Kroger

The Kroger Co. is the largest American grocer, founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883. Kroger is the second-largest retailer, behind Walmart.
== History ==
In 1883, Bernard Kroger invested his life savings of $372 to open a grocery store in downtown Cincinnati. Kroger was the son of a merchant, and his slogan was simple: “Be particular. Never sell anything you would not want yourself.” Kroger tried many ways to satisfy customers. Like in the early 1900s, Kroger knew that if he could make bread without making people go to another bakery, he would make more money, and reduce the price. Kroger also tried to make his own products. Kroger always tried to make things better. In the 1930s, Kroger was the first grocery chain to monitor product quality and test foods offers to customers. In the 70s, Kroger became the first grocer in America to test an electronic scanner, and the first to formalize consumer research. In 1983, Kroger merged with Dillon Companies. In 1997, Kroger merged with Fred Meyer. That was their biggest merger. Kroger now has nearly 2,500 stores in 31 states under two dozen banners and annual sales of more than $70 bilion, and is now the second-largest retailer, after Walmart. Kroger also has 40 food processing plants that make thousands of products. In 2007, Kroger acquired Scott's from SuperValu Inc. In 2013, Kroger bought Harris Teeter.
== Kroger ==
Kroger Food & Drug is a chain of supermarkets. Many of the Kroger supermarkets have been converted to Kroger Marketplace, a chain of hypermarkets. This is because it is more convenient to sell everything in a store, so only one trip has to be made. Kroger Marketplace is similar to sister chain Fred Meyer. All Marketplace stores are hypermarkets.
=== Store Concepts ===
*Kroger - supermarket chain
*Kroger Fresh Fare - supermarket chain
*Kroger Signature - high-end supermarket chain
*Kroger Marketplace - hypermarket chain
== Banners ==
Kroger operates numerous chains:
=== Hypermarkets ===
*Fred Meyer
=== Marketplace ===
*Dillons Marketplace
*Fry's Marketplace
*Kroger Marketplace
*Ralphs Marketplace
*Smith's Marketplace
=== Supermarkets ===
*Baker's Supermarkets
*City Market
*Dillon Food Stores
*Fry's Food & Drug
*Gerbes Super Markets
*Harris Teeter
*Jay C
*Kroger 
*King Soopers
*Owen's
*Pay Less Super Markets 
*QFC
*Ralphs
*Scott's
*Smith's
=== Price Impact Stores ===
*Food 4 Less
*Foods Co.
*Ruler Foods
=== Jewelry Stores ===
*Fred Meyer Jewelers
*Barclay Jewelers
*Fox's Jewelers
*Littman Jewelers
=== Covenience Stores ===
*Kwik Shop
*Loaf 'N Jug
*Quik Stop 
*Smith's Express 
*Tom Thumb Food Stores 
*Turkey Hill Minit Markets
== Locations ==
== See also ==
* Walmart - indirect competitor
* Target - indirect competitor
* Aldi - discount competitor
Category:Supermarkets
Category:Retailers by type
Category:Retailers
Category:Department stores
Category:Discount stores
Category:North America
Category:Companies
Category:Franchises
Category:Brands
Category:Stores
Category:USA
Category:Companies founded in the United States