Join Kroger to Help Reduce Hunger in Local Communities

CINCINNATI, June 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) is inviting customers to help hungry people in their own communities by joining in Bringing Hope to the Table®, a two-week campaign that began Sunday, May 29 and runs through June 11.

With the help of numerous vendor partners, Bringing Hope to the Table is expected to generate $5 million dollars in cash and food donations to assist 80 local food banks in communities where Kroger's customers and associates live and work. These food banks are members of Feeding America®, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization.

Since 2006, Kroger's family of stores has generated contributions of $25 million in food and funds to local food banks through the annual Bringing Hope to the Table campaign.

Every time customers purchase participating items in any of Kroger's family of stores through June 11, they will be showing their support for food banks in their own community. Participating corporate brand products and items from vendors including Kellogg's, Dannon, Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, SC Johnson and Procter and Gamble will be marked with special double shelf tags to indicate their pledge to support Bringing Hope to the Table.

"Our annual Bringing Hope to the Table campaign brings our customers, associates and vendors together to send resources to local food banks that help feed our hungry neighbors," said Lynn Marmer, Kroger's group vice president of corporate affairs and a member of the board of Feeding America.

Through Bringing Hope to the Table as well as customer contributions, perishable food donations, and direct financial support, Kroger's support of local food banks over the past five years has created 560 million meals for hungry families.

"We deeply appreciate that our customers have so generously partnered with Kroger stores in our year-round commitment to eliminate hunger in the communities we serve," said Marmer.

Customers can learn more about local hunger relief volunteer opportunities and receive valuable coupons from some of their favorite brands by visiting www.bringinghopetothetable.com. The coupon offers are available to download directly to their shopper card – all from partners involved in the program who are helping to fight hunger in the communities served by the Kroger family stores.

About Feeding America:

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks operate 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information, please visit www.feedingamerica.org.

About Kroger:

Kroger, the nation's largest traditional grocery retailer, employs more than 338,000 associates who serve customers in 2,458 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's. The Company also operates 786 convenience stores, 361 fine jewelry stores, 1,014 supermarket fuel centers and 40 food processing plants in the U.S. Kroger, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, focuses its charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, health and wellness initiatives, and local organizations in the communities it serves.  For more information about Kroger, please visit www.kroger.com.

SOURCE The Kroger Co.