“Buy In Ohio” means exactly how it sounds…keep Ohio dollars in Ohio. And while we are always supportive of independent, “main street” retailers, spending your dollars with your local big-box retailer has the same economic impact for Ohio as spending your dollars at a mom-and-pop shop.
This is precisely the message Amy McCormick, Corporate Affairs Manager, Columbus Division at Kroger. “Spend it where your earn it is the mantra I like to use,” Amy says.
A Bit of Ohio Across the Nation
Kroger is a unique big-box retailer for Ohio, indeed the company’s headquarters resides in the Buckeye state. And that drives Kroger to be very mindful of where the bulk of its employees reside. “We are Ohio,” Amy adds. “And that sentiment perpetuates throughout our entire chain, across the country.” What she means is a lot of the products Kroger sources for its entire chain are made right here in Ohio. The aptest example is that many of Kroger’s private label products are made, packaged, and distributed here in Ohio.
And a Lot of Ohio in Ohio
In addition to Kroger distributing Ohio-made products throughout the nation, the company also proudly makes sure perishable products are sourced by local farmers. “Milk, fruits, vegetables. They all come from farms in our local communities,” Amy explains. “Also, we are a member of the Ohio Proud initiative, a program that helps promote Ohio-made products. You’ll find displays in our stores with the ‘Ohio Proud’ call-out.”
The Impact of COVID-19 on Kroger
“Essential services. Essential workers.” When much of the nation shut down due to COVID-19, these two qualifiers thrust Kroger and its employees to the front lines at such a challenging time. Amy certainly recognizes her colleagues as heroes. But she was also impressed with the resilience of shoppers. “We’ve obviously made adjustments to how we operate. We’ve expanded pick-up across the company. We have delivered services available through Kroger Ship and Instacart. Our customers have been so supportive of our employees. And I think they appreciate the steps we’ve taken to keep the public safe.”
About the Kroger Co. At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are Fresh for Everyone™ and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit®. We are, across our family of companies, nearly half a million associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through a seamless shopping experience under a variety of banner names. We are committed to creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.
