Kroger Opens 2,000th Fuel Center Location

CINCINNATI, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced the opening of three new fuel center locations this week – in Abingdon, VA; Decatur, GA; and Louisville, KY – that bring the company's fuel center locations total to 2,000.  

Kroger operates 1,275 supermarket fuel centers and 725 convenience stores with fuel. Combined, the company sells fuel in 37 states and is the third-largest owner-operator of fuel centers in the United States.

America's Favorite Gas Retailer

Kroger has rewarded customers with savings on fuel through its popular loyalty program since 2004.  Earlier this summer, a Market Force Information poll of 5,300 U.S. consumers found that Kroger is America's favorite gas retailer, ranked by satisfaction.

"Our fuel program is so convenient, so easy, and offers so much value that our customers love it," said Mike Ellis, Kroger's president and chief operating officer. "More fuel center locations make it easier than ever for our loyal customers to save."

Kroger offers customers many ways to earn fuel points every day:

• Customers can earn 1 fuel point for every $1 in groceries purchased, redeemable in nearly all supermarket fuel centers and convenience store locations, as well as participating Shell fuel stations.
  
• Buy Gift Cards, Use Like Cash, Save on Fuel. Most gift cards earn double points every day – for every purchase of $50 in gift cards from Kroger's Gift Card Mall, customers receive 100 fuel points. Customers can also earn double fuel points on No-Contract Wireless Phones and Airtime Cards.
  
• Every qualifying prescription earns customers 50 fuel points, as does participation in Kroger's Customer 1^st Survey.
  
• When they use the Kroger REWARDS Visa®, cardholders can earn an additional 5 cents off the cost of a gallon when they redeem points. New cardholders can save 25 cents a gallon during their first three months as cardholders when they redeem at least 100 fuel points. Certain limitations and conditions apply. See a store associate or visit www.123rewardscard.com for full details.

Customers with digital accounts can see how many fuel points they have accumulated, how many they have redeemed, how they earned them, when they expire and more at Kroger.com or through the Kroger Mobile App.

Kroger Fuel History

Kroger began selling gasoline at supermarket fuel centers in late 1998. By 2004, the company operated 500 supermarket fuel locations, and grew to 1,000 in 2010.  Today Kroger operates supermarket fuel centers in every retail store division.

Kroger has been selling gasoline at convenience store locations since 1983, when its merger with Dillons included Dillons' convenience store business.  Dillons had been operating Kwik Shop convenience stores since 1960, which began selling fuel in 1972. Today Kroger operates convenience store fuel locations in 19 states under five banner names: Kwik Shop, Loaf 'N Jug, Quik Stop, Tom Thumb, and Turkey Hill Minit Markets.  

Kroger, one of the world's largest retailers, employs more than 375,000 associates who serve customers in 2,638 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's.  The company also operates 785 convenience stores, 324 fine jewelry stores, 1,275 supermarket fuel centers and 37 food processing plants in the U.S.  Recognized by Forbes as the most generous company in America, Kroger supports hunger relief, breast cancer awareness, the military and their families, and more than 30,000 schools and grassroots organizations. Kroger contributes food and funds equal to 200 million meals a year through more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber's Million Dollar Club.

SOURCE The Kroger Co.