THE KROGER CO. AND UPROMISE TEAM UP TO GIVE SHOPPERS A HEAD START ON COLLEGE SAVINGS

CINCINNATI, OH, May 2, 2002 – The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced that it has teamed up with Upromise Inc. to help customers save money for college when they purchase products from America’s leading brands at participating Kroger-owned stores.

Thirteen of America's leading consumer packaged goods manufacturers will automatically contribute 3-5% of the product purchase price into a Upromise member's account.

Participating manufacturers include: Coca-Cola, Garelick Farms™, The Glad Products Company, Gorton’s, Keebler, Kellogg, Kimberly-Clark, McNeil, Minute Maid, Nestle Ice Cream Company, Procter & Gamble, Snyder’s of Hanover, Inc. and Welch’s.

“We’re delighted to offer our loyal customers an opportunity to save for a child’s college education every time they purchase one of these brands in our stores,” said Don McGeorge, Kroger executive vice president.

To participate in Kroger’s Upromise grocery service, members register their shopper’s card by visiting Kroger’s web site at www.kroger.com or www.upromise.com. Enrolling in Upromise is free and takes just a few minutes. Shoppers can earn 3-5% back for college when they use that card to purchase any of thousands of participating items. There are no coupons to collect or receipts to keep. All of Kroger’s Upromise contributions are in addition to other store specials and manufacturers' coupons. Families can track their contributions through purchase summaries posted online in their Upromise account.

“We’re thrilled to have Kroger join our network of leading companies,” said George Bell, Upromise CEO. “Our grocery service helps families makes saving a part of families’ everyday lives, and Kroger is helping promote our ‘Save For College’ message across nearly every grocery aisle.”

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation’s largest retail grocery chains. At the end of fiscal 2001, the Company (either directly or through its subsidiaries) operated 2,418 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, Dillon, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operates 789 convenience stores, 427 fine jewelry stores, 227 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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