<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950170-24-031993.txt : 20240315
<SEC-HEADER>0000950170-24-031993.hdr.sgml : 20240315
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20240315123023
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950170-24-031993
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20240314
FILED AS OF DATE:		20240315
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20240315

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Nichols Brian W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0002014240
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00303
		FILM NUMBER:		24753475

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE KROGER CO.
		STREET 2:		1014 VINE STREET
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KROGER CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000056873
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-GROCERY STORES [5411]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	07 Trade & Services
		IRS NUMBER:				310345740
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0203

	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>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>ownership.xml
<DESCRIPTION>3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2024-03-14</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000056873</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KROGER CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0002014240</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nichols Brian W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE KROGER CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1014 VINE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>false</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President &amp; Controller</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13586</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.92</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2027-07-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6922</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>38.32</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2031-07-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2170</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>57.09</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2032-03-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2783</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>47.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2033-03-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3571</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>47</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2033-07-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1444</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These options were granted under a long-term incentive plan of The Kroger Co. and vested in equal annual installments at the rate of 20% per year over a five-year period that commenced one year after the date of the grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These options were granted under a long-term incentive plan of The Kroger Co. and vest in equal annual installments over a four-year period at the rate of 25% per year commencing one year from the date of the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>EXHIBIT LIST:
Exhibit 24 - Limited Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Brian W. Nichols, by Dorothy D. Roberts</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-03-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>kr-ex24.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-24
<TEXT>
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  <title>EX-24</title>
 </head>
 <body style="margin: auto!important;padding: 8px;">
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  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">EX-24</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">&#160;</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:center;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">&#160;</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">	Know all persons by these presents, that the undersigned does hereby make, constitute and appoint Christine S. Wheatley, Stacey M. Heiser, and Dorothy D. Roberts, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), her true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">&#160;</font></p>
  <div style="margin-left:3.333%;display:flex;margin-top:0;justify-content:flex-start;align-items:baseline;margin-bottom:0;min-width:3.333%;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:3.447919145106397%;display:inline-flex;justify-content:flex-start;">(1)</font><div style="width:100%;display:inline;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file a Form ID (including any amendments thereto) and any other documents necessary or appropriate to obtain new and/or replacement codes and passwords enabling the undersigned to make electronic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of reports required by Section 16(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time (the &#x201c;Exchange Act&#x201d;);</font></div></div>
  <p style="margin-left:6.667%;font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">&#160;</font></p>
  <div style="margin-left:3.333%;display:flex;margin-top:0;justify-content:flex-start;align-items:baseline;margin-bottom:0;min-width:3.333%;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:3.447919145106397%;display:inline-flex;justify-content:flex-start;">(2)</font><div style="width:100%;display:inline;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file Forms 3, 4, and 5 (including any amendments thereto) with respect to the securities of The Kroger Co. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any national securities exchanges, as considered necessary or advisable under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act; </font></div></div>
  <p style="margin-left:6.667%;font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">&#160;</font></p>
  <div style="margin-left:3.333%;display:flex;margin-top:0;justify-content:flex-start;align-items:baseline;margin-bottom:0;min-width:3.333%;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:3.447919145106397%;display:inline-flex;justify-content:flex-start;">(3)</font><div style="width:100%;display:inline;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">seek or obtain, as the representative of and on behalf of the undersigned, information on transactions in the securities of The Kroger Co. from any third party, including brokers, employee benefit plan administrators and trustees, and the undersigned hereby authorizes any such person to release any such information to the foregoing attorney-in-fact and approves and ratifies any such release of information; and</font></div></div>
  <p style="margin-left:6.667%;font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">&#160;</font></p>
  <div style="margin-left:3.333%;display:flex;margin-top:0;justify-content:flex-start;align-items:baseline;margin-bottom:0;min-width:3.333%;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:3.447919145106397%;display:inline-flex;justify-content:flex-start;">(4)</font><div style="width:100%;display:inline;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">perform any and all other acts which in the discretion of such attorney-in-fact are necessary or desirable for and on behalf of the undersigned in connection with the foregoing 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.</font></div></div>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">&#160;</font></p>
  <p style="text-indent:3.333%;font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">This Limited Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the holdings of the undersigned and any transactions in securities issued by The Kroger Co., unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorney-in-fact.</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">&#160;</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Limited Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 29th day of February, 2024.</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">&#160;</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">&#160;</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">						/s/ Brian W. Nichols</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">						Brian W. Nichols</font></p>
  <div style="flex-direction:column;display:flex;min-height:1in;justify-content:flex-end;"></div>
  <hr style="page-break-after:always;">
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
