Kroger Closing 60 Stores: Are Kentucky Locations Affected?

Cincinnati-based supermarket giant Kroger has announced plans to close approximately 60 stores across its operations in the coming months. This news has raised questions for shoppers and employees alike, particularly concerning the potential impact on local communities. For residents in the Bluegrass State, the pressing question is: Will any Kroger stores in Kentucky be among those slated for closure?

Kroger’s Nationwide Closure Plan

Kroger’s announcement, made alongside its first-quarter fiscal year results on June 20th, involves closing about 60 stores over the next 18 months. This represents roughly 2% of the company’s total footprint of 2,731 stores across 35 states at the start of the fiscal year.

The company indicated that the stores targeted for closure are primarily underperforming locations. While an official, comprehensive list detailing every store earmarked for closure nationwide has not yet been released, Kroger anticipates these closures will result in a modest financial benefit. The company plans to reinvest the savings generated back into improving the customer experience at its remaining stores.

Financially, Kroger reported a $100 million impairment charge related to the planned closures. Despite this, the company’s first-quarter results showed strong performance, with total sales increasing by 3.7 percent and boosted sales guidance for the future, indicating overall stability and strategic adjustments rather than widespread distress.

What About Employees?

A key part of Kroger’s announcement addresses the workforce impact. The company has stated its intention to offer roles in other stores to all associates currently employed at affected locations. This aims to mitigate job losses for employees impacted by the closures. Kroger is a significant employer, with 409,000 workers nationwide, including approximately 14,500 associates working across 76 stores in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region alone.

Are Kentucky Kroger Stores Closing?

This is the central concern for many Kentuckians. While the full list of 60 closing stores remains undisclosed by Kroger, there is promising news regarding one specific region.

According to a spokesperson for Kroger, the company does not anticipate any store closures in the Cincinnati-Dayton region as part of this plan. This area includes Northern Kentucky, offering reassurance to customers and employees in cities like Covington, Florence, Newport, and others located across the river from Cincinnati.

For Kroger locations in other parts of Kentucky, outside of the Northern Kentucky area covered by the Cincinnati-Dayton region statement, their status remains officially unknown as the company has not released a specific list of the 60 affected stores. Shoppers and employees elsewhere in the state will need to await further announcements from Kroger for clarity regarding their specific locations.

Kroger’s Extensive Presence in Kentucky

Kroger has a significant footprint throughout Kentucky, serving communities in many cities. According to Kroger.com, the retailer operates more than 100 stores across over 50 Kentucky cities. This wide presence underscores why news of potential closures is particularly impactful in the state.

Cities in Kentucky with Kroger locations include (but are not limited to):

Ashland
Bardstown
Bellevue (Northern KY – included in Cincy-Dayton region)
Bowling Green
Brandenburg
Burlington (Northern KY – included in Cincy-Dayton region)
Campbellsville
Carrollton
Cold Spring (Northern KY – included in Cincy-Dayton region)
Corbin
Covington (Northern KY – included in Cincy-Dayton region)
Danville
Elizabethtown
Erlanger (Northern KY – included in Cincy-Dayton region)
Florence (Northern KY – included in Cincy-Dayton region)
Fort Mitchell (Northern KY – included in Cincy-Dayton region)
Frankfort
Georgetown
Harrodsburg
Hebron (Northern KY – included in Cincy-Dayton region)
Hopkinsville
Independence (Northern KY – included in Cincy-Dayton region)
La Grange
Lawrenceburg
Louisville
Madisonville
Maysville
Middlesboro
Middletown
Morehead
Mount Sterling
Mount Washington
Murray
Newport (Northern KY – included in Cincy-Dayton region)
Nicholasville
Owensboro
Paducah
Powderly
Prospect
Richmond
Russell Springs
Saint Matthews
Shelbyville
Shepherdsville
Somerset
Stanton
Union (Northern KY – included in Cincy-Dayton region)
Versailles
Walton (Northern KY – included in Cincy-Dayton region)
Whitley City

Winchester

Even as it plans these closures, Kroger is also actively investing in its remaining and new stores, with billions allocated for capital expenditures this year, including new store constructions and renovations. This indicates a strategic portfolio adjustment rather than a company-wide pullback.

What We Know Now

In summary, Kroger is closing 60 stores nationwide over the next 18 months as part of a move to enhance financial performance by closing unprofitable locations. While the complete list of stores is not public, a spokesperson has explicitly stated no anticipated closures in the Cincinnati-Dayton region, which includes Northern Kentucky. The status of Kroger stores in other parts of Kentucky is still pending the release of the official nationwide list of closures. Customers and employees outside the Northern Kentucky area should monitor future announcements for specific local impacts.