Kroger Customers and Associates Raise $9.4 Million To Support Their Own Communities Through Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign

CINCINNATI, Ohio, April 10, 2008 – Customers and associates of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) and its family of stores raised $9.4 million to support The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle campaign during the 2007-2008 holiday season. The total represents an increase of 16 percent over the $8.1 million raised last year, and it contributed to the record $118 million raised by the Salvation Army overall.

“Kroger is an essential retail partner for The Salvation Army and we appreciate the long-standing commitment the company has demonstrated to helping those in need,” said Major George Hood, National Community Relations Secretary for The Salvation Army. “We could not provide critical services to thousands of poor and underprivileged people in this country without the generous donations of time and money from Kroger customers and associates.”

As part of Kroger’s effort, kettles were placed in front of Kroger’s family of stores in 31 states. The kettles were staffed by Salvation Army volunteers, including many Kroger associates. The Salvation Army estimates that 25,000 bell ringers participate in the Red Kettle campaign annually. About 83 cents of every dollar is used on direct social services to people in need, well above the industry standard.

The Salvation Army uses funds raised through the Red Kettle campaign to provide assistance to more than 29 million people in 5,000 communities across the country. All of the donations stay local to the community in which they were given.

About The Kroger Co.
Kroger, one of the nation’s largest retail grocery chains, is honored to celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2008. The Company’s more than 310,000 associates serve customers in 2,486 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banners including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, Fry’s, King Soopers, Smith’s, Dillons, QFC and City Market. Kroger associates also serve customers in 782 convenience stores, 394 fine jewelry stores and 696 supermarket fuel centers the Company operates. In addition, the Company operates 42 food processing plants in the U.S. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger focuses its charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, health and wellness initiatives, and local schools and grassroots organizations in the communities it serves. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at www.kroger.com

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has been supporting those in need for 128 years in the U.S. Nearly 29 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a broad array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 83 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, please visit www.salvationarmyusa.org

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