KROGER OPENS 300TH SUPERMARKET FUEL CENTER
With Fuel Centers in 25 States, Kroger Offers Customers Unmatched Convenience and Value

CINCINNATI, OH, August 1, 2002 - Just three-and-a-half years after opening its first supermarket fuel center at a City Market store in Colorado, The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today opened its 300th gas site. The new fuel center is located at the Kroger store in League City, Texas.

Kroger began selling gasoline at its supermarkets in late 1998. Today the Company operates supermarket fuel centers in 25 states and every retail division except Food 4 Less, which plans to open its first gas site in a few weeks. Kroger expects to have more than 350 supermarket fuel centers open by the end of fiscal 2002.

"Supermarket fuel is a natural addition to Kroger's one-stop-shopping strategy," said David B. Dillon, Kroger president and chief operating officer. "Our fuel centers offer customers unmatched convenience and value while allowing Kroger to build on many years of experience selling gas through most of our convenience stores."

The typical supermarket fuel center consists of three to seven multi-product dispensers and a small kiosk from which customers can purchase snacks, candy, cigarettes and various oil-related products. All of the fuel centers accept credit and debit cards at the pump.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation's largest retail grocery chains. At the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company (either directly or through its subsidiaries) operated 2,429 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, Dillon, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operates (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 780 convenience stores, 436 fine jewelry stores and 41 food processing plants. Last year, Kroger contributed $129 million to support education, hunger relief and local non-profit organizations in the communities where the Company operates stores or manufacturing facilities. For more information about Kroger, please visit our web site at www.kroger.com.

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