Kroger Offers Floral Tips in Time for Valentine's Day

CINCINNATI, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), the nation's largest traditional grocery retailer and the world's largest florist, reminds its customers they can find everything they need to celebrate Valentine's Day at their neighborhood Kroger store.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100205/CL50680 )

"Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday this year and Kroger makes it easy to find just the right floral arrangement to make the day special," says Paula Eads, one of the expert floral managers in Kroger's family of stores. "Kroger is the world's largest florist, and we take pride in providing flowers that are fresh from the grower and can be delivered overnight for any occasion, including Valentine's Day."

To help customers prepare, Kroger and its family of stores – Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's – have released a list of floral trends for Valentine's Day.  Eads offers these expert tips for creating the perfect bouquet, which can be purchased in Kroger stores nationwide, online at www.Kroger.com or by calling 1-800-900-6575:

• Red roses are classic, but other pink and red flowers such as Stargazer Lilies make an elegant and romantic impression, and are increasing in popularity.
• Flowers aren't just for significant others. Lucky bamboo, dish gardens, orchids and potted plants are great options for shoppers who want to offer family and loved ones a meaningful expression of friendship and affection.
• Women looking for a special gift for their husband or boyfriend should consider a beer bucket stocked with his favorite snacks and specialty beers.
• Valentine's Day isn't just for adults – it's a kid's holiday, too. For children, Eads suggests a simple gift basket featuring a small toy, Valentine's Day candy and a balloon.
• Vases filled with Valentine's Day candies are a good alternative for those who prefer chocolate to flowers.

"Kroger florists are experts in coming up with different, creative ideas so our customers can make their Valentine's Day celebrations unique," says Eads. "Playing with color and mixing different types of flowers can be a great way to celebrate the holiday."

Kroger will take its Valentine's Day celebration a step further by painting a special floral paint scheme of red roses on NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) driver Marcos Ambrose's No. 47 Toyota Camry during the 52nd running of the Daytona 500. Kroger is a primary sponsor of Ambrose's team during the prestigious race, which this year coincides with Valentine's Day.

Ambrose, an Australian native, is enthusiastic about Kroger's sponsorship of the race for another reason – he is counting on Kroger to deliver Valentine's Day greetings to his family in Australia while he prepares for the race in Daytona Beach.

"My family will not be with me this Valentine's Day.  I appreciate that despite the distance, Kroger provides a simple solution for me to let my wife and daughters know I love them and miss them terribly," said Ambrose. "I found that shopping for flowers at www.Kroger.com was quick, easy and a great value."

About The Kroger Co.:

Kroger, the nation's largest traditional grocery retailer, employs more than 326,000 associates who serve customers in 2,469 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 773 convenience stores, 392 fine jewelry stores, 850 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.