Kroger names former Walmart executive Greg Foran as its new CEO

"Kroger named former Walmart executive Greg Foran as its chief executive officer on Monday, 11 months after the abrupt resignation of its previous CEO. Foran has a reputation as a tech-savvy and detail-oriented leader. He led Walmart's U.S. division from 2014 to 2019, where he focused on cleaning up stores, ensuring items were in stock, and improving the fresh produce selection. He also introduced online ordering and pickup, and accelerated Walmart's digital capabilities."

"Walmart has reshaped itself into a tech-powered retail giant that has leaned heavily into automation and artificial intelligence, and it's one of the biggest competitive threats to Kroger, the largest stand-alone U.S. supermarket chain. Shares of The Kroger Co. rose nearly 7% in early trading Monday after Kroger said Foran would lead the company. Walmart currently controls around 21% of the U.S. grocery market, compared to 8.5% for Kroger, according to the market research company Numerator."

"Kroger has also felt pressure from fast-growing discount chains like Aldi and Lidl and online behemoths like Amazon. Kroger proposed a merger with Albertsons in 2022 as a way to better compete with its rivals. But the Federal Trade Commission and two states - Washington and Colorado - sued to block the merger in 2024, saying it would raise prices and lower workers' wages by eliminating competition. Judges ultimately ruled that the merger should not proceed."

Greg Foran, a former Walmart executive, was named chief executive officer of Kroger 11 months after the previous CEO's abrupt resignation. Foran is known as a tech-savvy, detail-oriented leader who led Walmart U.S. from 2014–2019, improving store conditions, fresh produce selection, and rolling out online ordering and pickup while accelerating digital capabilities. Walmart has become a major competitive threat through automation, AI and a broad general-goods offering, controlling about 21% of the U.S. grocery market versus Kroger's 8.5%. Kroger faces additional pressure from discount chains Aldi and Lidl and from Amazon. A proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger was blocked by lawsuits and court rulings.

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