KROGER AGREES TO PURCHASE FOUR CUB FOOD STORES IN DENVER AREA

CINCINNATI, OH, October 15, 2003 – The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced it has reached an agreement to purchase four Cub Food stores in the Denver area from Supervalu Inc. The transaction is expected to close in late November. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The four stores, which average approximately 66,000 square feet in size, are located at the following addresses:

• 80th and Sheridan, Arvada, CO
• S. Wadsworth Blvd. & W. Alameda Ave., Lakewood, CO
• Tower & Hampden, Aurora, CO
• Leetsdale & Cherry, Glendale, CO

  The stores will become part of the Company’s King Soopers division, which currently operates 129 stores in Colorado under the King Soopers and City Market banners. The acquired stores will operate under the King Soopers banner following an extensive remodeling.

  As part of the agreement, Kroger also plans to purchase a 695,000-square-foot distribution center and a 64,000-square-foot office building, both of which sit on a 110-acre site in Aurora. The Company said it has not finalized plans for those two assets at this time.

  "Denver is an important area that offers significant opportunities for future growth,” said Russ Dispense, King Soopers president. “The acquisition of these four stores will enable us to offer greater convenience and value to our customers. We look forward to interviewing Cub employees for jobs at the stores.”

  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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