A spokesperson for the Cincinnati-based retailer the Kroger Company today (20 July) confirmed plans to open a number of new Marketplace Stores in its home region.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


The plans were unveiled by Geoff Covert, president of Kroger’s Cincinnati/Dayton division, during a preview of the company’s first Marketplace Store, which opens its doors to the public today.


“The Marketplace Stores are about double the size of our standard stores,” a spokesperson for the company told just-food. “Plans are in the pipeline to open ten stores in the region in the next few years.”


The announcement would appear to place Kroger in more direct competition with the world’s largest retailer Wal-Mart, which dominates the large-scale market with its Supercentres.


Wal-Mart opened or expanded three Supercentres in the greater Cincinnati area in May, and expects to strengthen its presence in the region further in the coming years.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The Kroger spokesperson declined to comment on whether it would compete directly with Wal-Mart, simply replying that: “We want to serve the interests of our customers as best we can.”

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact