacare |newspaper=Washington Examiner |date=September 7, 2013 |access-date=October 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016081726/http://washingtonexaminer.com/kroger-workers-union-oks-dumping-spouses-into-obamacare/article/2535352 |archive-date=October 16, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marionstar.com/article/20130907/NEWS01/309050003/Obamacare-effect-Kroger-cuts-health-care-Indiana-workers-spouses|title=Obamacare effect? Kroger cuts health care for Indiana workers' spouses|access-date=October 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908013234/http://www.marionstar.com/article/20130907/NEWS01/309050003/Obamacare-effect-Kroger-cuts-health-care-Indiana-workers-spouses|archive-date=September 8, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The company announced in April 2013 that full-time employees would maintain their health insurance benefits.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/13/employers-health-care-coverage-obamacare_n_3076926.html |title=Most Employers won't Drop Health Care Coverage Because of Obamacare: Survey |newspaper=Huffington Post |date=April 13, 2013 |access-date=October 22, 2013 |first=Jillian |last=Berman |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025105420/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/13/employers-health-care-coverage-obamacare_n_3076926.html |archive-date=October 25, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2013, Kroger was noted for carrying 17 out of 22 [[IUCN Red List| Red List]] species, four of which are in the top list of said species.<ref name="Greenpeace">{{cite web |publisher=Greenpeace |url=http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/Global/usa/planet3/PDFs/oceans/CATO%20VII.pdf |title=Carting Away the Oceans 7 |access-date=November 2, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021051042/http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/Global/usa/planet3/PDFs/oceans/CATO%20VII.pdf |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
On March 3, 2015, Kroger announced it would enter [[Hawaii]], having registered with the state as a new business in February 2015. Kroger was planning to expand to Hawaii in 2006 but withdrew after it had already submitted registration. Kroger, which is in the process of looking for locations to open its first store, will face competition from Honolulu-based rivals [[Foodland Hawaii|Foodland]] and [[Times Supermarkets|Times]]; major retailers Safeway, Walmart, and [[Costco]]; Japanese-owned Don Quixote; and Department of Defense-owned DeCA Commissaries.<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/2015/02/supermarket-giant-kroger-eyeing-hawaii-for-first.html "Supermarket giant Kroger eyeing Hawaii for first Isle location"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304002644/http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/2015/02/supermarket-giant-kroger-eyeing-hawaii-for-first.html |date=March 4, 2015 }} from Pacific Business News (March 3, 2015)</ref>
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In February 2017, Kroger withstood large community protests after announcing the closing of two smaller-sized Louisville-area stores.
Despite high store volumes and high population densities, the Old Louisville (lease expiration) and Southland Terrace stores closed.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
On February 7, 2017, it was announced that Kroger Co. had purchased Murray's Cheese.<ref>{{cite news
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Starting in early 2020, Berkshire Hathaway began buying shares of Kroger, and by August 2021 became a top ten shareholder.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sparks |first=Daniel |date=29 June 2021 |title=Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Likes Kroger Stock and You Should, Too |url=https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-likes-kroger-stock-and-you-should-too-2021-06-29 |access-date=11 September 2023 |website=[[Nasdaq]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2021/05/26/how-big-warren-buffets-investment-kroger/7429218002/ | title=The Enquirer }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=The Kroger Company |title=The Kroger Company -Stock Info-Ownership Summary |url=https://ir.kroger.com/stock-info/Ownership-Summary/default.aspx |access-date=August 28, 2024 |website=ir/kroger.com}}</ref>
In July 2021, a wrongful-death lawsuit was filed against Kroger by the family of worker Evan Seyfried. Seyfried committed suicide after allegedly enduring abuse at the Kroger location in Milford, Ohio, where he had worked for 19 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-09 |title=National Kroger protest held for employee who died by suicide |url=https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/nationwide-kroger-protest-held-for-employee-who-died-by-suicide-after-alleged-abuse-at-work |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=WCPO |language=en}}</ref> According to the lawsuit, Seyfried was bullied for wearing a mask in the early days of the pandemic and taunted for his political views. Also on the receiving end of alleged workplace sabotage, one of Seyfried's co-workers called the company's ethics helpline and reported that she and Seyfried were being bullied. However, no action was taken.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Former Kroger grocery store employee's suicide was a result of 'torturous conditions,' lawsuit says |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/07/15/kroger-suicide-seyfried/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In December 2021, Kroger Co. announced elimination of some COVID-19 benefits for unvaccinated employees.<ref name=Kang>{{cite news|last=Kang|first=Jaewon|title=Kroger to End Some Covid-19 Benefits for Unvaccinated Workers; Grocery chain to remove paid emergency leave for unvaccinated employees who contract Covid-19, add $50 monthly health surcharge for some staff|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=December 14, 2021}}</ref>
In 2021, the company was reported to have been breached by a third-party hack which compromised the pharmacy records of Kroger owned Fred Meyer and QFC stores' customers.<ref>{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press|date=2021-02-21|title=Fred Meyer, QFC parent Kroger says pharmacy customer data impacted in vendor hack|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2021/02/fred-meyer-qfc-parent-kroger-says-pharmacy-customer-data-impacted-in-vendor-hack.html|access-date=2021-02-21|website=oregonlive|language=en}}</ref>
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== Finances ==
For the fiscal year 2020, Kroger reported earnings of US$1.907 billion, with an annual revenue of US$122.286 billion, an increase of 0.4% over the previous fiscal cycle. Kroger's shares traded at over $32 per share, and its market capitalization was valued at US$25.9 billion in April 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/KR/kroger/financial-statements|title=Kroger Financial Statements 2005-2020 {{!}} KR|website=www.macrotrends.net|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref>
==Chains==
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|align=left|[[Turkey Hill Minit Markets|Turkey Hill]] (2018)<ref name="EG"/>|| || || || || || <small>Convenience</small>
|}
==Kroger Marketplace==
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In addition to stocking a variety of regional brand products, The Kroger Company also employs one of the largest networks of private label manufacturing in the country. Thirty-three plants (either wholly owned or used with operating agreements) in seventeen states create about 40% of Kroger's private label products.<ref name= proxystatement/> Similar to most major supermarket retailers, Kroger uses a three-tiered [[private label]] marketing strategy. One private brand emphasizes no-frills products at the lowest possible price, another is intended to be comparable to leading national brands but a better value and the third is a premium (often organic) brand.
==Private label brands==
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=== 84.51° ===
84.51° is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kroger engaged in data science and consumer insights, created in April 2015, as a result of Kroger purchasing the remaining half of its then-joint venture [[Dunnhumby|Dunnhumby USA]] from [[Tesco]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomdavenport/2018/04/02/84-51-builds-a-machine-learning-machine-for-kroger/#1458ccb264e1|title=84.51° Builds a Machine Learning Machine for Kroger|last=Davenport|first=Tom|date=April 2, 2018|website=Forbes|access-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804210544/https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomdavenport/2018/04/02/84-51-builds-a-machine-learning-machine-for-kroger/#1458ccb264e1|archive-date=August 4, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Further reading==
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