<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24.3_358222
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>poa.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POA DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS:

The undersigned, does hereby make, constitute and appoint Paul Heldman and Bruce
M. Gack, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone),
[his/her] true and lawful attorney-in-fact to sign and execute for and on
[his/her] behalf, and in [his/her] name, place and stead, to sign, execute,
affix [his/her] seal, and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any
and all documents required to be filed by [him/her] under Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor or comparable
requirement, with respect to [his/her] holdings or changes in holdings of
securities issued by The Kroger Co., in such form as the attorney-in-fact may
approve.  The attorney-in-fact may do any and all other acts that said
attorney-in-fact may deem necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate the
foregoing as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  The
power granted hereby will remain in effect until revoked in writing by the
undersigned.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set [his/her] hand and seal,
this 28th day of August, 2002.



/s/ Geoffrey J. Covert
Geoffrey J. Covert

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
