The Kroger Co 
US: Kroger appoints new president of Dillon Food Stores
8 July 2010
Joe Grieshaber has been appointed as president of Kroger's Dillon Food Stores division. He will replace John Bays, who is retiring after 42 years with the US grocery retailer.
US: Kroger ratifies agreement with union
25 June 2010
US retailer Kroger has ratified an agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) over new staff contracts.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
18 June 2010
Food campaigners took a swipe at Europe's food industry and politicians after the European Parliament voted against imposing traffic light labels. Danone and Marfrig explained why they have again expanded overseas, while US retailer Kroger commented on the threat of Wal-Mart and UK grocer Sainsbury's expressed caution over the country's economy.
US: Kroger profits drop but sales growth boosts shares
17 June 2010
US retail giant Kroger today (17 June) booked falling quarterly profits but revealed its same-store sales had accelerated during the period.
US: Kroger deal set to avert strike
14 June 2010
US retailer Kroger has reached a tentative agreement with workers in Michigan that looks set to avert a strike that could have involved staff at almost 120 stores.
In the spotlight: Whole Foods revival signals return of premium
14 May 2010
Once the darling of Wall Street, Whole Foods Market spent much of the last 18 months out in the cold as it witnessed sales and profits slide in the face of the economic downturn. However, the company's stock surged to a two-year high yesterday (13 May) after the natural and organic retailer reported strong sales and profits growth. With the economic outlook brightening, it seems Whole Foods is beginning to witness something of a renaissance. Katy Humphries reports.
US: Kroger names Food 4 Less boss
16 April 2010
US retailer Kroger has promoted the senior vice president of sales and marketing of its Food 4 Less unit to president of the division.
The top stories on just-food this week
26 March 2010
From PBM to PepsiCo, food makers in the US dominated the headlines this week. The sale of infant-formula maker PBM for US$808m highlighted the attractiveness of the category. PepsiCo became the latest to announce plans to cut salt, sat fat and sugar from its products, while bread and cereal makers in Australia outlined their own programme to cut salt. In Europe, Swiss firm Orior set out plans for an IPO, UK retailer Sainsbury's reported slowing sales and Danone admitted it will shake up its domestic dairy business. These were the most popular stories on just-food this week.
Quote, unquote: just-food’s week in words
26 March 2010
With spring in the air, food makers in Europe and the US seemed in buoyant mood this week. Finland’s Fazer Group claimed “more confidence” in 2010 and Switzerland's Orior insisted that the improved economic environment meant that the time is “right” to launch an IPO. In the US, Kroger and ConAgra Foods both suggested that the competitive environment and pressure on pricing was easing. Meanwhile, PepsiCo insisted that healthy products were profitable products as it unveiled plans for product reformulation.
Perrigo faces infant-formula brands after PBM buy
25 March 2010
The world of infant formula attracted the attention of M&A commentators this week with the proposed sale of own-label group PBM to healthcare giant Perrigo Co. The downturn has made private label more popular but, as Dean Best finds, infant formula is dominated by big brands - and their power is unlikely dented too much by the sale of PBM.
US: Kroger sees competitive environment easing
23 March 2010
US supermarket operator Kroger indicated today (23 March) that it expects to see promotional activity in the US market easing as the grocery sector moves from deflation to inflation.
Top stories on just-food this week
12 March 2010
The future of Glanbia, with its interest in consumer dairy products, dairy ingredients and sports nutrition, grabbed your interest this week as the Irish food group revealed it was in talks to offload parts of the business. Unilever and Nestle were the subject of M&A rumours as reports in Belgium linked to the two food giants to the country's biggest ice-cream maker. Nestle, meanwhile, launched its nutrition brand Jenny Craig in France as, on this side of the channel, the UK's Food Standards Agency put forward plans for a new to label the nutrition content of food.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
12 March 2010
Morrisons and Waitrose this week displayed a bullish confidence as the UK retailers - operating at different ends of the market - both reported bumper annual profits. Elsewhere in the UK, the country's Food Standards Agency backed plans for hybrid nutrition labels - and was prompty slammed by consumer advocates. Meanwhile, the Chinese government unveiled its latest bid to improve food safety in China in the wake of fresh contamination scandals. Here is a flavour of who said what this week.
On the money: Kroger upbeat on second half outlook
9 March 2010
A cautious US grocer Kroger has said it expects to benefit from an improved competitive environment in the second half of 2010.
US: Kroger profits plunge on charges
9 March 2010
Profits at US grocer Kroger tumbled during 2009 due to impairment charges, soft sales and increased promotional activity.
US: Kroger recalls dill dip on salmonella risk
3 March 2010
US grocery giant Kroger has recalled its Dill Dip due to possible contamination with salmonella.
US: Fresh Harvest acquires LaRocco Pizza Co.
3 March 2010
Fresh Harvest Products has completed the acquisition of US natural and organic frozen food group LaRocco Pizza Co.
In the spotlight - Kroger
11 December 2009
CEOs rarely publicly admit their mistakes but, this week, David Dillion, boss of US retail giant Kroger did just that after the company slashed its profit forecast and sent its shares tumbling. However, while Wall Street may be concerned that Kroger is cutting prices and investing in margin to stay competitive, some industry watchers believe that the retailer remains on the right track. Dean Best reports.
Top stories on just-food this week
11 December 2009
Copenhagen, Cadbury, Kroger and Kit Kat - this week's top stories had an alliterative ring to them. As the UN Climate Change conference kicked off in the Danish capital, we looked at how the food industry is, in the words of one industry body, "intrinsically linked" to a warming planet. Cadbury will mount its formal defence of the Kraft Foods takeover on Monday (14 December) and this week saw union officials again criticise the prospect of Kraft ownership. Nestle joined Cadbury in the Fairtrade corner with the announcement that Kit Kat would switch to the ethical label in the New Year. And, meanwhile, Kroger, the US retail giant slashed its profit forecast and sent its shares tumbling.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
11 December 2009
The UN climate change conference started this week in Copenhagen and, ahead of the summit, the European food industry body, the CIAA, sought to demonstrate how the sector is helping in the battle against global warming. Elsewhere, on the sustainability agenda, Unilever suspended its future purchasing of palm oil from Indonesian company PT Smart, following Greenpeace claims of deforestation, while the UK's Sustainable Development Commission suggested a cut in fish, meat and dairy consumption was in order to make diets more sustainable.
INSIGHT: Kroger boss admits errors as shares plunge
9 December 2009
The chief of US grocery giant Kroger has admitted he "did not read the market right" after the company cut its full-year earnings forecast, sending its shares tumbling 12%.
US: Ralphs charges drive Kroger into red
8 December 2009
US grocer Kroger posted a net loss of the first three quarters of fiscal 2009 due to charges linked to its Ralphs division - although sales were hurt by deflation and cautious spending from consumers.
UPDATE: Mead Johnson hits out at PBM ad ruling
4 December 2009
Mead Johnson Nutrition said it “strongly” disagrees with the jury’s decision after the baby food giant lost a damages case launched by US private-label infant formula maker PBM Products.
US: PBM claims baby food legal win over Mead Johnson
3 December 2009
US private-label infant formula maker PBM Products has won a damages case against baby food giant Mead Johnson Nutrition.
US: Kroger launches own-brand salad
28 October 2009
US grocer Kroger has launched a line of own brand fresh salads, called Fresh Selections.
In the spotlight - Wal-Mart
23 October 2009
The size and scope of Wal-Mart means that its annual meetings with analysts take place across two days. This week, the investment community heard the latest thoughts from the world's largest retailer and what they heard, particularly with regard to the US, would not have made happy reading for Wal-Mart's rivals. Dean Best reports.
US: International Bazaar recalls hazelnut spread
22 October 2009
Ohio-based International Bazaar has voluntarily recalled a batch of its Kroger Hazelnut Spread due to possible contamination with peanuts.
US: Fred Meyer union representatives arrested
19 October 2009
Three members of a union representing Fred Meyer staff were arrested late last week, on the retailers Hillsboro premises in Oregon.
Top stories on just-food this week
18 September 2009
JBS's bold attempt to become the world's largest meat processor grabbed your attention this week, with its proposed acquisition of US poultry firm Pilgrim's Pride and its planned merger with Brazilian food group Bertin among the ten most-read stories on just-food. The continued rumblings over the future of Cadbury also caught your eye, as did the goings-on with Woolworths Ltd and Coles in Australia's grocery retailing sector.
INSIGHT: Kroger confident of "pick up" in sales
16 September 2009
The chief of US supermarket group Kroger has said he expects to see a “pick up” in third- and fourth-quarter sales after yesterday (15 September) reporting a drop in half-year turnover.
Related research
Kroger Co., The - SWOT Analysis
Datamonitor's Kroger Co., The - SWOT Analysis company profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. Kroger Co., The - SWOT Analysis examines the company’s key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy.The Kroger Co. (Kroger or "the company") is one of the leading grocery retail chains in the US. The company operates a chain of supermarkets and multi-department stores under a number of banners including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, Fry's, King Soopers, Smith's, Dillons, QFC and City Market. In addition, Kroger operates 40 manufacturing plants in the US. The company is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio and employs 334,000 people. The company recorded revenues of $76,733 million during the financial year ended January 2010 (FY2010), an increase of 0.8% over 2009. The operating profit of the company was $1,091 million in FY2010, a decrease of 55.5% compared to 2009.The net profit was $70 million in FY2010, a decrease of 94.4% compared to 2009. The decrease in net earnings for 2009, compared to 2008, was attributed to lower retail fuel margins and decreased operating profit.
Premium Company Profile: Kroger Company
Kroger is one of the largest retailers in the US with a unique, three-tier branding and distribution system. The company focuses on organic growth by improving shoppers' experience by providing enhanced service, product selection and value.
Kroger Co in Retailing - World
Kroger is the leader in US supermarkets, a status it maintains through its Customer 1st strategy. While it cannot match Wal-Mart on price, Kroger invests in offering friendly service, fast checkouts and expanding its natural and premium food offer. Kroger boasts a successful, three-tier range of private label products. As the US economy has spiralled downward, Kroger has been faced with keeping costs under control while offering more price discounts, a strategy it undertook well.
