KROGER ANNOUNCES RATIFICATION OF NEW LABOR CONTRACT COVERING 4,200 ASSOCIATES IN DAYTON

CINCINNATI, OH, November 15, 2005 – The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today said that members of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 1099 in Dayton, Ohio have ratified a new 42-month contract. The agreement covers approximately 4,200 Kroger associates and will expire in June 2009.

“By working together, Kroger and the UFCW were able to craft an agreement that provides excellent wages and benefits – including affordable health care – in a way that will enable Kroger to maintain or improve its competitiveness with other retailers in the market,” said Geoffrey Covert, president of Kroger’s Cincinnati/Dayton division.

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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