For most people, grocery shopping is a weekly task—an opportunity to stock up on essential foods and supplies for upcoming meals. While you may have some strategies to save money on your grocery bill, some might need to find a new store altogether to buy their preferred ingredients and household products. This is because, as of June 2025, Kroger will be closing 60 stores nationwide over the next 18 months, according to their Q1 2025 report. The report also mentioned that the company expects this move to be a “modest financial benefit.” Although Kroger began the fiscal year with 2,731 operational stores, this reduction will decrease their total number of locations by 2%.
Kroger is a trusted name for many Americans when it comes to grocery shopping. While there are several reasons behind Kroger’s decision, it appears primarily to be a strategy to transition towards a more promising future.
The reason why Kroger is closing stores
While some shoppers weigh the affordability of Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods, others have leaned towards Kroger — along with its regional chains such as Ralphs, Food 4 Less, QFC, and Fred Meyer across 16 states. It’s unclear if Kroger plans to close more than the announced 60 locations. According to Patch, a 2022 $24.6 billion merger deal between Kroger and Albertsons, which was poised to be the largest merger in history, was blocked by a federal judge after nearly two years of delays in the courts.
Following the merger’s collapse, Kroger ousted its longtime Chief Executive Officer, Rodney Mullen, after an internal investigation into his personal conduct — forfeiting $11.2 million in unvested stocks and options, leaving the company leaderless in the first quarter of 2025.
How this will affect your grocery shopping
Despite a challenging start to the year, the New York Post reported that Kroger anticipates a sales growth increase of 2.25% to 3.25%, excluding fuel profits, primarily due to price reductions on over 2,000 items and a stronger marketing focus on Kroger-label products. With the closure of 60 stores, Kroger also announced plans to reinvest the savings into enhancing the overall shopping experience for customers.
However, you shouldn’t abandon any money-saving strategies when grocery shopping, as grocery prices are unlikely to decrease soon. Therefore, plan your shopping trips on the best days and ensure you eat beforehand to avoid shopping on an empty stomach, which could result in higher costs at the checkout.
