Kroger Goes Shopping in Houston

The Kroger Co. (Cincinnati) announced it has reached an agreement to purchase 17 Houston-area supermarkets and two vacant parcels of land from Albertson's Inc. (Boise, Idaho).

The Houston area ranks among the 10 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the nation. All of the stores, which average 60,000 square feet, will become part of Kroger's Southwest Division, which currently operates 190 stores in Texas and Louisiana.

Kroger is the nation's largest supermarket retailer, with 2418 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 32 states under approximately two dozen banners, including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith's, Fry's, Fry's Marketplace, Dillon, QFC and City Market. The company also operates 789 convenience stores, 427 fine jewelry stores, 227 supermarket fuel centers and 41 food processing plants.

Albertson's is Number Two, with 2400 stores in 33 states under names such as Albertson's, Acme Markets, and Jewel. More than half are combination food- and drugstores (most with floral, bakery, and video departments). Some 700 outlets are standalone drugstores operating under the Osco Drug and Sav-on nameplates. Albertson's also runs 28 discount warehouse stores under the Super Saver and Max Foods banners.