Kroger Supermarkets StoresThe Kroger Co. is North America’s largest grocery chain, operating about 3,619 stores located throughout the Midwestern, Southern, South western and Western United States. It is also the second largest general retailer in the United States, next to Wal-Mart.

History
Bernard. H. Kroger is the founder of The Kroger Co. and started the company in the year 1883. The business was initially started as a grocery store, which was later named as Great Western Tea Company. This was the first one of its kind in the United States. After his father incurred loss in the family dry goods store that he decided to try his luck in retailing. By 1885, he opened three branches of the tea company in Cincinnati. In 1902, the company’s name was changed to The Kroger Grocery and Baking Company. By that time, he had 40 stores and one factory in Cincinnati. Two years later, in 1904, he was also the proud owner of Nagel Meat Markets and Packing House and introduced meat departments in his grocery stores.

By 1912, Kroger expanded his company to Hamilton, Toledo, Dayton and Columbus in Ohio; St. Louis, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Detroit, Michigan; and Springfield, Illinois. In 1929, Kroger had around 5,575 stores around the United States. The company changed its name to The Kroger Co. in 1946. It opened pharmacy stores in 1960. During its reign in the retail industry, the company acquired Dillon Companies, Inc. and Fred Meyer, Inc. The annual revenue of the company crossed $50 billion in 2000.

Statistics
Kroger’s Headquarters: 1014 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Kroger’s Ownership: Public company
Kroger’s Number of stores: 784 convenience stores, 2,461 grocery retail stores, 954 supermarket fuel centers, 375 jewelry stores and 1,969 pharmacies.
Kroger’s Annual revenue: $ 76.7 Billion
Kroger’s No. of employees: 334,000
Kroger’s Geography: Hamilton, Dayton, Toledo and Columbus, Ohio; St Louis, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Detroit, Michigan; Springfield, Illinois; Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, California, Minnesota and New Jersey.
Kroger’s Demography: Value shoppers, organic and green shoppers.
Special services: Insurance services, phone services, gasoline stations, pharmacy, specialty grocery, personal finance, little clinic..

Banners
Supermarkets such as King Soopers, Ralphs, City Market, Smith’s, Fry’s, Dillons, QFC, Baker’s, Pay Less, Owen’s, Jay C Food Stores, Highlander, Gerbes, Scott’s, Kroger fresh fare.

They have discount warehouse stores such as Food 4 less and Foods Co. and multi-department stores such as Fred Meyer.

Market place stores such as Fry’s Market Place, Kroger Market Place, Dillons Market Place and Smith’s Market Place.

Convenience stores such as TurkeyHill, KwikShop, Loaf n Jug, QuikStop, Tomthumb and Smith’s Express.

Jewelry stores Fred Meyer, Littman, Barclay’s and Fox’s Jewelers.

Other services provided include Kroger personal finance, The Little Clinic and iWireless.

Brands
Private Selection
Private Selection Organics
Naturally preferred
Kroger Brands
Active Lifestyle
Comforts
Value Brand
Mirra
Fresh Selections

Important Links
Kroger’s Corporate Homepage
Online shopping N/A
Kroger’s Circular and specials
Kroger’s Jobs and careers
Kroger’s Store locations