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From KTVB-7: WASHINGTON — Kroger plans to close approximately 60 stores across the U.S. over the next 18 months, the grocery chain revealed in an earnings report.
Kroger says the closures are part of an effort to streamline operations and reinvest in the customer experience.
While the company did not release a list of affected store locations, Ron Sargent, interim CEO of Kroger, explained that the closures are across the country. He also noted that Kroger had previously delayed some store evaluations during its merger process, but the company is now resuming those efforts.
Despite the closures, adjusted first-quarter sales rose 3.7% to $45.12 billion, compared to $43.8 billion from the same quarter last year.
“In the first quarter, Kroger recognized an impairment charge of $100 million related to the planned closing of approximately 60 stores over the next 18 months,” the report said. “As a result of these store closures, Kroger expects a modest financial benefit.”
Sargent commented on the closures during the company’s June 2025 earnings call.
“Unfortunately, today not all of our stores are delivering the sustainable results we need,” Sargent said. “We don’t take these decisions lightly, but this will make the company more efficient and Kroger will offer roles in other stores to all associates currently employed at affected stores.”
Kroger is reorganizing after a failed attempt to merge with Albertsons. in 2022, the two companies proposed a $24.6 billion deal, which would have been the largest supermarket merger in U.S. history, saying they needed to merge in order to compete with stores like Walmart.
A federal judge halted the deal in December, citing concerns about reduced competition and potential price increases.
“We usually evaluate individual store performance on an annual basis, and we continue to do that, but we deferred closing any stores due to the merger process, so we see this as an opportunity to move these closed store sales to other stores,” Sargent said about the closures.
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