Kroger honors 81 talented partners from Minority & Women Owned Businesses
07 Oct '05
1 min read
The Kroger Co honored 81 outstanding minority-owned and women-owned vendors for 2004. The Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) were nominated by corporate and division buyers and merchandisers. The honorees were selected for the second annual award based on several criteria, including quality of product or service, innovation and presentation of new ideas, performance, and sales volume.
The firms fall into two categories: those that provide retail products or services for sale in Kroger's stores, and not-for-resale products and service. In 2004, Kroger spent approximately $780 million with M/WBEs.
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation's largest retail grocery chains. At the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 2,536 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 32 states under two dozen banners including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith's, Fry's, Fry's Marketplace, Dillons, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operated (either directly or through subsidiaries, franchise agreements, or operating agreements) 794 convenience stores, 439 fine jewelry stores, and 42 food processing plants.