KROGER AND HORMEL FOODS RING IN THE HOLIDAYS BY DONATING GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR 11,000 HAMS TO FEED THE HUNGRY
Donation Will Feed More Than 132,000 People Around The Nation

CINCINNATI, OH, December 19, 2001 -- With the help of customers across the country, The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) and Hormel Foods today announced they are donating gift certificates for more than 11,000 HORMEL® CURE 81 hams hams to nonprofit organizations nationwide.

The donation, valued at more than $137,000, is based on the volume of qualifying Hormel Foods products purchased by shoppers at Kroger-owned stores since October, as part of the 12th annual HORMEL®Hams for the Holidays™ hunger-relief campaign. Nine Company divisions that participated in the campaign recently received gift certificates that are being distributed to various nonprofit organizations. The total donation of 33,000 pounds of ham is enough to feed more than 132,000 people throughout the country.

"This promotion is a wonderful opportunity for Kroger and Hormel Foods to give something back to the communities which we serve," said Derrick Penick, Kroger group vice president of perishables merchandising and procurement. "Our customers can help feed the hungry simply by putting HORMEL ® meat products on their shopping lists."

The HORMEL®Hams for the Holidays™ program has fed nearly 16 million people since it began in 1989. Last year, HORMEL® Hams for the Holidays™ campaign provided more than $1.1 million in premium CURE 81® Hams to nonprofit organizations across the country to help those in need enjoy a holiday meal.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation’s largest retail grocery chains. At the end of the third quarter, the Company operated 2,401 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, Dillon, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operates 790 convenience stores, 426 fine jewelry stores, 177 supermarket fuel centers and 41 food processing plants.

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, many of which are among the best known and trusted in the food industry. The company leverages its extensive expertise, innovation and high competencies in pork and turkey processing and marketing to bring quality, value-added brands to the global marketplace. In January 2001, Hormel Foods was named one of "The 400 Best Companies in America" by Forbes magazine. The company enjoys a strong reputation among consumers, retail grocers, foodservice and industrial consumers for products regarded for quality, taste, nutrition, convenience and value.

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