Who Owns Fred Meyer?
Fred Meyer is owned by The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR). Founded in 1922 by Fred G. Meyer in Portland, Oregon, the chain pioneered one-stop shopping combining groceries with apparel, home goods, and jewelry. Fred Meyer merged with Kroger in 1999 and operates about 130 stores across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.
Fred Meyer Timeline
Who Owns Fred Meyer?
- Parent Company: The Kroger Co.
- Ownership Type: Subsidiary
- Acquisition Year: 1999
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: KR
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fred Meyer | The Kroger Co. | Subsidiary |
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Fred Meyer on AmazonHistory of Fred Meyer
- Founded: 1922
- Founders: Fred G. Meyer
- Acquired by The Kroger Co.: 1999
Fred G. Meyer opened his first store in Portland in 1922, a coffee and grocery stand. He spent the next five decades building the concept of one-stop shopping, systematically adding departments so customers could buy groceries, clothing, hardware, home goods, electronics, and jewelry under one roof. By the 1950s, Fred Meyer stores were among the largest retail formats in the country, decades before Walmart supercenters.
Fred Meyer himself ran the company until his death in 1978. The chain continued expanding through the Northwest, and its distinctive multi-department model proved durable against category killers because grocery traffic anchored the box.
In the late 1990s, Fred Meyer became a mini-consolidator itself: under CEO Bob Miller it acquired Ralphs Grocery Company (1998) and QFC and Smith's, then negotiated the transformational merger with The Kroger Co. that closed in 1999. That deal instantly made Kroger the largest supermarket company in America and a national player.
Under Kroger, Fred Meyer has maintained its one-stop format across about 130 stores. The banner added Marketplace branding to some locations and integrated fully into Kroger's loyalty, private-label, and fuel programs while keeping the Fred Meyer name, which carries century-deep Northwest recognition.
About The Kroger Co.
Is Kroger publicly traded?
Yes, Kroger is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol KR. The company went public in 1977 and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Shares are widely held by institutional investors, index funds, and retail shareholders.
Who founded Kroger?
Bernard Kroger founded the company in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio. His first store, called The Great Western Tea and Coffee Company, sold tea and coffee at lower prices than competitors. Kroger pioneered retail innovations including in-store bakeries, meat departments, and self-service shopping.
What happened to Kroger's CEO?
Rodney McMullen unexpectedly resigned as Chairman and CEO in March 2025. He had served as CEO since 2014 and as president since 2009. The board is conducting a deliberate search for an external successor with retail transformation experience. The company has not yet announced a permanent replacement.
What is Kroger's revenue?
Kroger reported revenue of $147.1 billion for fiscal year 2025, the year ended February 1, 2025. Q4 2025 revenue was $34.8 billion with EPS of $1.15, exceeding analyst expectations. The company generates revenue through grocery sales, pharmacy services, fuel centers, and digital commerce.
How many stores does Kroger operate?
Kroger operates over 2,700 stores across 35 states under multiple banners including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter, King Soopers, Dillons, and Smith's. The company plans to complete 30 major store projects in 2025, with new store openings expected to accelerate beyond 2025.
Did Kroger buy Albertsons?
No, the $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons was blocked by a federal judge in December 2023 on antitrust grounds. The companies abandoned the merger in December 2024. Albertsons subsequently sued Kroger for breach of contract. Kroger announced a $7.5 billion share repurchase program following the failed merger.
What is Kroger's relationship with Ocado?
Kroger partnered with Ocado Group in 2018 for automated fulfillment technology. In December 2025, Kroger modified the partnership, making a one-time payment to remove exclusivity agreements while maintaining five active fulfillment centers. A sixth facility in Phoenix is planned with "AutoFreezer" technology for automated freezer inventory management.
- Founded: 1883
- Headquarters: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: KR
- Revenue: $147.6 billion (FY2025, year ended January 31, 2026)
- Employees: Approximately 420,000
Where Is Fred Meyer Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Portland, Oregon, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States
Fred Meyer Categories & Tags
Fred Meyer Recalls & Controversies
Fred Meyer has shared Kroger-level scrutiny, including labor tensions in the Northwest where UFCW locals have struck or threatened strikes over wages and staffing in recent contracts. Oregon's unique fuel-pumping law means its fuel centers are staffed rather than self-serve.
The chain faced criticism during the failed Albertsons merger because Oregon was a flagged overlap market. Periodic shoplifting-related measures, including locked cases and receipt checks at high-theft Portland stores, have drawn local coverage. Its jewelry sourcing, like all mass jewelers, faces responsible-sourcing questions it addresses through Kroger's policies.
Brands Owned by The Kroger Co.
Food BeverageHarris Teeter
Owned by The Kroger Co.
Harris Teeter is an upscale Southeastern supermarket chain owned by The Kroger Co. since 2013, operating about 250 stores across the Carolinas, mid-Atlantic, and DC.
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Food BeverageKroger
Owned by The Kroger Co.
Kroger is the flagship supermarket banner of The Kroger Co., America's largest supermarket operator, with more than 1,300 Kroger-branded stores and a pending $1.65 billion Giant Eagle acquisition.
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Food BeverageRalphs
Owned by The Kroger Co.
Ralphs is a Southern California supermarket chain owned by The Kroger Co., operating roughly 190 stores, founded in 1873 in Los Angeles.
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Fred Meyer Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Unique one-stop format with 100-year Northwest brand equity
- +High-margin general merchandise layered on grocery traffic
- +Kroger scale in sourcing, private label, and loyalty
- +Dominant position in Portland and strong throughout the region
- +Integrated jewelers, fuel, and pharmacy add basket depth
Considerations
- -Large-format stores carry heavy operating costs
- -Theft and shrink pressures in core Portland market
- -Faces Walmart supercenter and Costco competition on both sides
- -Regional concentration limits growth runway
- -Labor costs in Oregon and Washington among the highest
Frequently Asked Questions About Fred Meyer
Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to Fred Meyer
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Fred Meyeroperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
Independent Alternatives to Fred Meyer
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Publix Aprons is privately owned, unlike Fred Meyer which is under a publicly traded parent company.
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Celebrations is privately owned, unlike Fred Meyer which is under a publicly traded parent company.
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Food BeverageFrosted Flakes
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Frosted Flakes is privately owned, unlike Fred Meyer which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageGalaxy Chocolate
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Galaxy Chocolate is privately owned, unlike Fred Meyer which is under a publicly traded parent company.
The Kroger Co. Stock Information
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