KROGER PURCHASES 13 FOOD TOWN STORES IN TOLEDO AREA

CINCINNATI, OH, June 27, 2003 - The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced it has purchased 13 Food Town stores in the Toledo area. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The stores, which average 45,000 square feet in size, are located at the following addresses:

• Southland Shopping Center, Toledo
• 5201 Suder Road, Toledo
• 1316 Oak Harbor Road, Fremont, Ohio
• 1300 Michigan Ave., Waterville, Ohio
• 850 South McCord Road, Holland, Ohio
• 113 East Airport Hwy., Swanton, Ohio
• 210 East Mary Street, Bucyrus, Ohio
• 101 6th Street, Findlay, Ohio
• 1800 North Blanchard, Findlay, Ohio
• 850 South Monroe Street, Monroe, Michigan
• 3833 North Dixie, Monroe, Michigan
• 531 West Main Street, Milan, Michigan
• 571 East Monroe Street, Dundee, Michigan

The stores are now part of Kroger's Great Lakes division, which currently operates 22 stores in the Toledo area and a total of 231 stores in Ohio, Michigan, and northern West Virginia. The stores located at 5201 Suder Ave., 1316 Oak Harbor Road, and the Southland Shopping Center have already re-opened under the Kroger banner. The 10 remaining stores have closed for inventory review, although the pharmacies remain open for business. All but the North Blanchard store will re-open under the Kroger banner before the end of July.

"Southern Michigan and northwest Ohio are important markets for Kroger," said Jon Flora, president of Kroger's Great Lakes division. "The addition of these stores will provide growth opportunities for our business and added convenience for our customers, who can expect to see lower prices, greater variety and many improved services. We look forward to serving them for many years to come. Kroger plans to interview Food Town employees and looks forward to their help in serving our new customers."

He said there are no plans to close any of the current Kroger stores.

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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