Kroger Notifies Customers of Email Database Breach

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Apr 01, 2011, 07:00 ET

CINCINNATI, April 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) notified its customers today that there has been a breach of the database that stores customers' names and email addresses only. The incident occurred at Epsilon, a third-party vendor that Kroger and other companies use to manage email communications.

Kroger stressed to its customers that the only information obtained was names and email addresses of customers. Epsilon manages Kroger's customer email database.

Kroger urged customers not to open email from senders they do not know and reminded customers that Kroger will never ask for personal information such as credit card numbers or social security numbers in an email. Kroger apologizes to customers for any inconvenience.

Kroger customers can call 1-800-KROGERS or visit www.kroger.com/email_faq for additional information.

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.