KROGER PROMOTES HOLSCLAW TO PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL DIVISION

CINCINNATI, OH, May 21, 2002 -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced that Lisa E. Holsclaw has been promoted to president of the Company’s Central division in Indianapolis, Indiana. She succeeds Paul Scutt, who has been appointed Group Vice President of Retail Operations at Kroger’s corporate headquarters in Cincinnati.

Ms. Holsclaw, 42, has served in a variety of management and merchandising positions since joining the Company full-time in 1981. She most recently served as Vice President of Merchandising at Fry’s Food & Drug Stores, a division of Kroger that is based in Phoenix. Prior to that, she held a similar title in the Central Division. Ms. Holsclaw also has held positions in store management, advertising and category management with Kroger.

"Lisa is a talented retail executive with considerable merchandising experience," said David B. Dillon, Kroger president and chief operating officer. "She has played a critical role in expanding Fry’s business in Arizona and we’re confident that she will bring that same success and leadership to her new role as division president."

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 (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 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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