KROGER’S RICH MANKA TO BE APPOINTED TO PENSION BENEFIT
GUARANTY CORPORATION BY PRESIDENT BUSH
Kroger’s Pension Investment Officer Is Longtime Leader in Industry

CINCINNATI, Ohio, June 28, 2007 – President George W. Bush this week announced his intention to appoint Rich Manka, vice president and pension investment officer for The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) Advisory Committee.

"Rich is a trusted member of Kroger’s leadership team and his expertise in pension systems will be a benefit to the millions of Americans who rely on the services of the PBGC," said David B. Dillon, Kroger chairman and chief executive officer.

Mr. Manka joined Kroger in 1982 as an investment manager for retirement plans and has since held several positions of increasing responsibility. In his current role, he is responsible for the guidance, control and administration of the company’s pension investments. As a Trustee and Chair of the Investment Committee for the United Food & Commercial Workers Union Pension Fund, Mr. Manka is Kroger’s representative to its largest multi-employer pension plan.

“We congratulate Rich on this honor and thank him for the services he provides to our Company and our associates,” said Dillon.

Prior to joining Kroger, Mr. Manka was an accountant for companies in Wichita and Hutchinson, Kansas. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Kansas. Mr. Manka and his wife Judy reside in Hutchinson, Kansas. They have three children and five grandchildren.

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 the first quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 2,458 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, 408 fine jewelry stores, 652 supermarket fuel centers and 42 food processing plants. For more information about Kroger, please visit our web site at www.kroger.com.

« Go back