Kroger plans to close 60 US stores in 18 months to improve profits

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By DEE-ANN DURBIN
Updated 12:12 PM CDT, June 26, 2025

Kroger plans to close around 60 U.S. grocery stores over the next 18 months to improve efficiency.

The Cincinnati, Ohio-based company announced the plan during a corporate earnings call last Friday. The company hasn’t said which stores it plans to shutter, but said the closures will happen around the country. It also said employees at impacted stores will be offered jobs at other locations.

“We see this as an opportunity to move these closed store sales to other stores, and we think that should improve profitability,” Kroger’s interim Chairman and CEO Ronald Sargent said during the call.

Sargent also said Kroger plans to open at least 30 stores this year and will accelerate its store openings in “high-growth geographies” next year.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/kroger-stores-close-grocery-2aa2d556bb2a21bab80bea07b9c7fb8f

[enid602]

1. Kroger

This is corporate gibberish for closing stores in less upscale neighborhoods.

[Tarzanrock]

2. Pity, the 'poor' grocery chain -- it just doesn't make enough 'profits.'

Kroger gross profit for the quarter ending January 31, 2025 was $7.921B, a 5.94% decline year-over-year.
Kroger gross profit for the twelve months ending January 31, 2025 was $33.403B, a 0.12% increase year-over-year.
Kroger annual gross profit for 2025 was $33.403B, a 0.12% increase from 2024.
Kroger annual gross profit for 2024 was $33.364B, a 4.99% increase from 2023.
Kroger annual gross profit for 2023 was $31.778B, a 4.71% increase from 2022.

Sadly, a $33.403 Billion dollar 'profit' just isn't enough for these greedy, selfish rat bastards.

[Initech]

3. Translation: The CEO needs a few extra zeroes on his paycheck so he can buy a new yacht.

[BidenRocks]

4. They say Kroger but that includes

Ralph$ and Food 4 Less
Perhaps high priced but nice Ralphs, is a victim of the economy.

[generalbetrayus]

5. Kroger has a number of subsidiaries nationwide.

In Colorado east of the mountains, it is King Soopers. In Colorado west of the mountains, it is City Market. So far, no word on whether or not any Colorado stores will be closed, although given Colorado's continued growth, I doubt it will close any of its stores unless they are old and undersized. The recent trend has been to close old and undersized King Soopers and build new and larger King Soopers nearby.

[0rganism]

6. Kroger's also gobbled up Fred Meyer stores in Oregon, at least one of which near me is closing

They also own the Smith's Food & Drug chain which has stores all over the southwest and Rocky mountain states. My mother lives in a 1-grocery-store town in New Mexico, it's a Smith's. Betcha it's on the close list too.

Kroger's is apparently a paragon of the predatory Greatness to which we now nationally aspire. And if they buy your grocery chain and happen to shut it down, laying off a bunch of local people, lowering commercial property values, and making everyone nearby have to go further for forage, well you know that's just fkn peachy! The top shareholders can still dine on excellent fillet mignon definitely not purchased from a Kroger's subsidiary.. Ain't it Great?

[Dave in VA]

7. And even more...

From google Gemini

Kroger owns a variety of grocery store chains under different names. Some of the most well-known include Ralphs, Dillons, King Soopers, Fry's, QFC, and Fred Meyer. Additionally, Kroger owns chains like Harris Teeter, Marianos, Pick 'n Save, Metro Market, City Market, Owen's, Jay C, Pay Less, Baker's, and Gerbes.

[no_hypocrisy]

8. Potentially leaving some areas without a local and accessible place to buy

necessities. Some people without means don't have a car and some seniors can't drive a car and depend upon mass transportation or walking to buy their groceries.