Kroger, the nation’s largest supermarket chain, plans to close around 60 US grocery stores over the next 18 months to improve efficiency and profitability. The company announced the plan during a corporate earnings call last Friday, but did not reveal which specific stores would be closing.
According to Kroger’s interim Chairman and CEO Ronald Sargent, the closures will allow the company to move sales from closed stores to other locations, improving profitability. However, employees at impacted stores will be offered jobs at other locations.
The closure plan comes as Kroger faces labor unrest over issues such as chronic understaffing at stores. The United Food and Commercial Workers union has been critical of these issues, with members in Southern California picketing outside a Los Angeles Ralphs store last week and workers at King Soopers stores in Colorado going on strike earlier this year.
Despite the challenges, Kroger plans to open at least 30 new stores this year and accelerate its store openings in high-growth regions next year. The company operates over 2,700 stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under multiple brand names.
Source: https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/business/2025/06/25/kroger-plans-to-close-60-u-s-stores-in-18-months-to-improve-profits/84353816007