KROGER

Within the past month, two Ohio-based traditional retailers announced plans to test-market automated retail vending machines. It’s not so much thinking outside of the box as it is figuring out how to get that box to where the consumers are, wherever they are — the airport, the hospital, convention centers, exercise facilities, on a college campus or in a hotel. 


LAS VEGAS — Rolling Strong, a health-and-wellness coordinator for professional drivers, named Kroger a preferred provider for wellness solutions for its trucking clients and drivers.

CINCINNATI — Despite recording an increase in total and identical-store sales during fourth quarter 2011, Kroger reported a net loss due to costs associated with consolidating its pension plan for union workers.

The grocer, whose banners include Kroger, Ralphs and Food 4 Less, said the loss of of $306.9 million, or 54 cents per share, compared with a profit of $278.8 million in the year-ago period.

Total sales in the quarter rose 7.7% to $21.4 billion. Excluding fuel, sales rose 5%. Same-store sales increased 4.9% (excluding fuel).

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — A common feature in movies from the mid-20th century is the automat, a place where customers could plunk in a few coins and retrieve such pre-made food items as sandwiches and desserts.

(THE NEWS: Kroger expands reach to Ohio Northern campus with kiosk test. For the full story, click here.)

ADA, OHIO — Kroger last month installed its first remote "kiosk store" on the campus of Ohio Northern University here, according to a report published Wednesday in the Toledo Blade.

The kiosk model is still in test market phase, a company representative told the Blade.

The refrigerate, 10-ft.-by-13-ft. kiosk can hold up to 200 items — though the Kroger kiosk currently fields 164 SKUs — including anything from toiletries and cleaning supplies to perishables that include fresh milk, bread, fruit and ground beef.

LOS ANGELES — Kroger banners Ralphs and Food 4 Less are raising funds to support children's hospitals.

The chains' children's hospital fundraising campaign will run from Jan. 29 to May 19. Ralphs will support children's hospitals in Southern California, while Food 4 Less will raise funds for children's hospitals in Southern California, southern Nevada and the greater Chicago area. The supermarket chain's Foods Co Division also is collecting donations for children's hospitals in central and northern California.

HOUSTON — Pet medications now are available at all Kroger pharmacies in the Houston area, the company said.

Customers with four-legged family members now can pick up their pets' prescriptions at the pharmacy counter. Popular medications, such as Frontline Plus and Rimadyl Chewables, are available, as well as $4 and $10 generic medications.

SOUTHPORT, Conn. — Walmart ranked No. 1 out of six retail pharmacy operators who were identified as part of the “Top 50 Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities" by DiversityBusiness.com last week. Other pharmacy retailers on the list included, in order, Kroger, Supervalu, Target, Walgreens and Ahold USA.