Content about The Kroger Co.

May 15, 2013

The Kroger Co. unveiled a clean energy production system that will convert food that can't be sold or donated into clean energy to help power its Ralphs/Food 4 Less distribution center in Compton, Calif.

Los Angeles -- The Kroger Co.  unveiled a clean energy production system that will convert food that can't be sold or donated into clean energy to help power its Ralphs/Food 4 Less distribution center in Compton, Calif.

April 8, 2013

ECOtality and The Kroger Co. announced an expanded partnership including over 200 level 2 (quick charge) charging stations, and 25 DC Fast Chargers, to be installed across key markets through the EV Project.

Cincinnati -- ECOtality and The Kroger Co. announced Monday an expanded partnership including over 200 level 2 (quick charge) charging stations, and 25 DC Fast Chargers, to be installed across key markets through the EV Project.

The multimillion-dollar expansion will bring the total number of Blink chargers in the Kroger system to almost 300.

March 7, 2013

The Kroger Co. reported a better-than-expected profit for its fourth quarter profit amid a surge in sales.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. on Thursday reported a better-than-expected profit for its fourth quarter profit amid a surge in sales.

For the period ending Feb. 2, Kroger earned $461.5 million, compared to the year ago period when the company reported a loss of $306.9 million as pension costs dragged down results.

Revenue rose 12.8% to $24.2 billion. Same-store sales increased 3% for the quarter, excluding fuel. After adjusting for the extra week in the fourth quarter, total sales increased by 3.7% over the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.

February 5, 2013

The Kroger Co. announced the promotion of Jeff Burt as president of the company's Central division. Kroger's Central Division operates 136 food stores primarily in Indiana and Illinois.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. announced the promotion of Jeff Burt as president of the company's Central division. Kroger's Central Division operates 136 food stores primarily in Indiana and Illinois.

Burt, 50, has been group VP of perishables merchandising and procurement since 2010. He succeeds Bob Moeder, who recently announced his plans to retire this spring.

December 14, 2012

The Kroger Co. announced the promotion of Lynn Gust as president of the company's Fred Meyer Stores division. Gust, 59, has been senior VP operations since 2011.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. announced the promotion of Lynn Gust as president of the company's Fred Meyer Stores division. Gust, 59, has been senior VP operations since 2011.

“Lynn's long history with Fred Meyer and deep knowledge of our business will serve our customers well,” said Rodney McMullen, president and COO of Kroger. “His passion for our employees and customers make him a great fit to carry on the Fred Meyer tradition.”

 

November 15, 2012

The Kroger Co. said it will buy specialty pharmacy company Axium Pharmacy Holdings for undisclosed terms.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. said Thursday it will buy specialty pharmacy company Axium Pharmacy Holdings for undisclosed terms.

Axium is one of the nation's largest independent providers of specialty pharmacy services, offering a range of clinical services to patients with complex chronic conditions. Through its additional pharmacy locations in Puerto Rico, Tennessee and Mississippi, Axium provides comprehensive specialty pharmacy services to patients.

October 25, 2012

The Kroger Co. announced Marnette Perry has been named SVP, strategic initiatives and operations, and Michael Ellis has been named SVP, retail divisions.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. announced Marnette Perry has been named SVP, strategic initiatives and operations, and Michael Ellis has been named SVP, retail divisions. The appointments support Kroger's long-term growth plans announced last week.

Perry recently led the team responsible for Kroger's "faster checkout" rollout, which the chain said has reduced customer wait times at checkout from an average of four minutes to 30 seconds.

October 4, 2012

The Kroger Co. has received the Alliance to Save Energy’s top award, the “Galaxy” Star of Energy Efficiency.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. has received the Alliance to Save Energy’s top award, the “Galaxy” Star of Energy Efficiency.

September 21, 2012

Executive compensation has always been a hot topic in corporate America — and the retail industry is no exception. These days, two trends are upping the attention paid to pay at the top: the ongoing move to performance-based equity, and the scrutiny compensation packages are receiving from increased SEC regulations and shareholder involvement.

September 13, 2012

The Kroger Co. said Thursday it will increase its quarterly dividend by 30% to 15 cents per share, payable Dec. 1.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. said Thursday it will increase its quarterly dividend by 30% to 15 cents per share, payable Dec. 1.

The grocer said the move is prompted by a strong confidence in its business strategy.
 

September 7, 2012

The Kroger Co. reported a better-than-expected second quarter profit of $279.1 million, down from $280.8 million a year ago.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. reported a better-than-expected second quarter profit of $279.1 million, down from $280.8 million a year ago. The supermarket company raised its forecast for the full year, buoyed by its strong loyalty program and its ability to keep costs in line.

Revenue, including fuel, rose 3.9% to $21.73 billion.

September 6, 2012

The Kroger Co. has saved more than 2.34 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, which equals 1.47 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, in 2011, according to the chain’s sixth annual Sustainability Report.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. has saved more than 2.34 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, which equals 1.47 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, in 2011, according to the chain’s sixth annual Sustainability Report.

June 14, 2012

The Kroger Co. reported that net income in the first quarter rose to $439.4 million, from $432.3 million last year.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. reported Thursday that net income in the first quarter rose to $439.4 million, from $432.3 million last year.

The operator of namesake stores as well as Ralphs, Food 4 Less and others, also said it authorized a $1 billion share buyback.

Sales during the period were $29.06 billion, up from $27.46 billion last year but missing Wall Street’s expected $29.16 billion. Same-store sales rose 4.2%, the grocer’s 34th straight quarter of growth.

May 2, 2012

The Kroger Co. and Collins & Arnold said they have broken ground on Phase II of Griffin Pavilion, a retail development located in Griffin, Ga., and developed by The Sofran Group.

Griffin, Ga. -- The Kroger Co. and Collins & Arnold said they have broken ground on Phase II of Griffin Pavilion, a retail development located in Griffin, Ga., and developed by The Sofran Group.

The final phase of the project will consist of a 94,000-sq.-ft. Kroger with an 18- pump Fuel Center.  The grocery store site will include 20,000 sq. ft. for future expansion.

Phase I of Griffin Pavilion was completed in 2004 and includes a Lowes Home Center, O'Reilly Auto Parts and Wells Fargo bank.

March 16, 2012

The Kroger Co. appointed Suzanne Lindsay as its first director of sustainability.

New York -- The Kroger Co. appointed Suzanne Lindsay as its first director of sustainability. Prior to Kroger, Lindsay led sustainability initiatives at PetSmart.

“We have made substantial progress in sustainability in the past five years through energy savings, waste reduction, transportation efficiency and by reducing the use of plastic bags,” said Lynn Marmer, group VP, corporate affairs at Kroger. “Suzanne will help us accelerate our progress and identify new opportunities to improve our environmental stewardship.”

March 1, 2012

The Kroger Co. reported on Thursday that it posted a loss in the quarter ended Jan. 28, attributing the loss to costs associated with consolidating its pension plan for union workers.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. reported on Thursday that it posted a loss in the quarter ended Jan. 28, attributing the loss to costs associated with consolidating its pension plan for union workers.

The grocer, which counts among its banners Kroger, Ralphs and Food 4 Less, lost $306.9 million in the quarter, compared with a profit of $278.8 million in the year-ago period.

Total sales in the quarter rose 7.7% to $21.4 billion. Excluding fuel, sales rose 5%. Same-store sales increased 4.9%.

September 15, 2011

The Kroger Co. said Thursday that its board of directors has approved a $1 billion share repurchase program.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. said Thursday that its board of directors has approved a $1 billion share repurchase program.

The new program replaces an existing authorization that has about $213 million remaining. The authorization is expected to be used over the next 12 months, according to Kroger.
 

September 9, 2011

The Kroger Co. reported Friday that net income in the second quarter rose 7.3% to $280.8 million.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. reported Friday that net income in the second quarter rose 7.3% to $280.8 million. The company said earnings got a boost from tax adjustments and sales at its gas stations.

Sales increased 11.5% to $20.9 billion. Same-store sales were up 5.3%.

“Our ongoing investments in the four keys -- our people, products, prices and the shopping experience -- continued to enhance our connection with customers and drive positive identical sales growth,” said David B. Dillon, Kroger’s chairman and CEO.

September 6, 2011

The Kroger Co. said Friday that its Kroger Delta Division, based in Memphis, has acquired eight Memphis-area Schnucks grocery stores that the company will convert and re-open under the Kroger banner over the next few weeks.

Memphis -- The Kroger Co. said Friday that its Kroger Delta Division, based in Memphis, has acquired eight Memphis-area Schnucks grocery stores that the company will convert and re-open under the Kroger banner over the next few weeks.

Currently, Kroger operates 37 stores in the Memphis metropolitan area, and the acquisition ups the area store count to 43, with two of the acquired Schnucks locations replacing two smaller existing Kroger locations.

August 1, 2011

The Kroger Co. has selected Oracle’s Agile Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) for Process to establish a platform for continually improving the customer experience.

New York City -- The Kroger Co. has selected Oracle’s Agile Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) for Process to establish a platform for continually improving the customer experience. The supermarket operator will use the solution to integrate and streamline all aspects of product development, including managing specifications, suppliers, formulations, packaging and labeling, compliance, and quality.

July 26, 2011

The Kroger Co. said Tuesday that it has promoted its current Quality Food Centers division president Donna Giordano to president of the Ralphs Division.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. said Tuesday that it has promoted its current Quality Food Centers division president Donna Giordano to president of the Ralphs Division.

Giordano, who has been based in Seattle with QFC, replaces Mike Donnelly, who was promoted to senior VP merchandising for Kroger. She will be based in Los Angeles.
 

July 19, 2011

The Kroger Co. said Tuesday that it has promoted Mark Tuffin to president of its Smith’s Division, succeeding the retiring Jim Hallsey.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. said Tuesday that it has promoted Mark Tuffin to president of its Smith’s Division, succeeding the retiring Jim Hallsey.

Tuffin joined Smith's in 1996, and most recently served as VP merchandising. In 2009, he was named VP transition for Kroger.

He will assume responsibilities upon Hallsey's retirement at the end of July.
 

July 13, 2011

Jones Lang LaSalle announced Wednesday that The Kroger Co. is undertaking an initiative with JLL to conduct a strategic review of a group of its retail assets, in tandem with Kroger’s divisional real estate teams, to explore optimization strategies for a select portfolio of operating stores.

Chicago -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced Wednesday that The Kroger Co. is undertaking an initiative with JLL to conduct a strategic review of a group of its retail assets, in tandem with Kroger’s divisional real estate teams, to explore optimization strategies for a select portfolio of operating stores.

In addition, Jones Lang LaSalle has been selected, among others, to participate in developing disposition strategies for a portion of the retailer’s closed store portfolio.

June 21, 2011

In its fifth annual sustainability report, released Tuesday, The Kroger Co. said it continues to meet its benchmarks, including reducing in-store energy consumption by 30%.

Cincinnati -- In its fifth annual sustainability report, released Tuesday, The Kroger Co. said it continues to meet its benchmarks, including reducing in-store energy consumption by 30%.

"In 2010, Kroger stores saved enough energy to power the city of Fort Worth for a full year,” said Rodney McMullen, president and COO of Kroger. “We sent less waste to landfills, recycled more plastic, and provided our customers with five million more reusable bags.”

March 7, 2011

Electric transportation technology provider ECOtality said Monday that it has partnered with grocer Fred Meyer, a division of The Kroger Co., to install car-charging stations at select stores in Oregon and Washington.

Seattle -- Electric transportation technology provider ECOtality said Monday that it has partnered with grocer Fred Meyer, a division of The Kroger Co., to install car-charging stations at select stores in Oregon and Washington.

The Blink Level 2 Electric Vehicle Commercial Pedestal Charging Stations will also be installed on major transportation corridors between Seattle store locations and the United States border with Canada.

The deal makes Fred Meyer ECOtality’s first food retail partner in the Northwest.