In a surprising move for many, a major supermarket chain in the United States has announced the closure of several of its stores. This change will affect thousands of customers who used to stock up on fresh and essential products every day. The decision was made after an internal evaluation of low-performing areas, a common factor in the retail industry.
Although the announcement has come as a surprise to many, the company has assured that this is not an immediate measure. The store closures will take place gradually over the next 18 months, allowing customers to adapt to the situation. Texas will be the first state to see the impact of this major decision, followed by other states such as Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
The impact of Kroger's closures
Kroger has explained that this measure is part of a strategy to optimize its store network in low-performing areas. Interim CEO Ron Sargent indicated that the closures are a response to the low profitability of some stores. Although these changes mainly affect employees of the closed stores, the company has assured that it will offer the option of relocation to those who wish to continue working at other nearby branches.
The list begins with the store in McKinney, Texas, located 30 mi. (48 km) from Dallas; this is just the first step, as other states will also be affected soon. In Georgia, four stores will close between July and October 2025, including one in Atlanta. In addition, Illinois and Kentucky will also have closures scheduled for August, which will affect various localities.
The scheduled closures affect stores of different brands under the Kroger umbrella, including Mariano’s in Illinois and Jay C in Indiana. Although some states still have dates to be confirmed, those affected will soon find out if their local store is among those selected to close.
Kroger's future after the closures
Although the closure of these 60 stores represents only a small percentage of Kroger's operational network (approximately 2%), the impact will be significant in local communities. Many consumers feel nostalgic about seeing their usual supermarket disappear. However, Kroger remains one of the largest chains in the United States, so shopping options will remain varied.
Despite the sadness that the closure of these stores may cause, the company assures that it will take the necessary measures to mitigate the impact and continue its expansion. The affected workers will also have options to keep working within the company, which helps keep job stability within the chain.