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  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1883

    Kroger Founded in Cincinnati

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1883

    In 1883, 23-year-old Bernard Kroger, the fifth of ten children of German immigrants, invested his life savings of $372 to open a grocery store at 66 Pearl Street in downtown Cincinnati.




  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1884

    Kroger opened his second store

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1884

    In 1884 Kroger opened its second store.




  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1916

    Kroger company began self-service shopping

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1916

    In 1916 Kroger company began self-service shopping. Before this, all articles were kept behind counters, and customers would ask for them, and then clerks would deliver them to customers.




  • Pennsylvania, United States
    1928

    Kroger had a number of stores in the Western Pennsylvania region

    Pennsylvania, United States
    1928

    Kroger had a number of stores in the Western Pennsylvania region, encompassing Pittsburgh and surrounding areas from 1928 until 1984 when the U.S. began experiencing a severe economic recession.




  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1929

    Safeway may be merge with Kroger

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1929

    In 1929, it was rumored that Safeway would merge with Kroger.




  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1930s

    Kroger became the first grocery chain to monitor product quality

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1930s

    In the 1930s, Kroger became the first grocery chain to monitor product quality and to test foods offered to customers, and also the first to have a store surrounded on all four sides by parking lots.




  • Houston, Texas, United States
    May, 1955

    Kroger entered the Houston

    Houston, Texas, United States
    May, 1955

    In May, Kroger entered the Houston, Texas, market by acquiring the Houston-based 26-store chain, Henke & Pillot.


  • Jacksonville, Texas, United States
    Jul, 1955

    Kroger purchased Child's Food Stores

    Jacksonville, Texas, United States
    Jul, 1955

    In late July, Kroger purchased Child's Food Stores, Inc. of Jacksonville, Texas.


  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1955

    Kroger began acquiring supermarket chains

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1955

    Beginning in 1955, Kroger began acquiring supermarket chains, expanding into new markets.


  • Appleton, Wisconsin, United States
    Oct, 1955

    Kroger acquired the Krambo Food Stores

    Appleton, Wisconsin, United States
    Oct, 1955

    In June, Kroger acquired the Krambo Food Stores, Inc. of Appleton, Wisconsin.


  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1956

    The Kroger Company bought out Big Chain Stores

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1956

    In January 1956, the company bought out Big Chain Stores, Inc., a chain of seven stores based in Shreveport, Louisiana, later combining it with the Child's group. All of these chains adopted the Kroger banner in 1966.


  • Wichita, Kansas, United States
    Sep, 1957

    Kroger sold off its Wichita, Kansas, store division

    Wichita, Kansas, United States
    Sep, 1957

    In September 1957, Kroger sold off its Wichita, Kansas, store division, then consisting of 16 stores, to J. S. Dillon and Sons Stores Company, then headed by Ray S. Dillon, son of the company founder.


  • Florida, United States
    1960s

    Kroger opened stores in Florida

    Florida, United States
    1960s

    Kroger opened stores in Florida under the SupeRx and Florida Choice banners from the 1960s until 1988, when the chain decided to exit the state and sold all of its stores; Kash n' Karry bought the largest share.


  • California, United States
    Oct, 1963

    Kroger acquired the 56-store chain Market Basket

    California, United States
    Oct, 1963

    In October 1963, Kroger acquired the 56-store chain Market Basket, providing them with a foothold in the lucrative Southern California market.


  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1966

    All chains adopted the Kroger banner

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    1966

    All of these chains adopted the Kroger banner in 1966.


  • U.S
    1970s

    Kroger became the first grocer in the United States to test an electronic scanner

    U.S
    1970s

    In the 1970s, Kroger became the first grocer in the United States to test an electronic scanner and the first to formalize consumer research.


  • Chicago, Illinois, United States
    1970s

    Kroger exited the Chicagoland area market

    Chicago, Illinois, United States
    1970s

    Kroger exited the Chicago land area market in 1970 selling its distribution warehouse in Northlake, Il. and 24 stores to the Dominick's Finer Foods grocery chain.


  • Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
    1972

    Kroger built an ultra-modern dairy plant

    Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
    1972

    Kroger built an ultra-modern dairy plant (Crossroad Farms Dairy) in Indianapolis in 1972, which was then considered the largest dairy plant in the world.


  • U.S.
    1972

    Kroger exited Milwaukee

    U.S.
    1972

    Kroger exited Milwaukee in 1972, selling a few stores to Jewel-Osco.


  • Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
    1977

    Kroger entered the Charlotte market

    Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
    1977

    Kroger entered the Charlotte market in 1977 and expanded rapidly throughout the 1980s when it bought some stores from BI-LO.


  • San Antonio, Texas, United States
    1980

    Kroger entered the competitive San Antonio

    San Antonio, Texas, United States
    1980

    Kroger entered the competitive San Antonio, Texas, market in 1980 but pulled out in mid-1993.


  • Solon, Ohio, United States
    1980s

    Kroger's plant in Solon

    Solon, Ohio, United States
    1980s

    In northeastern Ohio, Kroger had a plant in Solon, Ohio until the mid-1980s.


  • Southern California, United States
    1982

    Kroger sold the 65-store Market Basket chain

    Southern California, United States
    1982

    In 1982, Kroger sold the 65-store Market Basket chain it had operated for several years in southern California.


  • Kansas, United States
    1983

    The Kroger Company acquired Dillon Companies

    Kansas, United States
    1983

    In 1983, The Kroger Company acquired Dillon Companies grocery chain in Kansas along with its subsidiaries and the convenience store chain Kwik Shop.


  • Great Scott, Minnesota, United States
    1990s

    Kroger acquired Great Scott

    Great Scott, Minnesota, United States
    1990s

    In the 1990s, Kroger acquired Great Scott (Detroit), Pay Less Food Markets, Owen's Market, JayC Food Stores, and Hilander Foods.


  • Richmond, Virginia, United States
    2000

    Kroger entered the Richmond

    Richmond, Virginia, United States
    2000

    Kroger entered the Richmond, Virginia, market in 2000, where it competes against market leaders Martin's and Food Lion.


  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    2004

    Kroger bought most of the old Thriftway stores

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    2004

    In 2004, Kroger bought most of the old Thriftway stores in Cincinnati, Ohio, when Winn-Dixie left the area. These stores were reopened as Kroger stores.


  • Columbus, Ohio, United States
    2004

    Kroger Marketplace is a chain of big-box stores

    Columbus, Ohio, United States
    2004

    Kroger Marketplace is a chain of big-box stores. The brand was introduced in 2004 in the Columbus, Ohio, area, which lost the Big Bear and Big Bear Plus chains in Penn Traffic's Chapter 11 bankruptcy.


  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Feb, 2007

    Kroger withstood large community protests

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Feb, 2007

    In February 2017, Kroger withstood large community protests after announcing the closing of two smaller-sized Louisville-area stores.


  • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
    2007

    Kroger acquired Scott's Food & Pharmacy

    Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
    2007

    In 2007, Kroger acquired Scott's Food & Pharmacy from SuperValu Inc.


  • New York City, U.S.
    2008

    Kroger began a partnership with Murray's Cheese

    New York City, U.S.
    2008

    In 2008, Kroger began a partnership with Murray's Cheese of New York City.


  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Apr, 2013

    Kroger announced that would maintain their health insurance benefits

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Apr, 2013

    The company announced in April 2013 that full-time employees would maintain their health insurance benefits.


  • Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
    2013

    Kroger announced its acquisition of Harris Teeter

    Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
    2013

    On July 9, 2013, Kroger announced its acquisition of Harris Teeter in a deal valued at $2.5 billion and that it will assume $100 million in the company's outstanding debt.


  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    2013

    Kroger announced about insurance plan for workers

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    2013

    In 2013, Kroger announced that the spouses of the company's unionized workers would no longer be covered by the company's insurance plan.


  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Thursday Jan 5, 2017

    Campus marketing agreement

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Thursday Jan 5, 2017

    On May 1, 2017, Kroger, along with the University of Kentucky and UK Athletics, sports, and campus marketing partner JMI Sports, announced a 12-year, $1.85 million per year campus marketing agreement.


  • Greenwich Village, Manhattan, U.S.
    Tuesday Feb 7, 2017

    Kroger announced that had purchased Murray's Cheese

    Greenwich Village, Manhattan, U.S.
    Tuesday Feb 7, 2017

    On February 7, 2017, it was announced that Kroger Co. had purchased Murray's Cheese.


  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Tuesday Feb 14, 2017

    Kroger is no longer offering a discount to senior

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Tuesday Feb 14, 2017

    As of 14 February 2017, Kroger is no longer offering a discount to senior citizens 59 and up.


  • Blacklick, Ohio, United States
    2017

    Kroger opened its first convenience store

    Blacklick, Ohio, United States
    2017

    On May 10, 2017, Kroger opened its first convenience store.


  • Turkey
    Thursday Jun 1, 2017

    Kroger opened their second Fresh Eats

    Turkey
    Thursday Jun 1, 2017

    On June 1, 2017, Kroger opened their second Fresh Eats. Kroger is also going to convert some Turkey Hill stores into the concept store. The CFO, Mike Schlotman, has called these stores a "small test." Local reaction to this new concept has been positive.


  • Mountain View, California, U.S.
    2019

    Kroger announced expanded its service with robotics company

    Mountain View, California, U.S.
    2019

    In March 2019, Kroger announced it was expanding its service with robotics company, Nuro to Houston, Texas with Nuro's autonomous Priuses.


  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Aug, 2019

    Kroger began charging customers

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Aug, 2019

    In August 2019, Kroger began charging customers between $0.50 and $3.50 for receiving cashback while making purchases with debit cards.


  • Denver, Colorado, United States
    Sep, 2019

    Kroger announced a partnership with the Plant Based Food Association

    Denver, Colorado, United States
    Sep, 2019

    In September 2019, Kroger announced a partnership with the Plant-Based Food Association (PFBA) to test a plant-based meat retail concept in 60 stores in Denver, and parts of Indiana and Illinois.


  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Dec, 2019

    Kroger was named the second-largest grocer in the nation

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Dec, 2019

    In December 2019, Kroger was named the second-largest grocer in the nation with $110 billion in 2016 sales.


  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Mar, 2020

    Kroger provided their essential workers a "hazard pay"

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Mar, 2020

    Kroger provided their essential workers a "hazard pay"—that the company called a "hero pay"—in the form of US$ 2 dollars an hour raise from the end of March 2020, until mid-May, 2020, when the "hero pay" ended.


  • 66 Pearl St, Cincinnati, OH 45215, USA
    2020

    Kroger's earnings increased

    66 Pearl St, Cincinnati, OH 45215, USA
    2020

    In 2020, during the pandemic, Kroger's earnings increased by 87.7%.


  • 66 Pearl St, Cincinnati, U.S.
    Monday Aug 2, 2021

    Kroger announced that it had elected Elaine Chao

    66 Pearl St, Cincinnati, U.S.
    Monday Aug 2, 2021

    On August 2, 2021, Kroger announced that it had elected Elaine Chao, formerly Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush and Secretary of Transportation under President Donald Trump, to its board of directors.


  • Collierville, Tennessee, United States
    Thursday Sep 23, 2021

    Random fire hit on Kroger location

    Collierville, Tennessee, United States
    Thursday Sep 23, 2021

    On September 23, 2021, a mass shooting occurred at a Kroger location in Collierville, Tennessee.


  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Sep, 2021

    Kroger edited its logo

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Sep, 2021

    In September 2021, Kroger tweaked its logo to add the "Fresh Cart" symbol. The symbol is an abstract shopping cart with the basket being citrus slices.


  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    2021

    Kroger gained more popularity

    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    2021

    Kroger has also gained popularity due to one of its advertisements becoming a meme in early 2021.


  • Florida, United States
    Oct, 2021

    Kroger announced an expansion into South Florida

    Florida, United States
    Oct, 2021

    In October 2021, Kroger announced an expansion into South Florida with its online delivery service, 'Kroger Delivery'.


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