It's only got locations in 35 states, but Kroger is America's largest grocery retailer. And you know a chain that big has a lot of history and secrets to share. Here are the ones you should know.
1. Barney Kroger used his entire life savings to start the chain.
In 1883, Cincinnati-born Barney took $372 (that's equivalent to about $8,566 nowadays) and opened a grocery store in the downtown area of his hometown. His original shop was called the Great Western Tea Company, and Barney ran it with a simple motto: "Be particular. Never sell anything you would not want yourself."
2. Kroger had the first in-store bakery department.
Most grocers bought bread for independent bakers in the 1900s, but Barney Kroger saw an opportunity for profit. If he baked his own bread, he could reduce the price for customers and still make money — and that's exactly what he did.
3. Before Kroger, meat and groceries were never sold in one place.
Shoppers would have to go to a butcher then to a general store or dry goods shop. Barney decided to combine the two destinations under one roof in the first decade of the 1900s.
4. The chain has been a pioneer in the industry in a lot of other ways, too.
Kroger was one of the first — if not the very first — to: hire female cashiers, operate its own fleet of trucks, run routine quality control checks, be surrounded by parking lots on all four sides, and test electronic scanners.
5. You can fuel up at almost 1,500 locations.
The first of Kroger's on-property gas stations was constructed in 1998. Loyal customers love it for the Fuel Points program. When you shop in the supermarket or fill your tank, you earn points that can be redeemed for discounts on gasoline.
6. You've probably shopped at a Kroger-owned market without even knowing it.
The grocery conglomerate also owns 25 other big-name retailers including Harris Teeter, Ralphs and Food4Less.
7. Its food will be totally different by 2020.
So far, Kroger has made 11 goals that relate to sustainable food and eco-friendly practices. In three years' time, the chain expects to offer 100% sustainable seafood, 100% cage-free eggs, plus they're hoping to reduce their water consumption by 5% and majorly cut down on food and material waste.
8. Kroger Marketplace is the chain's newest concept store.
Think of it like the new Target or Walmart. Of Kroger's nearly 3,000 stores, more than 120 follow the Marketplace format. That means they're massive in size (typically more than 100,000 square feet), and stocked with the usual groceries, plus fast food, kitchen appliances, home goods, toys, and clothing.
9. Some stores have beer on tap.
Kroger started rolling out beer and wine bars in a handful of its markets in the fall of 2015. You can sit down for a craft brew or fill up a growler, which Kroger sells on site.
10. It's one of the biggest grocery retailers in the U.S.
Between the more than 20 stores that operate under The Kroger Co., the grocer raked in$115.3 billion in sales in 2016.
11. Kroger has a clearance rack.
They're sneaky and hide the discounted goods in the back of the store. If you trek to the end of the aisles, though, you'll find some pretty good deals. In the past, shoppers have scored boxes of Nature Valley's bars for $1 and baby formula for $1.22.
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