RALPHS NAMED "RETAILER OF THE DECADE" BY MEXICAN AMERICAN GROCERS ASSOCIATION

CINCINNATI, OH, December 11, 2002 - The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced that Ralphs Supermarkets has been named "Retailer of the Decade" by the Mexican American Grocers Association (MAGA), the nation's largest Hispanic food retailing trade organization.

Ralphs, a division of Kroger, was honored for "25 years of outstanding service" to MAGA and the Hispanic community at MAGA's 25th Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet in Los Angeles last week.

"Ralphs has been a key partner to MAGA and our scholarship foundation and to the success we have had over the past 25 years," said Steven A. Soto, MAGA's president and CEO. "Ralphs, in fact, was our first retail member. Ralphs has participated in every event and endeavor we have undertaken -- our conferences, banquets, meetings and legislative efforts. And Ralphs has an enviable record regarding its hiring and diversity policies."

Ralphs has been a member of MAGA since 1977. Ralphs is MAGA's most generous supporter. Since 1977, Ralphs has contributed more than $400,000 to MAGA and to the MAGA Foundation, which provides college scholarships to deserving students.

"Ralphs is proud of its longtime association and support of MAGA," said John Burgon, Ralphs president. "We share in MAGA's commitment to the Hispanic community. At Ralphs, we take pride in the diversity of our suppliers, our products, our customers and our most valuable asset -- our people. We believe in MAGA's philosophy that our business activities must make good social sense and our social activities must make good business sense."

This marks the second time MAGA has recognized Ralphs' efforts on behalf of the Hispanic community. In 2000, Ralphs received MAGA's "Commitment to Excellence" award.

"Ralphs is to be commended for the commitment it has made to invest back into the community through its charitable and business activities," said Mr. Soto. "Ralphs' commitment has extended to its support of MAGA and MAGA's efforts to provide job and educational opportunities to Hispanics."

Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Mexican American Grocers Association is a national nonprofit organization, founded in 1977, by a small group of Mexican-American retail grocery store owners. MAGA's goal is to help both retail and manufacturing segments of the grocery industry capture a larger share of the burgeoning Mexican/Latino market, and in doing so, increase community access to quality grocery products. In addition, MAGA and its member companies, including Ralphs, have raised nearly $2 million in scholarship grants for Hispanic students preparing for careers in the grocery industry.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation's largest retail grocery chains. At the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 2,461 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 32 states under approximately 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 operates (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 783 convenience stores, 441 fine jewelry stores, 341 supermarket fuel centers and 41 food processing plants. For more information about Kroger, please visit our web site at www.kroger.com.

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