RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 2, 2015 – The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer with 14 stores throughout the Triangle and North Carolina, today announced a new line of corporate brand products, HemisFares™. Imported directly from the most food-rich regions of the world, HemisFares is a guided tour of the best tastes the planet has to offer that can only be found at the Kroger family of stores.

Kroger is introducing the brand with 27 authentic Italian products, which are currently on shelves, and plans to add more products and countries soon.

The packaging on each product tells the story of the food, explaining precisely where it came from and what makes the product unique. Moreover, each HemisFares item has a “find number” on the packaging to direct customers to complementary products in the HemisFares line that they may enjoy.

Kroger is working side-by-side with the best food connoisseurs, some with decades of experience, to identify the most delectable, regional culinary treasures from around the world. Customers can expect additional HemisFares products over the next year from countries including Spain and Japan, among others.

QUOTES:

“We are excited for Kroger shoppers to experience HemisFares,” said Anne Jenkins, spokesperson for Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic Division. “By incorporating these new products into their favorite recipes, our customers can bring home to their families the history and tradition of countries far away.”

ABOUT KROGER:

Kroger, the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer, has 14 stores throughout the Triangle, including Apex (1), Cary (1), Garner (1), Fuquay-Varina (1), Raleigh (4) and Durham (6). Headquartered in Cincinnati, the company employs nearly 400,000 associates who serve customers in 2,625 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's. The company also operates 782 convenience stores, 326 fine jewelry stores, 1,330 supermarket fuel centers and 37 food processing plants in the U.S. Recognized by Forbes as the most generous company in America, Kroger supports hunger relief, breast cancer awareness, the military and their families, and more than 30,000 schools and community organizations. Kroger contributes food and funds equal to 200 million meals a year through more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber's Million Dollar Club. For more information, please visit http://www.kroger.com.

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