Kroger Launches "Hiring Our Heroes" Military Recruiting Initiative

RALEIGH, NC, November 14, 2012 (Press-News.org) The Kroger Co. (http://www.kroger.com/), the nation's largest traditional grocery retailer with 16 stores throughout the Triangle and North Carolina, has announced a military recruitment initiative known as "Hiring Our Heroes," which focuses on hiring veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces to work at its stores. "Hiring Our Heroes" runs as an extension of the company's "Honoring Our Heroes" program, which aims to support the military and their families through a variety of in-store and online activities.

Kroger's has joined forces with several major companies in the 100,000 Jobs Mission, which is focused on a collective goal of hiring more than 100,000 transitioning service members and military veterans by 2020. To date, more than 17,000 veterans have joined Kroger's ranks since 2009. In addition to in-store and employment campaigns, Kroger has raised more than $5 million to assist in the efforts of the USO, lifting the spirits of U.S. service members around the world. Associates of Kroger have recently formed the Kroger Veterans Associate Resource Group, which serves as an affinity group that helps fellow veterans connect in the workplace through education, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Patrons can join forces with Kroger in support of U.S. military veterans through "Honoring Our Heroes," where customers can volunteer with the USO, make a donation or write a letter of support to an active service member. To learn more, visit http://www.honoringourheroes.com.

QUOTES:
"We are grateful that veterans have served Kroger customers for more than a century," said David Dillon, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "Today, hundreds of Kroger associates serve in the armed forces, either as members of reserve units or on active duty, and thousands are military veterans. With more veterans returning home, we are continuing this proud tradition through a renewed commitment to recruit and assist our nation's military and veterans."

ABOUT KROGER:
Kroger, the nation's largest traditional grocery retailer, has 16 stores throughout the Triangle and North Carolina, including Apex (1), Cary (1), Garner (1), Fuquay-Varina (1), Raleigh (6) and Durham (6). Headquartered in Cincinnati, the company employs more than 338,000 associates who serve customers in 2,439 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's. The company also operates 788 convenience stores, 361 fine jewelry stores, 1,046 supermarket fuel centers and 40 food processing plants in the United States. Kroger focuses its charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, health and wellness initiatives, and local organizations in the communities it serves. For more information, please visit http://www.kroger.com.

Erin Smith
MMI Public Relations
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