KROGER CONTRIBUTES $106 MILLION TO COMMUNITIES AND CHARITABLE CAUSES IN 2002

Retailer Donates Average of $2 Million Per Week to Local Schools, Hunger Relief Agencies, Youth Programs and Non-Profit Groups

CINCINNATI, OH, June 11, 2003 – The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced that it contributed $106 million to local communities and non-profit organizations in 2002.

These contributions – which averaged $2 million per week – included donations made by Kroger retail divisions and the Company’s three foundations, employees, and funds raised through in-store events and promotions. Thousands of local schools, hunger relief agencies, youth programs and non-profit organizations in communities where Kroger operates stores or manufacturing facilities received critical financial support from the Company.

“Kroger recognizes the importance of investing in the communities where our associates and customers live and work, particularly at a time when the weak economy and high unemployment have created additional challenges for food banks, non-profits and other local service organizations,” said Lynn Marmer, Kroger group vice president of corporate affairs. “Our retail divisions work closely with our customers to support schools, food banks, youth programs, breast cancer awareness, and non-profit groups in their local communities. This is one way that Kroger can give back to the people and neighborhoods that have given us so much.”

Kroger focuses its charitable giving in five key areas: being a “good neighbor”; hunger relief; education; advancement of women and minorities; and women’s health. Among the charitable programs that Kroger sponsored last year:

• Neighbor to Neighbor programs are operated in all Kroger divisions in which cash and product donations are made in response to customer requests to support youth activities, Scout troops, children’s reading programs, and other local non-profit organizations.
• Kroger divisions also work closely with more than 40 regional food banks affiliated with America’s Second Harvest, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization. Last year, the Company donated 20 million pounds of food valued at $35 million.
• The Company’s divisions donated $24 million to local schools and charitable organizations through its discounted gift certificate and rebate programs. This is Kroger’s largest community activity, with thousands of schools and other organizations in Kroger markets participating.
• Employee donations and in-store fundraising generated $18 million in contributions to support local campaigns that included breast cancer research, the United Negro College Fund, disaster relief agencies and children’s hospitals.
• More than 1,200 grants totaling $4.2 million were awarded in 2002 by The Kroger Co. Foundation, Ralphs/Food 4 Less Foundation and the Fred Meyer Foundation. Grants are made to organizations located in communities where the Company has operations.

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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