Kroger plans to eliminate 3,000 corporate positions over three years

The grocery retailer Kroger plans to eliminate approximately 3,000 corporate jobs over the next three years, according to reports from Supermarket News, The Independent, Fox Business, Around Prague, UA.NEWS, and Spectrum News 13. Chief executive Greg Foran announced the workforce reductions during an internal companywide call on Monday, Supermarket News reported. The Cincinnati based corporation currently employs about 8,200 corporate workers, making the planned cuts equal to roughly 37 per cent of its corporate staff. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Kroger did not disclose specific details regarding the exact job functions or departments that will be affected by the lay-offs. However, the Cincinnati Business Courier reported that the planned reductions will span multiple departments and corporate office locations, Supermarket News said. According to reports from The Independent, Fox Business, Around Prague, and Spectrum News 13, the job cuts come as the grocery chain expands its use of artificial intelligence and seeks to eliminate duplicative work. [1][2][3][4][6]

The corporate restructure follows a decision made about one month earlier by Kroger to lower its same-store sales growth outlook for the year to less than 1 per cent, Supermarket News reported. Kroger operates supermarkets and multi-department stores across the United States. Historically, the retail company grew through self-service grocery models, vertical integration in manufacturing and distribution, and major acquisitions such as its 1999 purchase of Fred Meyer. [1][7][8]