MrsPR | Non Profits | Kroger Contributes $126 Million to Communities and Charitable Causes in 2004

Retailer Donates Average of $10 Million Per Month to Local Schools, Hunger Relief Agencies, Youth Programs and Non-Profit Groups

The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) today announced that it contributed nearly $126 million to local communities and non-profit organizations in 2004 as part of its "Neighbor to Neighbor" charitable giving program.

These contributions - which averaged $10 million per month - included donations made by Kroger customers and associates, the Company's three foundations, associates, and funds raised through in-store events and promotions. More than 25,000 local schools, hunger relief agencies, youth programs and non-profit organizations in communities where Kroger operates stores or manufacturing facilities received financial support from the Company.

Over the past five years, Kroger has contributed more than $600 million to charitable causes around the country.

Kroger focuses its charitable giving in several key areas: hunger relief; K-12 education; grassroots service organizations; and women's health. In addition, Kroger supports organizations that promote the advancement of women and minorities, and the Salvation Army and American Red Cross. Among the programs that Kroger sponsored last year:

- Our divisions work closely with more than 40 regional food banks
affiliated with America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest domestic
hunger relief organization. Last year, the Company donated 28 million
pounds of food valued at $43 million. This ranks as the largest
donation in Kroger's history.
- Our divisions contributed more than $17 million to local schools and
non-profits through cash and product donations, foundation grants, and
discounted gift certificates and rebate programs. This fundraising
program is Kroger's largest community activity, with more than 25,000
schools and other organizations participating.
- Employee donations and in-store fundraising generated $24 million in
contributions to support local campaigns that included breast cancer
research, the United Negro College Fund, disaster relief agencies and
children's hospitals.
- Approximately 1,800 grants totaling $5 million were awarded by The
Kroger Co. Foundation, Ralphs/Food 4 Less Foundation and the Fred Meyer
Foundation. Grants are made to organizations located in communities
where the Company has operations supporting its charitable priorities.
- Kroger associates and customers contributed $4.3 million to the
Salvation Army's Red Kettle campaign.
- Kroger raised $1.7 million from customers and associates to help
victims of the tsunami in southern Asia and eastern Africa. Customer
donations were accepted at more than 3,300 stores. The Company's three
foundations matched the associate contributions, bringing Kroger's
total support to nearly $2 million. All of the money collected was
contributed to the American Red Cross International Response Fund in
support of tsunami relief efforts.

"Kroger understands the importance of investing in the communities where our customers and associates live and work," said Lynn Marmer, Kroger group vice president of corporate affairs. "Our retail divisions work closely with our customers to support schools, food banks, youth programs, breast cancer awareness, and non-profit groups in their local communities. This is one way that Kroger can give back to the people and neighborhoods that have given us so much."

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation's largest retail grocery chains. At the end of fiscal 2004, the Company operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 2,532 supermarkets and multi- department stores in 32 states under two dozen banners including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith's and Smith's Marketplace, Fry's and Fry's Marketplace, Dillons, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operated (either directly or through subsidiaries, franchise agreements, or operating agreements) 795 convenience stores, 436 fine jewelry stores, 536 supermarket fuel centers and 42 food processing plants. For more information about Kroger, please visit our web site at http://www.kroger.com/ .