KROGER NAMED “NATIONAL RETAILER OF THE YEAR” BY AMERICA’S SECOND HARVEST
Retailer Honored for “Outstanding Support” After Donating 25 Million Pounds of Food Last Year To Help Feed the Hungry

CINCINNATI, OH, August 28, 2002 – The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced it has been named “National Retailer of the Year” by America’s Second Harvest, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization.

Kroger and its retail divisions were honored for their “outstanding support” of the member food banks across the country and the leading national hunger relief organization. Among the criteria used by the America’s Second Harvest selection committee were product donations, technical assistance, funding, food drives and volunteer efforts. Local food bank members nominated Kroger for the award, which will be presented at the America’s Second Harvest annual conference in Snowbird, Utah in late September.

Kroger’s retail divisions work with more than 40 regional food banks around the country that are affiliated with Second Harvest. In 2001, the Company’s divisions, in conjunction with suppliers, donated 25 million pounds of food and products to Second Harvest. The donation, which was valued at $38 million, ranked as the largest in Kroger’s history and reflected an increase of 6 million pounds from the previous year. Kroger consistently ranks as one of the largest retail contributors of food and grocery products to the non-profit organization.

Last year, Kroger also expanded its partnership with America’s Second Harvest through the “Grocery Alliance” program. Under this program, Kroger’s retail divisions are working more closely with America’s Second Harvest food banks and food-rescue organizations in their local communities to generate greater awareness of hunger relief programs, share best practices in raising food donations, and seek new donation opportunities through a variety of activities.

“Kroger is proud to support America’s Second Harvest in providing emergency food assistance to millions of hungry people,” said Joseph A. Pichler, Kroger chairman and chief executive officer. “Over the past year, our retail divisions and associates have been working harder than ever to support their local food banks through a broad array of community outreach programs and fundraising events. By partnering with America’s Second Harvest, we can help ensure that donations made by our customers and our stores reach needy families in those communities.”

America’s Second Harvest provided emergency food assistance to more than 23 million hungry Americans last year, including 9 million children and more than 2 million seniors.

“In addition to being one of our top retail food donors, Kroger provides many of our affiliates with technical support, board member participation and supports our fund raising activities,” said Bob Forney, America’s Second Harvest president and chief executive officer. “As the first retailer to become a Grocery Alliance partner, Kroger is working with us to design new and exciting hunger relief programs.”

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, 268 supermarket fuel centers 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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