]
MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Kroger, the parent company of Dillons Stores and one of the nation’s largest supermarket chains, has announced plans to close nearly 60 of its stores across the United States over the next 18 months.
The move, revealed in the company’s first-quarter 2025 earnings report released Friday, reflects what Kroger described as a strategic effort to improve its bottom line while reinvesting in customer experience.
Kroger's first quarter ended on May 24.
According to the report, the closures are expected to provide a "modest financial benefit" and will affect roughly 2% of Kroger's total store count. As of the beginning of its current fiscal year, Kroger operated 2,731 locations nationwide.
The company did not release a list of which stores will close.
The report stated that all employees at the stores which will be closing will be offered positions at other Kroger locations, according to the company. No specific timelines for individual store closures were in the report.
Kroger emphasized that cost savings from the closures will be directed toward improving the in-store experience for customers, although the report did not have any information specifically addressing the improvements.
The announcement comes at a time when the grocery industry is undergoing rapid change, with rising competition from online retailers and shifting consumer habits putting pressure on traditional supermarket models.