Things I learned @ training (Kroger's) King Sooper in CO

I learned some pretty interesting facts today about Kroger.. which is about everywhere (under different names) and the reason they didn't change the names all to Kroger is to keep the small town name of the original grocery store in that area. (for the most part)

They are the 2nd (or 3rd) largest florist in the US and they do all the flowers for the Kentucky Derby. 
They are also one of the largest pharmacies in the US as well.  
They have over 30 brand names under their name.. like Private Selection, Psst, and others. 
They really really have a good training program.  I compared it to Target when I worked there part time for a Christmas season. Training consisted of 2 hours. And I never even met the store manager.

Kroger's so far as consisted of two four hour days on the computer, one four hour class for all new hires (they gather all new hires for a region and we all met at one location), and that doesn't even include your actual job.  They make sure you know who the manger is and make sure you met him/her before you start work, who to go to for problems, who to ask about anything.  I was really impressed.  And the customer service... wow.. they drill that into you like no other program I have ever seen but it isn't like 'YOU DO THIS OR ELSE".  

Shoot, stuff I learned I never knew as a customer..... and they will let you use your own determination on  a lot of items so you don't have to call the manager or head cashier all the time.  Use common sense.  And unlike Target I don't have to 'sell' anything.  I think the only thing they suggest is to show how many fuel points you have and they don't push that either.  

All the stores below either Kroger owns now or some that they used to own and now are gone.  There is a TON of them.. I knew there was a lot but no idea this many. 

Edited to add: they have a bunch of non-profits they work with.. One of our local King's donate the meat to a wolf sanctuary. But they support the USO, Breast Cancer, Food Banks.. and some more I can't think off hand.  And we have an option to donate out of our checks to a ton of different places if we choose each year. It can be a $1 a check if you want.

Anyways, so far I really have enjoyed it (more than I thought).. so maybe getting my foot in the door will lead to more of something that I was doing previously, or who knows.. a new direction. 

Baker's Supermarkets (Omaha, Nebraska)

City Market (Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico)

Dillons Food Stores (Kansas, Missouri)

Fry's Food & Drug (Arizona)

Gerbes Super Markets (Central Missouri)

Harris Teeter (North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia)

Jay C (Southern Indiana)

King Soopers (Colorado, Wyoming)

Kroger (Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia)

Owen's (Northeastern Indiana)

Pay Less Super Markets (Central Indiana)

QFC (Oregon, Washington State)

Ralphs (Southern California)

Roundy's (Pick 'n Save, Mariano's Fresh Market, Metro Market, Copps) (Wisconsin, Illinois)

Scott's (Fort Wayne, Indiana)

Smith's (Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming)


Multi-department stores
Fred Meyer (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington)

Price impact stores
Food 4 Less (Southern California; Chicago, Illinois; NW Indiana) (Food 4 Less stores elsewhere are owned by other companies)

Foods Co. (Northern California)

Ruler Foods (Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee)

Marketplace stores
Dillons Marketplace

Fry's Marketplace

King Soopers Marketplace

Kroger Marketplace

Smith's Marketplace


Jewelry stores
Fred Meyer Jewelers (Ohio, Oregon, Kentucky, Texas and various others)

Barclay Jewelers

Fox's Jewelers

Littman Jewelers


Convenience stores
Kwik Shop (Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Tennessee, Mississippi)

Loaf 'N Jug (Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming)

Smith's Express (Utah)

Tom Thumb Food Stores (Alabama, Florida)

Turkey Hill Minit Markets (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana)

Convenient care clinic
The Little Clinic (Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Indiana, Arizona, Mississippi, Colorado, Kansas, Virginia)


Former chains
Barney's Food Warehouse (Ohio) Warehouse stores 
Cala Foods and Bell Markets (Northern California) 
Childs (Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana) 
Henke's (Texas) 
Hilander Foods (Illinois) 
Krambo (Wisconsin) 
Market Basket (Southern California) 
Quik Stop (California, Nevada)