PRESTIDGE JOINS KROGER AS VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS FOR SOUTHWEST DIVISION

CINCINNATI, OH, September 9, 2004 -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced that Mark Prestidge has joined the Company as vice president of operations for Kroger’s Southwest Division, based in Houston.

Mr. Prestidge brings more than 21 years of retail leadership experience to Kroger. From 1998–2001, he served as senior vice president of operations for Randall’s/Safeway Food Markets in Houston, with responsibility for day-to-day operations of 122 stores in Texas. Randall’s was a privately owned food retailer prior to being acquired by Safeway in 1999. He also served as president of Tom Thumb, a division of Randall’s, for five years. Prior to that, Mark held various positions in division, district and store management with Randall’s.

“Mark is a talented leader with a track record of proven results, and we are delighted that he will be joining our team,” said Bill Breetz, president of Kroger’s Southwest division, which operates 218 stores in Texas and Louisiana.

Mr. Prestidge succeeds Steve Young, who was recently named vice president of retail process change for Kroger.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation’s largest retail grocery chains. At the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 2,536 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 32 states under two dozen banners including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith’s, Fry’s, Fry’s Marketplace, Dillons, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operated (either directly or through subsidiaries, franchise agreements, or operating agreements) 794 convenience stores, 439 fine jewelry stores, and 42 food processing plants. For more information about Kroger, please visit our web site at www.kroger.com.

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