Kroger to Launch Massive Perishable Food Donation Program in 2008

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – December 27th – Kroger is launching a PerishableDonations Partnership (PDP) as a company-wide project to increase thenumber of stores that donate safe, perishable food to America’s SecondHarvest food banks across the country.

As part of the PDP program, Krogerwill dedicate a senior staff person in the corporate headquarters, KathleenWright, as Director of the Company’s PDP. Under Wright’s leadership,Kroger’s PDP will expand to include not only the current 30 million poundsper year of non-perishable food donations, but an additional 50 millionpounds of nutritious, fresh food to food banks across the country. Interms of meals, this represents an increase from 22 to 59 million mealsannually.

The safe handling of perishable foods will make food bank andfood pantry operations more complex, so Kroger’s efforts will includeexpertise and resources to prepare local food banks for the safe andefficient handling of perishable foods.According to President of Kroger’s Indianapolis-based Central Division, BobMoeder, “As a board member of Gleaner’s Food Bank and head of a Krogeroperating division that is particularly pro-active in relieving hunger, Iam especially proud of our company’s role in bringing healthy, nutritiousfood to the hungry.

For far too long food banks have operated with thefood people choose to donate, rather than being able to provide enoughhealthy, nutritious meals that include meat, fruit, vegetables and otherperishable foods. Just because a family is temporarily unable to purchasetheir meals in retail food stores, that should not mean they have to accepta lower quality standard or inadequate nutritional value. Food banks andlocal food pantries support a large number of hungry children and ourdonating nutritious perishable food will be especially important for theirhealthy growth and development.

Kroger is very committed to making thisperishables food program just as successful as the many other programscomprising our 125 year history of feeding the hungry in our localcommunities.”Today, Kroger donates food valued at $45 million annually through itsexisting programs. These donations are primarily dry grocery products andcan goods. “This is an exciting opportunity to bring even more food andhope to hungry people,” said Lynn Marmer, Kroger’s Group Vice President ofCorporate Affairs and a member of the national board of directors ofAmerica’s Second Harvest.

“This initiative not only increases the amountof fresh food Kroger donates, it will help improve the diets of individualsand families who depend on hunger relief programs by giving food banksaccess to a variety of nutritious meats, fruits and vegetables.”Kroger has helped lead the fight against hunger in the United States formore than 25 years. Through the Company’s “Bringing Hope to the Table”campaign, a nation-wide effort that encourages customers to purchaseparticipating items in stores to support America’s Second Harvest and localfood banks, Kroger and its family of stores have raised $6 million in cashand $2 million in food in the past two years.

Kroger plans to expand theprogram in 2008.Kroger’s Central Division, based in Indianapolis, supported six food banksin Indiana and two in Illinois during 2006 with more than $150,000 in cashcontributions, $50,000 in donated transportation, $109,000 in event supportand more than $903,000 in donated food. In addition to $1.2 million givento food banks in Indianapolis, Anderson, South Bend, Fort Wayne andBloomington in Indiana, the company has added support of the Lafayette FoodFinders food bank in 2007.

Kroger actively engages its customers and thecommunities in which its employees live and work in its hunger reliefefforts by supporting food drives throughout the year. Kroger is a majorsponsor of the Boy Scouts of America’s “Scouting for Food” program andleads a “Share Your Feast” food drive during the Thanksgiving and Christmasholidays each year. Kroger’s financial contributions are reinforced bysubstantial non-cash support such as donated equipment; professionalexpertise and considerable volunteer hours.

The Kroger Central Division has 154 food stores, 129 pharmacies and 49 fuelcenters operating under five banners; Kroger, Scott’s, Owen’s, Hilander andPay Less, with locations primarily in Indiana and Illinois, in addition tofive stores in Missouri, one in Michigan and one in Ohio. Kroger CentralDivision is dedicated to supporting every local community it serves, contributing more than $6 million annually to local organizations,primarily focusing on hunger relief, K-12 education, health causes anddiversity.

At Kroger we value: honesty, respect, inclusion, diversity,safety and integrity.