Kroger is cleaning house and some grocery stores won’t be coming back. The supermarket giant is continuing a massive store-closing plan announced in June 2025, when it said it would shutter 60 underperforming locations over 18 months. The strategy is meant to pull resources out of weaker stores and put more money and attention into locations and markets performing better.
So if your neighborhood Kroger suddenly disappears, know that the company is actively reshuffling its grocery empire. Here is more about the plan.
Some Kroger stores are closing while the company gets bigger
Kroger is closing stores and expanding at the same time. Earlier this month, the company announced plans to acquire Giant Eagle, a family-owned grocery chain with 197 supermarkets and 11 standalone pharmacies across northern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. The deal is expected to close in 2027, assuming it clears the necessary regulatory hurdles.
Kroger CEO Greg Foran said the acquisition would expand the company’s reach into neighboring markets while allowing Kroger to focus on its existing strengths in fresh food, convenient meals and affordable prices.
Why is Kroger closing these stores?
The 60 locations were identified as underperforming, according to Kroger. Rather than continuing to pour resources into stores that aren’t pulling their weight, the company wants to redirect those resources toward stronger locations and markets…