KROGER INDUCTED INTO BILLION DOLLAR ROUNDTABLE BASED ON ITS COMMITMENT TO MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES

CINCINNATI, Ohio, May 24, 2007 – The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) was inducted into the Billion Dollar Roundtable (BDR) Inc. yesterday because it now spends $1 billion annually with minority and women-owned suppliers.

The Billion Dollar Roundtable is the premier forum for corporations that have achieved $1 billion or more in spending with minority and women-owned businesses. Kroger joins 13 other corporate members, including The Procter & Gamble Co., Toyota Manufacturing North America Inc. and IBM Corp.

“Kroger’s achievement reflects its strong commitment to ensuring that minority and women-owned businesses are a key part of its business,” said Don McNeely, chairman of the Billion Dollar Roundtable Inc.

Kroger has been a leader in the use of minority and women-owned business enterprises in all aspects of its business for more than 25 years.

"Minority and women-owned business partners are important to Kroger's success. Last year, we set a goal to spend more than $1 billion a year with diverse suppliers and are honored to be included in this prestigious group,“ said Carver Johnson, Kroger’s Chief Diversity Officer. “We continue to look for opportunities to partner with a diverse group of suppliers in order to meet the needs of all of our customers. ”

The Billion Dollar Roundtable was created in 2001 to recognize and celebrate corporations that achieved spending of at least $1 billion with minority and women-owned suppliers. For more information on the BDR, please visit www.bdrusa.org.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation’s largest retail grocery chains. In 2006, the Company donated $150 million to help hunger relief efforts across the country, raise awareness of breast cancer, and support local schools and organizations in the communities it serves. At the end of fiscal 2006, the Company operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 2,468 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banners including Kroger and Kroger Marketplace, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith’s and Smith’s Marketplace, Fry’s and Fry’s Marketplace, Dillons, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operated (either directly or through subsidiaries, franchise agreements, or operating agreements) 779 convenience stores, 412 fine jewelry stores, 631 supermarket fuel centers and 42 food processing plants. For more information about Kroger, please visit our web site at www.kroger.com.

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