Kroger Co. (KR) Wrap Up:

The Kroger Co., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a food retailer in the United States. The company operates supermarkets under four formats: combination food and drug stores (combo stores), multi-department stores, marketplace stores, or price impact warehouses. The combo stores operate as food stores that offer specialty departments, including natural food and organic sections, pharmacies, general merchandise, and pet centers, as well as perishables, such as fresh seafood and organic produce. The multi-department stores sell a selection of general merchandise items, which include apparel, home fashion and furnishings, electronics, automotive products, toys, and fine jewelry. The marketplace stores offer full-service grocery and pharmacy departments, as well as a general merchandise area that includes outdoor living products, electronics, home goods, and toys. The combo, multi department, and marketplace stores also have fuel centers. The price impact warehouse stores offer grocery, health, and beauty care items, such as meat, dairy, baked goods, and fresh produce items. The Kroger Co. also manufactures and processes food for sale in its supermarkets. In addition, the company operates fine jewelry stores; and convenience stores, which offer an assortment of staple food items and general merchandise, as well as gasoline. As of January 31, 2009, the company operated approximately 2,481 supermarkets and multi-department stores under two dozen banners, including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith?s, Fry?s, Fry?s Marketplace, Dillons, QFC, and City Market, of which 781 stores had fuel centers, as well as operated approximately 771 convenience stores and 385 fine jewelry stores. The Kroger Co. was founded in 1883 and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio.