KROGER HONORS 81 OUTSTANDING MINORITY-OWNED AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES

CINCINNATI, OH, October 6, 2005 -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today honored 81 outstanding minority-owned and women-owned vendors for 2004.

The Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) were nominated by corporate and division buyers and merchandisers. The honorees were selected for the second annual award based on several criteria, including quality of product or service, innovation and presentation of new ideas, performance, and sales volume. The firms fall into two categories: those that provide retail products or services for sale in Kroger’s stores, and not-for-resale products and service. In 2004, Kroger spent approximately $780 million with M/WBEs.

Established more than 25 years ago, Kroger's supplier diversity program helps M/WBEs analyze their business capabilities to determine whether their products or services fit within Kroger's corporate strategies and the market as a whole.

“Supplier diversity plays an integral role in Kroger’s strategy, and we’re proud to honor the talented partners that have helped us in all aspects of our business,” said Don McGeorge, Kroger president and chief operating officer. “Our goal is to be sure that Kroger’s suppliers reflect the broad diversity of the customers and marketplaces we serve.”

The following companies were honored:

A.C.E. Sushi Company – fresh sushi

Action West – Brokerage services perishables

All-American Meats – Ground beef supplier

American Fish & Seafood – Seafood products

Andy’s Seasonings, Inc. – Breading for meat and seafood items

AVI Food Systems, Inc. – Vending machine services/provider

Bayou City Fish Co. – Fresh and frozen seafood

BE & SCO Manufacturing – Flour tortilla equipment, department design

Blaine Pharmaceuticals – Magnesium supplements

Bob ‘N Jays – Barbecue sauce

Bodacious Foods – Cheese straws (cookies)

Cacique USA - Hispanic cheeses

Ciriza Food Sales, Inc. – Food broker

Classic Foods, Inc. – Kettle Classic potato chips

Coast Produce Company – Produce consolidation services

Con-Real Inc. – Construction services/general contractor

Cooperative Exterminating – Pest control services

Covansys – Information technology contractor staffing services

Crafty Carr’s – Novelty floral items

Crystal Company – Orchids

Debbie Lynn, Inc. – Stationery products

Essen Nutrition Corp. – Pre-mixed spice blends

Freight Handlers of Utah – Lumper and janitorial services

Frieda’s, Inc. – Specialty produce

Georgia Vegetable Company, Inc. – Fresh produce and vegetables

Golden Eagle Growers – Foliage and outdoor bedding plants

Greenwood Greenhouse – Bedding plants and poinsettias

Gulf States Plumbing – Plumbing services

Haley Industrial Coatings & Linings, Inc.

Halligan Electric, Inc. – Floor coatings

Hannah Max Baking – Specialty cakes and desserts

Harlem Lyrics Enterprises, Inc. – Ethnic greeting cards

HealthSeekers Enterprises – Bean sprouts and greens

Heide & Company – Beauty care items

Heil-Brice Retail Advertising – Advertising services

Henry’s Dream, Inc. – Salsa – Tejano salsa products

Ice Tubes, Inc. – Cylindrical shaped ice cube trays

Innovative Marketing, Inc. – Graphics, printing, multimedia advertising

Islands Bakery – Salsa

J. Primm & Associates – Brokerage services

Jazz Turf Management – Grounds maintenance

Kansas Fire Equipment Co. – Fire system inspections and service

Kansas Lumper Service, Inc. – Unloading services

La Voz de Indiana Newspaper – Bi-weekly Hispanic newspaper

LaTortilla Factory – Tortilla products

Lifeway Foods – Yogurt dairy drinks

Lulu’s Dessert – Ready to eat desserts

M Bruenger Trucking Company – Transportation services

Maquez Brothers – Manufacturer and distributor of Mexican food products

McCanless & Company – Brokerage services for pet food ingredients

Megen Construction – General contracting services

Melissa’s World Variety Produce – Fresh produce and organic foods

Micro One, Inc. – IT consulting services

Millers Bar-B-Que – Baked beans

Motive Power Services – Battery room services

Najdek Produce – Shredded carrots

Nest Fresh Eggs – Cage-free eggs/organic eggs

P&B Salsa & Services – Processing equipment sales and installation

Palmer Promotions – Promotional and special event items and services

Phyllon Marketing Communications – Advertising/marketing/design services

Pinnacle Investigations – Background services

RB Stroud & Associates – Consulting services

Reggio’s Pizza, Inc. – Frozen pizza

Reliable Service Company – Repair services for fixtures, check stands

Roof Management, Inc. – Consulting services

Rose Gonzales Plants, Inc. – Custom garden baskets, upgraded plants

Ruiz Foods – El Monterrey brand Mexican snacks

Sarkisian Coffee – Specialty coffee

Sasaki Farms, Inc. – Leaf lettuce, bok choy and napa cabbage

Solomito Land Planning – Surveying, land planning consulting services

Sopra, LLC – Gourmet pasta sauce – Milazzo brand

Staffworks, Inc. – Freight handling services

T&B Electric, LTD. – Electrical contractor

The Silverhart Group – Brokerage services for seasonal, everyday GM

Topete/Stonefield, Inc. – Marketing/advertising/PR and translation services

TWT Distributing, Inc. – Procures/distributes ethnic HBC products

Uloth & Peavler LLP – Legal services

Uncle Wiley’s, Inc. – Spices and seasonings

VM International – Houseware goods

Worksite Consultants – Pre-employment drug testing, physicals, etc.

Wrap Art, Inc. – Fabric gift bags for bottles

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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