The company has not published its own list of closing stores, so outside outlets are the main source for which locations are shutting. Some closures are already scheduled, including a Fred Meyer in Tacoma set for January 2027. Fast Company's review finds Kroger has largely met its target, with less than three months left before the end-of-2026 deadline.
Residents and food workers' unions have accused Kroger of leaving communities where it was the only affordable grocery option, and researchers have tied such closures to grocery deserts. In August 2025, Kroger also cut about 1,000 corporate jobs, despite earlier assuring that the closures would cost no one their job. The story arrives as grocery affordability draws broader scrutiny. For attorneys, the job-cut reversal is the detail to track, since it contradicts a public assurance the company made. Watch for employee claims and for any regulatory or community challenges tied to closures in areas with limited grocery options.