As many of you know … Kroger is my favorite grocery chain. Well … we don’t have a Kroger store per say, but I do shop at a Kroger daughter company Dillons/Gerbes.
Here is how Kroger store is broken down. Kroger store was first opened in 1883, by Mr. Kroger, at 66 Pearl Street in downtown Cincinnati with a simple motto … “Be particular. Never sell anything you would not want yourself.”
After being in business for over 100 years, Kroger merged with Dillon companies Inc. in Kansas to “… become a coast-to-coast operator of food, drug and convenience stores (Kroger).”
In 1999, Kroger teamed up (or merged) with Fred Meyer, Inc. creating ” … a supermarket chain with the broadest geographic coverage and widest variety of formats in the food retailing industry (Kroger).”
As of 2011′s 3rd Quarter report, there are 2430 stores nation wide, and Kroger grocery stores operates under below banners:
1. Supermarkets:
- Kroger
- RalphsDillons
- Smith’s
- King Soopers
- Fry’s
- QFC
- City Market
- Owen’s
- Jay C
- Pay Less
- Baker’s
- Gerbes
- Scott’s Food & Pharmacy
2. Multi-department stores:
- Fred Meyer
3. Marketplace stores:
- Dillons Marketplace
- Fry’s Marketplace
- Kroger marketplace
- Smith’s Marketplace
4. Price-impact warehouse stores:
- Food 4 Less
- Foods Co.
Ok … enough with a history lesson!
I do almost 90% of my grocery shopping at Dillons/Gerbes because of their generous coupon policies, and competitive prices. Honestly, many of the times they have the best prices in town … PERIOD!
Of course, I will go shopping at HyVee and Walmart when (and if) Dillons/Gerbes do not carry particular things I would need and want; however, most of the times Dillons/Gerbes will have them in stock.
In addition to their coupon policies and competitive prices I receive additional coupons, or Dillons and Gerbes Mailer, from Dillon’s Corporate office since I shop there so much.
Not only it’s a wonderful surprise (refreshing break from receiving bills or we call it “the love letters”), but these coupon values are really generous: i.e. free product coupon or B1G1 or store coupons, and etc).
Anyhoot … I was reading the ad couple of days ago and came across a statement saying Kroger Family of Stores are “Most Generous Company in America” as recognized by Forbes Magazine.
Well … that got me really curious … I know they are generous with coupon policies (doubling coupons) and home-mailer coupons, but what else?
So … I went to Forbes online Magazine to do little reading.
According to the article American Companies That Give Back the Most, by Susan Adams, Kroger … “gave away 10.9% of its $589 million in 2009 pre-tax profits, amounting to $64 million.”
To distinguish relevance and meaningful generosity of companies, Forbes made two list categories … 1) Generous in their cash donations, and 2) Most cash as a raw number.
Here are the results.
Generous in their cash donations:
First Place — Kroger
Second Place — Macy’s (8.1% or $41 million of 2009 profit)
Third Place — Safeway (7.6% or $76.5 million of 2009 profit)
Companies that gave away the most cash as a raw number:
First Place — Walmart ($319 million or 1.45% of sum)
Second Place — Goldman Sachs ($315 million)
Third Place — Wells Fargo ($219 million)
I thought this article was very interesting,and one major thing I love about Kroger’s generosity is to food bank called Feeding America. Kroger does both donate cash and food, “… equivalent of 125 million meals a year, to food banks (Adams).”
We are one of the lucky ones because we can still manage to wave out the tough economic circumstances, but I personally (friends and acquaintances) know there are many families who are struggling to put food on the table for their families. These families heavily depend on local food banks to keep them afloat, and I give kudos to Kroger!
According to Lynn Marmer, Kroger’s vice president of corporate affairs, stated “Food stamps only provide about a half a month’s worth of food. Food pantries have seen their volume not just double but quadruple (Adams).”
I really do try my best to support our local food banks (via donations and cash), and I think many more citizens and companies should participate in this program.
After reading this article, I am more of a fan of Kroger company.
