Kroger's Family of Stores Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness With 'Pink Tag' Promotion

CINCINNATI, April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Kroger Co.'s family of stores , in partnership with many of its vendors and suppliers, is "Giving Hope A Hand" this month during a campaign to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure in honor of the organization's 25th year in raising awareness of breast cancer.

Pink tags will be displayed on all participating products on shelves in Kroger stores across the country through May 5, 2007. Each time customers purchase pink-tagged items during the campaign, they will be supporting breast cancer awareness in their community. Kroger and its vendor partners have pledged $2.5 million to assist regional Komen affiliates in raising breast cancer awareness through research, education, screening and treatment.

Breast cancer strikes one in eight women in their lifetime. The impact of this disease goes beyond the patient to affect family, friends and co-workers as well. Several Kroger associates who are breast cancer survivors -- Alisa Hall of Indianapolis, Cecilia Sarabia of Houston and Charlotte Wright of Cincinnati -- will be featured on several products this month, including Kellogg's Special K cereal and Keebler Club Crackers.

"As a survivor of breast cancer for the past four years, I do my best to spread the word about dealing with and surviving this disease," said Charlotte, 59, who works in Kroger's Human Resources department. "When I was diagnosed, I confided in several Kroger co-workers who had also faced breast cancer. Their support, along with that of my family and friends, has kept me hopeful. Since then, I received treatment and am a survivor! I want to encourage women to be aware and stay informed in order to stop breast cancer before it starts."

During the two-week "Giving Hope a Hand" promotion, each prescription filled at Kroger pharmacies for women age 18 and older will also include breast cancer awareness information supplied by Komen. A fact sheet will be printed along with regular prescription instructions.

Kroger encourages women to reduce the risk of breast cancer by knowing the facts and taking action through early detection, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying informed. When breast cancer is found early, the five- year survival rate is 98%. For more information, please visit http://www.komen.org/.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure:

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit http://www.komen.org/ or call 1-800 I'M AWARE.

About The Kroger Co.:

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation's largest retail grocery chains. The Company focuses its charitable efforts on hunger relief, K-12 education, women's health initiatives and local organizations in the communities it serves. At the end of fiscal 2006, the Company operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 2,468 supermarkets and multi- department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banners including Kroger and Kroger Marketplace, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith's and Smith's Marketplace, Fry's and Fry's Marketplace, Dillons, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operated (either directly or through subsidiaries, franchise agreements, or operating agreements) 779 convenience stores, 412 fine jewelry stores, 631 supermarket fuel centers and 42 food processing plants. For more information about Kroger, please visit our web site at http://www.kroger.com/.