THORNE ANNOUNCES PLANS TO RETIRE AFTER 37 YEARS WITH KROGER

CINCINNATI, OH, June 25, 2003 -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today said that Senior Vice President James R. Thorne has announced plans to retire later this year after 37 years with the Company. A successor is expected to be named at that time.

Mr. Thorne joined Kroger in 1966 as a management trainee in Charleston, West Virginia. He has held a variety of management positions within the Company during his career, including advertising, store management, retail operations, and merchandising. In 1993, Mr. Thorne was promoted to president of Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic division. Two years later, he was promoted to senior vice president of the Company, a position he has held for the past eight years.

“Jim has been an outstanding officer of the Company. We are grateful for his dedication, expertise and integrity,” said Joseph A. Pichler, Kroger chairman and chief executive officer.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation’s largest retail grocery chains. At the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 2,496 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 and Fry’s Marketplace, Dillons, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 792 convenience stores, 445 fine jewelry stores, 395 supermarket fuel centers and 41 food processing plants. The Company contributed $106 million last year to local communities and non-profit organizations. For more information about Kroger, please visit our web site at www.kroger.com.

« Go back