KROGER REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2010 RESULTS
Identical Supermarket Sales Increased 2.7% without Fuel
Confirms Fiscal 2010 Guidance

CINCINNATI, Ohio, September 14, 2010 – The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today reported total sales, which include fuel, increased 6.0% to $18.8 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2010 compared with $17.7 billion for the same period last year. Excluding fuel sales, total sales increased 3.3% in the second quarter, which ended August 14, 2010, over the same period last year. Identical supermarket sales, without fuel, increased 2.7% in the second quarter over the same period last year.

Net earnings for the second quarter totaled $261.6 million, or $0.41 per diluted share. Net earnings in the same period last year were $254.4 million, or $0.39 per diluted share.

“Kroger’s sales have remained solid in the face of competitive and economic challenges because of the strong credibility we have with our shoppers. Our team understands the importance of finding ways to make each customer visit better than the last one, resulting in consistent positive identical supermarket sales growth,” said David B. Dillon, Kroger’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We continue to build momentum through our Customer 1st strategy, which serves Kroger customers, associates, shareholders and communities well in a variety of operating environments.”

Details of Second Quarter 2010 Results
Including Kroger’s retail fuel operations, FIFO gross margin (Table 1) was 22.51% of sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2010, a decrease of 60 basis points compared to the second quarter last year. Excluding retail fuel operations, FIFO gross margin decreased 16 basis points. Supermarket selling gross margin (Table 1) declined 12 basis points without fuel. Kroger recorded an $11.5 million LIFO charge during the quarter, a decrease of $3.2 million from the same period last year. Excluding retail fuel sales, the LIFO charge decreased 2 basis points as a percentage of sales.

Including Kroger’s retail fuel operations, operating, general and administrative (OG&A) costs were 17.07% of sales, a decline of 33 basis points compared with the second quarter last year. Excluding retail fuel operations, OG&A increased 7 basis points from the same period last year.

Financial Strategy
Capital investment, excluding acquisitions and purchases of leased facilities, totaled $402.5 million for the second quarter, compared with $518.0 million for the same period last year.

Net total debt (Table 5) was $6.9 billion, a decrease of $393.5 million from a year ago. On a rolling four-quarters basis, Kroger’s net total debt to EBITDA ratio, adjusted for the southern California impairment charge in fiscal 2009 and Hurricane Ike in fiscal 2008, was 1.87 compared with 1.77 during the same period last year.

During the second quarter, Kroger invested $148.3 million to repurchase 7.3 million shares of stock at an average price of $20.43 per share. At the end of the quarter, approximately $409.2 million remained under the $500 million stock repurchase program announced in June 2010.

Fiscal 2010 Year-to-Date Results
For the first two quarters of fiscal 2010, total sales were $43.6 billion compared with $40.5 billion for the same period last year. Excluding fuel sales, total sales increased 3.2% over the prior year. For the same period, identical supermarket sales, excluding fuel, increased 2.6%.

Net earnings for the first two quarters of fiscal 2010 were $635.3 million or $0.98 per diluted share. Net earnings for the same period last year were $689.5 million, or $1.05 per diluted share.

Kroger’s operating margin for the first two quarters of fiscal 2010 decreased 52 basis points as a percentage of sales compared to the same period last year. Excluding retail fuel operations, the Company’s operating margin decreased 57 basis points as a percentage of sales from the same period last year.

Fiscal 2010 Guidance
Kroger confirmed its identical supermarket sales and earnings guidance for fiscal 2010. The Company said it continues to expect identical supermarket sales growth, excluding fuel, of 2% to 3% for the year. Net earnings are expected to range from $1.60 to $1.80 per diluted share for the year. Kroger still expects to invest approximately $1.9 to $2.1 billion in capital projects in fiscal 2010.

“As our results show, we are committed to achieving solid financial results today while we invest in the future growth of Kroger’s business. As we move into the second half of the fiscal year, we are striving to achieve results in the top half of our earnings guidance range, even as the operating environment remains uncertain,” Mr. Dillon said. “Our talented associates are energized and focused on delivering a great experience in our stores for shoppers as we enter the holiday season.”

Kroger, the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer, employs more than 334,000 associates who serve customers in 2,468 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s. The Company also operates 784 convenience stores, 372 fine jewelry stores, 932 supermarket fuel centers and 40 food processing plants in the U.S. Kroger, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, focuses its charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, health and wellness initiatives, and local organizations in the communities it serves. For more information about Kroger, please visit www.kroger.com.

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Note: Fuel sales have historically had low FIFO gross margin and OG&A rates as compared to corresponding rates on non-fuel sales. Additionally, pricing and margins in Kroger’s retail fuel operations can be volatile on a quarterly basis. As a result, Kroger discloses such rates, both including and excluding the effect of retail fuel operations.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements about the future performance of the Company. These statements are based on management’s assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. Such statements are indicated by words such as “confirmed,” “expected,” “expect,” and “achieve.” Aggressive competition, economic conditions, interest rates, goodwill impairment, the success of programs designed to increase our identical supermarket sales without fuel, and labor disputes, particularly as the Company seeks to manage increases in health care and pension costs, could materially affect our expected identical supermarket sales growth and earnings per share, and our goal to achieve results in the top half of our earnings guidance range. Earnings per share also will be affected by the number of shares outstanding and volatility in the Company’s fuel margins. Earnings and sales also may be affected by adverse weather conditions, particularly to the extent that hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and other conditions disrupt our operations or those of our suppliers; create shortages in the availability or increases in the cost of products that we sell in our stores or materials and ingredients we use in our manufacturing facilities; or raise the cost of supplying energy to our various operations. Our results also will be affected by rising commodity costs, the inconsistency of the economic recovery, consumer confidence, and changes in inflation and deflation in product and operating costs. Our capital expenditures could vary from our expectations if we are unsuccessful in acquiring suitable sites for new stores; development costs vary from those budgeted; our logistics and technology or store projects are not completed on budget or within the time frame projected; or if current operating conditions fail to improve, or worsen. These forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. We assume no obligation to update the information contained herein. Please refer to Kroger’s reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties.

Note: Kroger’s quarterly conference call with investors will be broadcast live online at 10 a.m. (ET) on September 14, 2010 at www.kroger.com and www.streetevents.com. An on-demand replay of the webcast will be available from approximately 1 p.m. (ET) today through Tuesday, September 28, 2010

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