SUSAN M. PHILLIPS ELECTED TO KROGER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CINCINNATI, OH, April 7, 2003 - The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced that Dr. Susan M. Phillips has been elected to the Company's Board of Directors.

Dr. Phillips has been Dean of the George Washington University School of Business and Public Management and Professor of Finance since 1998. From 1991-98, she served on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Dr. Phillips was a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in Washington, D.C. from 1981-87 and served as Chair from 1983-87. In addition to her economic background, Dr. Phillips has a long tenure in higher education. She served as Vice President for Finance and University Services and Professor of Finance at the University of Iowa College of Business Administration from 1987-1991. She also taught finance at the University of Iowa, as well as at Louisiana State University, in the 1970s.

Dr. Phillips is also a Director of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., The Chicago Board Options Exchange, and the Cantor Exchange.

Dr. Phillips is elected to serve until Kroger's annual meeting of shareholders in June. At that time she will stand for election by the shareholders.

With her election, the Kroger Board has 15 members.

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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