Kroger to Hire 10,000 Store Employees

The Kroger Co. said Monday it plans to hire 10,000 permanent employees in its supermarket divisions. The Cincinnati-based supermarket chain currently employs more than 440,000 workers nationwide. The Kroger family of companies includes stores such as Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Dillons, Smith's, King Soopers, Harris Teeter and Food 4 Less. Kroger said its total active workforce grew by more than 12,000 associates in 2016.

Total Retail's Take: With all of the store closures and job losses that have dominated the headlines in the first month of 2017, including Macy's and The Limited, it's nice to hear some positive news for the retail industry. Kroger is investing in brick-and-mortar retail, despite growing competition in the online grocery space that have begun to chip away at the retailer's earnings. In addition to increased competition online, Kroger and other supermarket chains have been challenged by food price deflation, which has lowered overall revenues and impacted bottom lines. However, with more staff in-store, one would assume the shopping experience would improve for customers. That, along with competitive pricing, will keep customers coming back to Kroger for their grocery needs.