Performance Tables
Key Performance Data Tables
The Kroger team recognizes our unique role in the future of food. We are helping build a more resilient and equitable food system that preserves access and affordability – today and in the future – by advancing responsible production methods for the food and consumer goods on which we all depend.
People: Serving Our Associates, Customers and Communities
| Goals & Metrics | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Baseline | Target Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Wages & Benefits | ||||||
| Cumulative investment in our associates' compensation and benefits | $1.2B | $1.9B | $2.4B | 2018 | — |  |
| Increase average retail hourly wages and benefits over time | Over $17/hour; over $22/hour including benefits |
Over $18/hour; over $23.50/hour including benefits |
Over $19/hour; nearly $25/hour including benefits |
— | — | |
| Food Access & Affordability | ||||||
| Increase annual sales of affordable, quality Our Brands portfolio of products | $28B | $30B | $31B | — | — | |
| Introduce new affordable Our Brands products | 660 | 680 | 700+ | — | — | |
| Annual total meals donated to our communities—food and charitable donations | 546M | 599M | 455M | — | — | |
| Cumulative total meals donated since 2017—food and donations | 2.3B | 2.9B | 3.4B | 2017 | 2025 |  |
| Donate surplus fresh food from stores and facilities to our communities through Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Food Rescue program | 94M pounds | 106M pounds | 114M pounds | — | — | |
| 100% of retail stores actively donating surplus fresh food | 93% | 100% | 100% | 2017 | 2025 | |
| Company-wide donations of fresh Produce, Deli and Dairy items make up 45%+ of total donations to improve nutrition security | 42% | 45% | 45% | 2017 | 2025 | |
| Charitable Giving | ||||||
| Total annual charitable giving to our communities | $343M | $336M | $329M | — | — | |
| Share of total charitable giving donated to national and local organizations helping end hunger | $210M | $253M | $256M | — | — | |
| Supplier Diversity & Inclusion: Certified diverse-owned suppliers have the opportunity to participate and compete for contracts | ||||||
| Annual spend with certified diverse-owned businesses1 | $3.1B | $3.5B | $3.6B | — | — | |
M = million B = billion
- Reflects restated results after comprehensive review of supplier certification status
Planet: Protecting Natural Resources for a Brighter Future
| Goals & Metrics | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Baseline | Target Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate Impact1 | ||||||
| Achieve a 30% cumulative reduction in GHG emissions (percentage reduction from baseline; annual total Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions) | 9.1% 5,251,448 MTCO2e |
15.2% 4,894,705 MTCO2e |
12.0% 5,081,613 MTCO2e |
2018 | 2030 | |
| Operational Waste | ||||||
| Achieve 90%+ waste diversion from landfills company-wide2 | 79% | 82% | 82% | 2016 | 2025 |  |
| Phase out single-use plastic grocery shopping bags | Developing roadmap | Using pilots to refine roadmap | Using pilots to refine roadmap; 700+ stores phased out plastic bags due to legislation | 2018 | 2025 | |
| Food Waste | ||||||
| Reduce total food waste generated in retail stores by 50% cumulatively from 2017 baseline (cumulative reduction; annual tons generated) | 19.7% 269,382 tons |
26.2% 245,289 tons |
20.0% 265,773 tons |
2017 | 2025 | |
| Achieve 95% diversion of remaining retail food waste from landfill | 48.8% | 45.9% | 51.7% | 2017 | 2025 | |
| Strive for 95% or more of retail stores participating in food waste recycling programs | 92% | 92% | 95% | 2017 | 2025 | |
| Our Brands Product Packaging Sustainability3 | ||||||
| Seek to achieve 100% recyclable, compostable and/or reusable packaging | 40% | 37% | 52% | 2020 | 2030 | |
| Increase recycled content in packaging so Our Brands portfolio collectively contains at least 10% recycled content | 14% | 18% | 10% | 2020 | 2030 | |
| Biodiversity & Resource Conservation | ||||||
| Pollinators | ||||||
| Set new Goal to Protect Pollinators & Biodiversity to reduce pesticide use in fresh produce supply chains | — | — | — | — | — | NEW |
- Consistent with prior years, partial Scope 3 emissions for 2023 are reported in the Climate Impact and Supplemental Data sections of the report. We also include a full Scope 3 inventory for 2021. We will report full Scope 3 inventories in the future
- Progress reflects calendar year data with the exception of construction waste, which reflects fiscal year
- We calculated our first packaging baseline for Our Brands products in 2022 for the 2021 performance year. The current dataset is focused on Our Brands food; health and beauty; cleaning; and deli and bakery products. We continue to expand on and improve our packaging dataset, particularly as we prepare for legislated reporting in the future. Narrative about additional stated packaging sustainability goals is included in the Waste & Circularity section of the report
| Goals & Metrics | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Baseline | Target Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seafood Sustainability1 | ||||||
| Source 95% or more of wild-caught seafood from fisheries that are Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified, in MSC full assessment, in comprehensive fishery improvement projects or certified by other Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative-recognized programs | 94% | 95% | 96% | 2020 | Ongoing | |
| Preferentially source wild-caught seafood volume from fisheries that are MSC certified | 77% | 76% | 80% | 2020 | Ongoing | |
| Source 95% or more of farm-raised seafood from farms that are Best Aquaculture Practices 2-Star or greater certified, Aquaculture Stewardship Council certified or GLOBALG.A.P. certified | 98% | 99% | 98% | 2020 | Ongoing | |
| Source 100% of shelf-stable tuna from companies aligned with the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation2 | 97% | 98% | 99% | 2020 | Ongoing | |
| Source 20% of Our Brands shelf-stable tuna from fisheries that are MSC certified | 2.7% | 17.7% | 7.3% | 2020 | 2025 | |
| No-Deforestation Commitments3 | ||||||
| Source palm oil, palm kernel oil and palm oil derivatives in Our Brands products from sources certified to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil supply chain standard (percentage of ingredient volume that is from certified sources) | 88% | 96% | 98% | N/A | Ongoing | |
| Used post-consumer recycled content fiber and/or virgin fiber certified to FSC, SFI or PEFC standard | ||||||
| Kroger plants (percentage of packaging procured, by weight, from certified sources and/or including recycled content) | 95%4 | 95% | 99% | N/A | 2025 | |
| All Our Brands household paper products and paper product packaging (percentage of material, by weight, from certified sources and/or including recycled content) | Household: 92%4 Packaging: 33% |
Household: 93% Packaging: 45% |
Household: 94% Packaging: 45% |
N/A | 2030 | |
| Use deforestation-free soy-based ingredients in Our Brands products | ||||||
| Kroger plants (percentage, by weight, from no-/low-risk countries) | 100% | 99% | 99% | N/A | 2025 | |
| All third-party produced Our Brands products (percentage, by weight, from no-/low-risk countries) | 90% | Assessed periodically | 93%5 | N/A | 2030 | |
| Use deforestation-free beef-based ingredients in Our Brands products and fresh beef | ||||||
| Beef in fresh meat department and Kroger plants (percentage, by weight, harvested in no-/low-risk countries; born, raised and harvested in no-/low-risk countries) | 99% (87%) | 99% (78%) | 97% (94%)6 | N/A | 2025 | |
| All third-party produced Our Brands products (percentage, by weight, from no-/low-risk countries) | 26% | Assessed periodically | 50%7 | N/A | 2030 | |
- Progress reflects calendar year data. The timeline for these goals ended in 2023. We are revising the goals to make them ongoing so that we continue to strive for and maintain 95% or greater alignment with Kroger's Seafood Sustainability Policy for our Seafood department
- This is an enduring commitment that we continue to maintain. Percentages are measured by volume. In 2023, the remaining tuna not aligned with the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation alignment requirement was a new product that we expect to align with this requirement in the future
- No-deforestation goal progress reflects calendar year data with the exception of our packaging baseline calculation, which reflects fiscal year data
- We restated 2021 values to reflect a clarification to data inputs
- In 2023, 93% of soy-based ingredients in Kroger third-party manufactured Our Brands products was from low-or no-deforestation risk regions and 2% was from potentially high-risk regions. Suppliers of products with the remaining 5% of ingredients could not provide visibility to the country of origin
- 97% of beef-based ingredients in our fresh meat case and manufacturing plants, by volume, was harvested in regions with low- or no-deforestation risk. In addition, 94% was from cattle born, raised and harvested in low- or no-deforestation risk regions
- In 2023, 50% of beef-based ingredients in Kroger third-party manufactured Our Brands products was from low- or no-deforestation risk regions, and 49% was from potentially high-risk regions. Suppliers of products with the remaining 1% of ingredients could not provide visibility to the country of origin
Governance
| Goals & Metrics | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Baseline | Target Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Responsible Sourcing: Animal Welfare | ||||||
| Laying Hen Housing | ||||||
| Revenue: Increase sales of shell eggs from laying hens in cage-free or better housing systems as a percentage of total egg revenue1 | 45.9% | 32.3%2 | 51.9% | — | — | |
| Volume: Increase shell eggs sourced from laying hens in cage-free housing systems or better (units: dozens) to 70%1 | 27% | 33.6% | 33.2% | — | 2030 | |
| Sow Housing3 | ||||||
| Volume: By 2025, Kroger aims to source 100% of fresh pork from sows in group housing systems, based on availability | — | — | 62.2% | — | 2025 | |
| Broiler Chicken Welfare4 | ||||||
| Achieve the following welfare enhancements in at least 50% of our supply for Simple Truth Organic® and Simple Truth Natural® fresh chicken: | ||||||
| Maximum stocking density of 6.0 pounds/sq. foot | 17.5% | 17.9% | 37.8% | — | 2024 | |
| Prohibit broiler cages | 100% | 100% | 100% | — | 2024 | |
| Enriched environments, including litter, lighting and enrichments | 48% | 41.9% | 39.5% | — | 2024 | |
| Processing in a manner that avoids pre-stun handling and uses controlled atmosphere systems (CAS) | 10.4% | 10.9% | 14.5% | — | 2024 | |
- Restated progress to align shell egg units to dozens for all years
- This percentage declined in 2022 as a result of customer purchasing behaviors, supply constraints for cage-free eggs and pricing changes during recent inflationary periods
- Given the lack of industry alignment on standards and definitions for sow housing, we are unable to determine accurate year-over-year performance for 2022 and prior years
- Goal progress is impacted by industry challenges, such as the time and cost required to transition growing operations to larger barns and CAS systems
Performance & Disclosure
Having reached the end of our 2020 Sustainability Goals reporting period, we are now looking to what lies ahead. By engaging key stakeholders, subject matter experts and internal business owners, we established new long-term commitments and goals to advance Kroger’s sustainability leadership through the next decade.
- Goal
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- Target Year
- Status
People
- Total Meals: Increase cumulative total of meals directed to our communities (food and funds)
- 1 billion meals (2017-2019); 3 billion meals (2017-2025)
- 641M
- 1.1B
- 1.8B
- 2020
2025 
- Surplus Food: Improve management of surplus food company-wide
- Optimize recovery of surplus food for donation through Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Food Rescue program
- 100M pounds
- 101M pounds
- 90M pounds*
- 2025
- Strive for 100% of retail stores to participate in food rescue every year
- 97%
- 98%
- 93%*
- 2025
- Increase retail donations of fresh Produce, Deli and Dairy items to be 45% of total food rescue
- 26%
- 29%
- 37%*
- 2025
- Philanthropy: Strategically optimize giving to hunger relief partners as share of total company-wide charitable giving (total of food and funds)
- $192M: $328M
- $205M: $279M
- $213M: $301M
- 2025
- Increase The Kroger Co. Foundation grant-making to advance Zero Hunger | Zero Waste, racial equity and other focus areas
- $6.1M
- $10.5M
- $16.4M
- 2025
- Establish The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation and Innovation Fund; increase national and local grants to accelerate positive impact
- -
- $10M
- $16.5M
- 2025
- Wages & Benefits: Provide solid wages and good quality, affordable health care and retirement benefits
- Invest $500 million in cumulative associate compensation and benefits through Restock Kroger
- $216M
- $508M
- $798M
- 2020
- Increase average retail hourly wages and benefits over time
- $14.40/hour; $18/hour including benefits
- $15/hour; $20/hour including benefits
- $15.50/hour; Over $20/hour including benefits
- 2020
- Total Meals:Framework for Action: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Achieve commitments to create a more inclusive culture
- Create DE&I Advisory Council to advance our long-term DE&I commitments
- -
- Completed
- 2020
- 100% of leaders participate in Unconscious Bias training
- -
- -
- 96%
- 2020
- 100% of associates participate in Inclusion training in 2021
- -
- -
- Will report in 2022
- 2021
- Increase annual spend with inclusive suppliers to $10 billion
- $3B
- $3.4B
- $4.1B
- 2030
- Deploy funds to advance social justice through The Kroger Co. Foundation’s
$5 million Racial Equity Fund - -
- -
- $3M
- 2025
Planet
- Reduce total food waste generated in our retail supermarkets by 50% cumulatively from our 2017 baseline (cumulative reduction; annual tons generated)
- 9.3%
301,282 tons - 13%
288,966 tons - 19.3%
268,248 tons - 2025
- Achieve 95% retail food-waste diversion
- 39.7%
- 44.7%
- 48.3%
- 2025
- Strive for 95% or more of retail stores participating in food waste recycling programs
- 74%
(2,039 stores) - 76%
(2,120 stores) - 87%
(2,407 stores) - 2025
- Company-wide, meet and exceed the zero waste threshold of 90% diversion from landfill
- 76%
- 80%
- 81%*
- 2020√
-
- Recycle over 200 million pounds more plastic cumulatively since 2016
- 137.4M pounds
- 191.1M pounds
- 248.9M pounds
- 2020
- Continue to integrate reusable plastic containers (RPCs) into our network and test new technologies that reduce waste in the supply chain
- 160M RPCs
- 123M RPCs
- 197M RPCs
- 2020
- Recover over 3.3 billion pounds of cardboard annually
- 1.5B pounds
- 1.6B pounds
- 1.7B pounds
- 2020
-
- Achieve zero waste in 50% of new store and remodel construction projects
- 40%
- 54%
- 64%
- 2020
- Phase out single-use plastic shopping bags. Phaseout commitment is in addition to any existing and future legislation for plastic bags
- -
- QFC division phaseout complete
- Developing roadmap*
- 2025
- Achieve a 3% annual reduction in water consumed per unit produced in our plants
- 3.44% ↑
- 1.7% ↓
- 3.43% ↓
- 2020
- Optimize Our Brands product packaging in the following ways:
- 2020 Sustainable Packaging Goals—Our Brands-manufactured products
- Reduce plastic resin by 10 million pounds cumulative
- 9.8M pounds
- 10.1M pounds
- 15.1M pounds
- 2020
- Use at least 20% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content
- -
- -
- 5%
- 2020
-
- Increase communication about recyclability on all applicable packaging (no. items labeled “Please Recycle”)
- 1,830+ items
- 3,000+ items
- 4,800+ items
- 2020
- Increase certified virgin fiber from well-managed forests for paperboard packaging (% certified)
- -
- 80%
- 74%
- 2020
- Increase the recyclability of plastic packaging
- Read more in Packaging section
- 2020
- Support the expansion of infrastructure to increase the availability and accessibility of recycling for Our Brands product packaging
- Read more in Packaging section
- 2020
- 2030 Sustainable Packaging Goals—All Our Brands products
- Complete a baseline product packaging footprint to fully understand current packaging impacts
- Reporting to commence in 2022 ESG Report
- 2030
- -
- Seek to achieve 100% recyclable, compostable and/or reusable packaging
- Reporting to commence in 2022 ESG Report
- 2030
- -
- Product portfolio collectively contains at least 10% recycled content in packaging
- Reporting to commence in 2022 ESG Report
- 2030
- -
- Reduce unnecessary packaging
- Reporting to commence in 2022 ESG Report
- 2030
- -
- Increase awareness among Kroger customers about how to properly manage product packaging at end of life
- Reporting to commence in 2022 ESG Report
- 2030
- -
- Achieve a 30% cumulative reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) (metric tons CO2e)
- Baseline
5,774,060 MTCO2e - 3.4% ↑
5,967,865 MTCO2e - 8.6% ↓
5,275,845 MTCO2e - 2030
- Improve our ton miles per gallon (TMPG) by 20%
- 10.21%
- 10.84%
- 15.47%
- 2020
- Achieve a 3% annual reduction in electricity consumed per unit produced in our plants
- 0.36% ↓
- 2.47% ↑
- 5.26%* ↓
- 2020
- Achieve a 3% annual reduction in natural gas consumed per unit produced in our plants
- 4.95% ↑
- 3.12% ↑
- 5.49%* ↓
- 2020
- Achieve a 10% annual reduction in refrigerant leakages in our retail stores
- 0%
- 0%
- 10%
- 2020
Systems
- Source 100% of wild-caught seafood from fisheries that are Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified, in MSC full assessment, in comprehensive fishery improvement projects (FIPs) or certified by other Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI)-recognized programs
- 88%
- 88%
- 86%
- 2020√
- Preferentially source MSC-certified wild-caught seafood and source at least 90% of volume from fisheries that are MSC certified
- 75%
- 71%
- 72%
- 2020√
- Source 100% of farm-raised seafood from farms that are Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) 2-Star or greater certified, Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified or GLOBALG.A.P. certified
- 89%
- 96%
- 98%
- 2020√
- Source 100% of shelf-stable tuna from companies aligned with the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF)
- 100%
- 100%
- 100%
- 2020√
- Source 20% of Our Brands shelf-stable tuna from fisheries that are MSC certified
- Reporting to commence in 2022 ESG Report
- 2025
- -
- Transition to a 100% cage-free egg supply chain (% shell eggs that are cage-free)
- 23.3%
- 23.1%
- 24.9%
- 2025
- Source 100% of fresh pork from suppliers and farms that have transitioned away from gestation crates (% of supply chain not using gestation crates for at least part of pregnancy)
- 38%
- 43%
- 51%
- 2025
*Per-unit decrease partially driven by increased production tonnage due to pandemic-related demand
**Data reflects calendar year
√ Extending goal
Did not achieve
Continued focus
On track
Significant progress
Achieved
Achieved ahead of schedule
Note: M = million, B = billion
