KROGER PROMOTES FLORA TO CORPORATE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND MACAULAY TO PRESIDENT OF GREAT LAKES DIVISION

CINCINNATI, OH, June 2, 2004 -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced that Jon C. Flora has been promoted to senior vice president of the Company, with responsibility for several retail operating divisions. He also will become an officer of the Company.

Mr. Flora, 49, previously served as president of Kroger’s Great Lakes division, which operates 243 stores in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia. He also served as president of the former Michigan division for several years before it was consolidated with Kroger’s Columbus division to form the Great Lakes unit in March 2003. Prior to that, he was executive vice president of Kroger’s Southwest division, which is based in Houston. He began his retail career at Dillon Stores in 1971. Mr. Flora has served in a variety of management positions over the past 33 years, including vice president of operations and vice president of merchandising, real estate, facility engineering, warehousing, distribution and transportation.

“Jon Flora is a talented merchant who brings a wealth of retail operations and marketing experience to Kroger’s senior management team,” said Don McGeorge, Kroger president and chief operating officer. “Over the past four years, he has played a critical role in expanding Kroger’s operations and customer base in the Great Lakes division. We are confident that he will bring valuable perspective and leadership to the corporation.”

Bruce A. Macaulay, 50, will succeed Mr. Flora as president of the Great Lakes division, based in Columbus. He previously served as group vice president of grocery/drug/general merchandise/pharmacy merchandising, procurement and advertising, a position he had held since 2001. Mr. Macaulay has held a series of management positions since joining Kroger as a part-time retail clerk in 1973. Before becoming a corporate officer three years ago, he served as vice president of merchandising for Kroger’s Cincinnati/Dayton division. Before that, he was vice president of grocery merchandising and procurement at Kroger’s corporate headquarters.

“Bruce’s tremendous merchandising experience and demonstrated leadership skills will be invaluable assets to the Great Lakes team,” Mr. McGeorge said.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation’s largest retail grocery chains. At the end of fiscal 2003, the Company operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 2,532 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 32 states under two dozen banners including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith’s, Fry’s, Fry’s Marketplace, Dillons, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operated (either directly, through its subsidiaries or franchise agreements) 802 convenience stores, 440 fine jewelry stores, 466 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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