National grocery store chain Kroger is in the midst of shuttering dozens of locations.

The initial closure announcement was made in a June 2025 earnings report that said Kroger is closing roughly 60 “underperforming” stores over the next 18 months so that resources from struggling locations can be provided to stronger markets.

“As a result of these closures, Kroger expects a modest financial benefit,” the company said.

Employees working at these closing locations will be offered jobs at other Kroger stores, according to Cheapism, a business news site.

These closures were reported as Kroger cited a minor decrease in sales from $45.3 billion to $45.1 billion for the same period a year earlier, the company said.

Kroger also said in its earnings report that it will be opening additional stores in 2026 at an accelerated pace, expanding its new-store builds by about 30% compared to 2025 as part of its growth strategy.

A list of stores set for closure has not been announced. However, various media outlets and unions have identified at least 30 locations that have already shuttered.

They include locations in:

California (1)

Colorado (2)

Georgia (4)

Illinois (4)

Indiana (3)

Kentucky (1)

Maryland (1)

North Carolina (1)

Tennessee (1)

Texas (1)

Virginia (5)

West Virginia (1)

Wisconsin (5)

These closures were announced roughly six months after a proposed $24.6 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons failed, according to The Independent.

In December 2025, judges issued injunctions—one preliminary and one permanent—which ended the agreement.

Judge Marshall Ferguson of Seattle, Washington issued the permanent injunction, claiming that the merger would lessen grocery competition in the state and violate consumer-protection laws, the media outlet wrote.

Kroger did not immediately respond to MassLive’s request for comment on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Sarno says Basketball Hall of Fame CEO “dropped the ball” with talk of moving tournaments out of Springfield

Rent‑control fight builds in Holyoke as statewide ballot question looms

Sign language interpreters at music concerts: ASL rock stars (Enable: The Disability Podcast)

Scuderi investors: ‘I’d like to have my money back’

Charlie’s Diner reopens in West Springfield 17 months after fire

Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.