The grocer has not yet revealed which stores will be closing, however, they will be locations across the U.S.
WASHINGTON — Kroger plans to close approximately 60 stores across the U.S. over the next 18 months, the grocery chain revealed in an earnings report.
“In the first quarter, Kroger recognized an impairment charge of $100 million related to the planned closing of approximately 60 stores over the next 18 months,” the report said. “As a result of these store closures, Kroger expects a modest financial benefit.”
Kroger says the closures are part of an effort to streamline operations and reinvest in the customer experience.
“Unfortunately, today not all of our stores are delivering the sustainable results we need,” Ron Sargent, interim CEO of Kroger, said during the company’s June 2025 earnings call. “We don’t take these decisions lightly, but this will make the company more efficient and Kroger will offer roles in other stores to all associates currently employed at affected stores.”
While the company did not release a list of affected store locations, the interim CEO explained that the closures are across the country. He also noted that Kroger had previously delayed some store evaluations during its merger process, but the company is now resuming those efforts.
“We usually evaluate individual store performance on an annual basis, and we continue to do that, but we deferred closing any stores due to the merger process, so we see this as an opportunity to move these closed store sales to other stores,” Sargent said.
Despite the closures, adjusted first-quarter sales rose 3.7% to $45.12 billion, compared to $43.8 billion from the same quarter last year.
The planned store closures come as the nation’s largest grocery store chain is regrouping from its failed effort to merge with Albertsons. The two companies proposed what would have been the largest supermarket merger in U.S. history in 2022, saying they needed to combine forces to better compete with rivals like Walmart.
A federal judge halted the $24.6 billion deal in in December, saying it was likely to lessen competition and raise prices. Albertsons later sued Kroger, saying it had failed to make every effort to ensure that the merger would win regulatory approval.