Kroger Goes Shopping in Omaha

Kroger Co. (Cincinnati), the nation's largest supermarket chain and second-largest retail organization, got bigger with the acquisition of 16 Omaha, Neb., stores from Fleming Cos. (Oklahoma City). The stores include 15 Baker's Supermarkets and one Food 4 Less store. It brings to 64 the number of new stores Kroger has added to its chain this year. As part of the deal, Fleming signed a three-year agreement to continue supplying the Omaha stores through its regional warehouses. Fleming Cos. supplies branded and private-label grocery and non-food merchandise to about 3000 supermarkets, convenience stores, drug stores, and specialty stores, as well as to retailers that operate under the company's franchised names, IGA and Piggly Wiggly. It also operates about 240 stores under regional banners such as ABCO Foods, Baker's, Rainbow Foods, and Sentry Foods. Fleming's own brands include BestYet and SuperTru.