RECH ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM FRY’S AFTER 37-YEAR CAREER WITH KROGER

CINCINNATI, OH, March 31, 2003 -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced that Thomas Rech, president of Fry’s Food & Drug Stores in Phoenix, is retiring from the Company after 37 years of service.

Michael J. Donnelly, currently senior vice president of drug/GM merchandising and procurement for Kroger and former president of Fry’s, is returning to Arizona to succeed Mr. Rech.

Mr. Rech has served as president of Fry’s since December 2001. Prior to that, he was president of Kroger’s former Nashville division. Mr. Rech held a variety of management positions during his career with Kroger. He joined the Company as a part-time store clerk in 1966.

"We are very grateful to Tom for his dedication and service to Kroger and Fry’s over the past 37 years," said David B. Dillon, Kroger's president and chief operating officer. "His experience and leadership have helped position Fry’s for future growth."

Mr. Donnelly is returning to the division where he spent much of his career. He started at Fry’s Food Stores of California in 1978. He later served as vice president of merchandising for five years. In 2001, he was promoted to group vice president of drug/GM merchandising and procurement at Kroger’s corporate office in Cincinnati. Mr. Donnelly was promoted to senior vice president last fall.

“We are pleased that Mike was interested in returning to Phoenix to lead Fry’s. Arizona is an important market for us, and Mike is a talented merchant with a great understanding of what our customers want and how to position Fry’s for continued growth,” Mr. Dillon said.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation’s largest retail grocery chains. At the end of fiscal 2002, the Company operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 2,488 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 32 states under approximately two dozen banners including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith’s, Fry’s and Fry’s Marketplace, Dillons, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 784 convenience stores, 441 fine jewelry stores, 376 supermarket fuel centers and 41 food processing plants. For more information about Kroger, please visit our web site at www.kroger.com.

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