RALPHS STORES OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

CINCINNATI, OH, October 13, 2003 - The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today said that all of its Ralphs stores in southern California were open for business yesterday after thousands of local temporary workers and managers from other Kroger divisions replaced employees who were locked out following a strike against Vons by the United Food & Commercial Workers union late Saturday.

Albertsons, Vons and Ralphs had previously agreed that a strike against one company would be considered a strike against all three. As a result, Ralphs and Albertsons locked out their employees yesterday as a defensive move. The lockout does not affect store pharmacists, who are continuing to provide critical pharmacy services to customers.

Ralphs intends to continue operating its stores, including pharmacies, for the duration of the strike.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation's largest retail grocery chains. At the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 2,519 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 and Fry's Marketplace, Dillons, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operated (either directly, through its subsidiaries or franchise agreements) 794 convenience stores, 444 fine jewelry stores, 412 supermarket fuel centers and 41 food processing plants. The Company contributed $106 million last year to local communities and non-profit organizations. For more information about Kroger, please visit our web site at www.kroger.com.

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