Kroger Honored by Rainforest Alliance's Inaugural Supply Chain Partnership Award

PRESS RELEASE

CINCINNATI, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) this week was honored to receive the Rainforest Alliance's

Supply Chain Partnership Award

for developing a responsible sourcing program for its

Home Sense

tissue products.

"Kroger is proud to receive the Rainforest Alliance's first-ever supply chain partnership award," said Jessica Adelman, Kroger's group vice president of corporate affairs. "We appreciate this recognition of Kroger, our supplier-partner, Clearwater Paper, and our joint commitment to a sustainable supply chain."

The Rainforest Alliance's widely-regarded third-party certification process helps ensure millions of acres of working forests and farms are managed according to rigorous sustainability standards. Many items in the Kroger family of stores feature the green frog seal, such as Private Selection Coffees, Private Selection Roses, and Home Sense tissues and other rolled tissue products.

Clearwater Paper is a key supplier partner to Kroger. The company has been producing bath tissue, facial tissue and rolled paper towels for Kroger's Home Sense brand since 2010.

Read more in Kroger's efforts to ensure a responsible and sustainable supply chain in the company's sustainability report at sustainability.kroger.com.

Every day, the Kroger Family of Companies makes a difference in the lives of eight and a half million customers and 431,000 associates who shop or serve in 2,778 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Kroger and its subsidiaries operate an expanding ClickList offering — a personalized, order online, pick up at the store service – in addition to our 2,231 pharmacies, 784 convenience stores, 323 fine jewelry stores, 1,387 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants in the United States. Kroger is recognized as one of America's most generous companies for its support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations including schools. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable.