KROGER COMPLETES PURCHASE OF SEVEN FURRS STORES IN NEW MEXICO AND SALE OF FIVE SMITH'S STORES IN TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO

CINCINNATI, OH, September 4, 2001 -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today said it has completed the previously announced purchase of seven stores in New Mexico from Furrs Supermarkets Inc.

Four of the acquired stores are located in Albuquerque, while the remaining three stores are located in Santa Fe, Las Alamos and Socorro. The stores will operate under the Smith's Food & Drug Stores banner.

Kroger also announced it has completed the sale of four Smith's stores in El Paso, Texas, and one Smith's store in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to Fleming.

Following the completion of both transactions, Smith's operates 116 stores in seven states, including 18 stores in New Mexico.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger (www.kroger.com) is the nation's largest retail grocery chain. At the end of the first quarter, the Company operated 2,380 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 788 convenience stores, 407 fine jewelry stores and 41 food processing plants.

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