<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-22-039534.txt : 20220329
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-22-039534.hdr.sgml : 20220329
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20220329172226
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-22-039534
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	DEFA14A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20220329
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20220329

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KROGER CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000056873
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-GROCERY STORES [5411]
		IRS NUMBER:				310345740
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0129

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DEFA14A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00303
		FILM NUMBER:		22782103

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1014 VINE ST
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5137624000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1014 VINE ST
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45201
</SEC-HEADER>
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<DESCRIPTION>DEFA14A
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<P STYLE="font: 14pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>UNITED STATES </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 14pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 14pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SCHEDULE 14A</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section&nbsp;14(a)
of&nbsp;the </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(Amendment No. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;)</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: left">Filed by the Registrant&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#120;</FONT></FONT>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Filed by a party other than the Registrant <FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Check the appropriate box:&nbsp;</P>

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    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-size: 10pt; width: 2%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; width: 1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; font-size: 10pt; width: 97%">Preliminary Proxy Statement</TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-size: 10pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; font-size: 10pt"><B>Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))</B></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-size: 10pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; font-size: 10pt">Definitive Proxy Statement</TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-size: 10pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; font-size: 10pt">Definitive Additional Materials</TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-size: 10pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#120;</FONT></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; font-size: 10pt">Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-12</TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>The Kroger Co.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if
other than the Registrant) </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):</P>

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    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-size: 10pt">No fee required.</TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-size: 10pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-size: 10pt">Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.</TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-size: 10pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-size: 10pt">Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act rules 14a6(i)(1) and 0-11</TD></TR>
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    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><I>The following communication was distributed to employees of The
Kroger Co. on March 29, 2022</I></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Subject: Our Statement Regarding Two Director Candidate Nominations</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">As you may know, shareholders and other stakeholders are increasingly
engaging publicly with Boards of Directors and management teams on a range of matters, including those related to environmental, social
and governance (ESG). Earlier today we issued a <U>press release</U> announcing that Carl Icahn has submitted an intent to nominate two
candidates to our Board of Directors in connection with his views on animal welfare and the use of gestation crates in pork production.
Of note, we heard from Mr. Icahn for the first time on Friday, March 25, 2022, only days before he submitted his intent to nominate two
director candidates.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">At Kroger, we value and welcome open engagement and communicate with
shareholders and other stakeholders on ESG topics. Responsible sourcing throughout our supply chain is embedded in how we operate, and
we are committed to helping protect the welfare of animals in our supply chain. Kroger has an established Responsible Sourcing Framework
to clearly define our policies, requirements and practices, including our Animal Welfare Policy, which articulates our expectation that
all suppliers will have transitioned away from gestation crates by 2025.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Our Board and its committees have direct oversight of key ESG topics,
including animal welfare. The Public Responsibilities Committee oversees and regularly discusses the topic of animal welfare, given our
commitment to source gestation crate-free pork and the need to provide affordable, fresh food to our customers.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">To share more about our responsible sourcing practices:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 20px"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 20px">&#8226;</TD><TD>Our
Animal Welfare strategy and implementation is overseen by a multi-disciplinary internal Animal Welfare Management Committee with representation
from our Corporate Food Technology, Ethics and Compliance, Meat, Dairy and Egg Sourcing, and ESG teams.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 20px"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 20px">&#8226;</TD><TD>We
regularly engage with key animal welfare groups, including the Humane Society of the United States.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 20px"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 20px">&#8226;</TD><TD>In
early 2021, Kroger joined the Global Coalition for Animal Welfare (GCAW), the world&#8217;s first industry-led collaboration aimed at
advancing animal welfare standards throughout the global food supply chain.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 20px"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 20px">&#8226;</TD><TD>We
work closely with our key suppliers to understand animal welfare topics and make progress together toward our commitments. We also engage
and solicit feedback from internal and third-party animal welfare subject matter experts, advocacy groups, and customers to support our
goals.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">We have a dedicated team focused on this matter, and our Board will
review the proposed nominees in accordance with its governance policies and practices. Importantly, it remains business as usual at Kroger.
Each of you plays a key role in serving our customers and providing fresh, affordable food for America.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">This news will likely generate media attention and our media relations
team will manage our company&#8217;s response. Accordingly, if you receive any calls from the media or other outside parties, please
refer them to&nbsp;<U>Kristal Howard</U> and please direct any investor inquiries to <U>Rob Quast</U>.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Thank you for all you do for our customers, communities and each other.
I am incredibly proud of the way our nearly half a million associates across the country have continued to live our purpose: To Feed the
Human Spirit and our brand promise: Fresh for Everyone. Your commitment has generated strong results and enabled us to advance positive
impacts for our shareholders, customers, communities and each other. Let&#8217;s keep up the great momentum.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Rodney McMullen</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Important Additional Information and Where to Find It</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">The Company intends to file a proxy statement on Schedule 14A and
WHITE proxy card with the Securities and Exchange Commission (&#8220;SEC&#8221;) in connection with the solicitation of proxies for its
2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.&nbsp;SHAREHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO READ THE COMPANY&#8217;S 2022 PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING
ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO), THE WHITE PROXY CARD AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE
THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Shareholders may obtain a free copy of the 2022 proxy statement, any amendments or supplements
to the proxy statement and other documents that the Company files with the SEC from the SEC&#8217;s website at <U>www.sec.gov</U> or
the Company&#8217;s website at <U>http://ir.kroger.com</U> as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically
filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Certain Information Regarding Participants in Solicitation</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">The Company, its directors, its executive officers and its nominees
for election as director may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders in connection with the matters to
be considered at the Company&#8217;s 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of
the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of shareholders in connection with the Company&#8217;s 2022 annual meeting, and
their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, which may be different from those of the Company&#8217;s shareholders
generally, will be set forth in the Company&#8217;s definitive proxy statement for the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders and the other
relevant documents to be filed with the SEC.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; color: #1F497D">&nbsp;</P>

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