Welcome to our dedicated page for Kroger news (Ticker: KR), a resource for investors and traders seeking the latest updates and insights on Kroger stock.
The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) generates a steady flow of news that reflects its role as a large U.S. grocery retailer and digital food platform. Company announcements span grocery merchandising, health and wellness, digital innovation, partnerships, and community impact, giving investors and customers insight into how Kroger evolves its business and serves shoppers.
Recent news highlights include seasonal product launches under Kroger’s Our Brands portfolio, such as the Private Selection Harvest Apple collection, which showcases limited-edition fall flavors across beverages, snacks, and bakery items. Kroger also shares annual food trend predictions developed by its food experts, connecting emerging customer preferences to specific products in its exclusive brands.
Kroger Health and The Little Clinic are frequent subjects of updates, including vaccination campaigns that offer savings incentives for customers who receive flu and other vaccines at Kroger pharmacies or clinics. These stories illustrate how the company integrates healthcare services and the "food as medicine" concept into the grocery experience.
On the digital front, Kroger news covers partnerships and technology initiatives, such as the nationwide launch of thousands of Kroger Family of Companies locations on Uber Eats, Uber, and Postmates for on-demand grocery delivery. The company also reports on its expanded relationship with Google Cloud, where it plans to use Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience to power an AI-based shopping and meal assistant.
Corporate updates include leadership changes, the sale of non-core assets like Vitacost.com, and programs aimed at affordability and food access, such as the Verified Savings Program and Yearly Checkout savings summaries. For anyone tracking KR, this news feed offers a consolidated view of how Kroger manages merchandising, health, technology, and community initiatives over time.
The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) is set to host its second nationwide hybrid hiring event on October 13, aiming to recruit 20,000 associates across various roles, including retail, e-commerce, and healthcare. This initiative comes as part of Kroger's preparation for the upcoming holiday season. The company highlights its commitment to competitive wages, with over $800 million invested in employee compensation and training in the past three years. Kroger also offers extensive benefits, including tuition reimbursement up to $21,000, health resources, and flexible scheduling.
The Kroger Co. Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen delivered the keynote address at Groceryshop in Las Vegas on September 22, 2021. He emphasized Kroger's commitment to integrating fresh offerings with digital advancements to enhance customer experience. Key insights included Kroger's intent to double its digital business by the end of 2023, a $350 million investment in associate wages, and their sustainable Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative, which has donated 1.8 billion meals in four years. Kroger aims to evolve its operations while addressing changing consumer behaviors.
The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) has declared a quarterly dividend of 21 cents per share, payable on December 1, 2021, to shareholders of record by November 15, 2021. This dividend reflects a consistent double-digit compound annual growth rate since its reinstatement in 2006. Kroger aims to utilize its free cash flow for business investments while returning capital to shareholders. The company anticipates increasing dividends over time, depending on board approval and future free cash flow generation.
Home Chef, the leading meal solutions company, launches a limited-edition product line featuring recipes hand-picked by U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson East, starting September 20. This collaboration introduces 12 Oven-Ready kits available online and two in-store kits at Kroger. The initiative marks the first celebrity athlete appearance in Home Chef's offerings, indicated by a 'Selected by Shawn' badge. Johnson emphasizes the convenience of oven-ready meals, designed for busy families, highlighting options like Margherita Chicken and Shrimp Tostadas. The partnership aims to provide fresh, easy meal solutions for time-strapped consumers.
The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) has launched Kroger Delivery Now, a service offering 30-minute grocery delivery in partnership with Instacart. This service, available to 50 million households, features a selection of 25,000 items and is designed to enhance convenience without compromising on quality or price. Kroger aims to double its digital sales and profitability by the end of 2023, building on over $10 billion in e-commerce sales from the previous year. Instacart's Convenience Hub will assist in streamlining this service across major U.S. cities.
The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) reported its Q2 2021 results, revealing total sales of $31.7 billion, up from $30.5 billion year-over-year. However, identical sales, excluding fuel, fell 0.4%. Adjusted EPS increased to $0.80 from $0.73. Operating profit rose to $839 million, with a FIFO gross margin rate of 21.4% despite a 60 basis point decrease from last year. Kroger raised its full-year guidance, projecting adjusted EPS between $3.25 and $3.35. The company also declared a 17% dividend increase, marking 15 consecutive years of increases, and has repurchased $349 million in shares this quarter.
The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) has published its 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report, outlining a new long-term ESG strategy focused on enhancing food systems and community support. Key achievements include directing over $301 million to hunger relief and administering millions of COVID-19 vaccines. The report emphasizes goals across three pillars: People, Planet, and Systems, with aims to direct 3 billion meals to communities by 2025 and significantly reduce emissions.
The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) announced the winners of its first Go Fresh & Local Supplier Accelerator program, aimed at promoting innovative local products. Among the five winners are Maazah, Nona Lim, Queen Charlotte's Pimento Cheese Royale, Simply Southern Sides, and Soupergirl. Kroger's initiative received over 1,000 applications and seeks to diversify its product offerings by partnering with local suppliers. The company plans to bring these products to market by Q1 2022 and aims to increase its investment in diverse suppliers from $4.1 billion to $10 billion by 2030.
Kroger Health, a division of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), has partnered with Lyft Healthcare to offer discounted rides to COVID-19 vaccine appointments. This initiative is part of Lyft's Vaccine Access Program aimed at increasing vaccine accessibility across the U.S., especially for those with transportation challenges. Individuals can receive a $12 Lyft ride code when scheduling an appointment at Kroger Family of Pharmacies or The Little Clinic. Kroger Health has administered over 6 million vaccine doses and continues to focus on improving vaccine equity amid rising COVID-19 cases.
The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) has partnered with Kitchen United to offer customers on-demand meal services from popular restaurants. This collaboration features ghost kitchens at select Kroger locations, enabling customers to order from multiple restaurants simultaneously. The first kitchen is set to open at a Ralphs store in Los Angeles this fall, with further expansions planned. This initiative aims to enhance Kroger's service offerings, allowing customers to conveniently order meals while grocery shopping.
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