KROGER AND UFCW LOCAL 1996 ANNOUNCE RATIFICATION OF TWO LABOR CONTRACTS COVERING 16,000 ASSOCIATES

CINCINNATI, OH, October 31, 2005 – The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1996 are pleased to announce two new 52-month contracts in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia. Members of UFCW Local 1996 overwhelmingly ratified the contracts during voting last Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The union contracts, which together cover approximately 16,000 Kroger associates at 175 stores primarily in Georgia, provide for excellent wages and benefits that will enable Kroger to maintain or improve its competitiveness with other retailers in the market. By working together, Kroger and the UFCW were able preserve quality health care and retirement benefits for associates while ensuring a top-quality work environment and shopping experience for customers.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation’s largest retail grocery chains. At the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2005, the Company operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 2,515 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 32 states under two dozen local banners including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith’s and Smith’s Marketplace, Fry’s and Fry’s Marketplace, Dillons, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operated (either directly or through subsidiaries, franchise agreements, or operating agreements) 791 convenience stores, 431 fine jewelry stores, 559 supermarket fuel centers and 42 food processing plants. For more information about Kroger, please visit our web site at www.kroger.com.

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