"What characterizes Kroger to me is that they're a very, very good competitor. They know how to compete on a national basis and on a market-to-market basis. And it's been constant: For the past 15 years, they've been forced to compete on lots of fronts, against lots of different formats."
as well as clubs, limited assortment stores and everybody else. It says something about the quality of the company."
-- Chuck Cerankosky, analyst, KeyBanc Capital Markets, Cleveland
"Kroger has been working hard to get economies of scale. They probably have the best private-label program in the United States, and they are getting it right on systems and logistics. The Peyton distribution system is extremely important."
-- Mark Husson, managing director, HSBC Securities, New York
"To me, Kroger's success is all about execution. They've relied more on good, clean stores and good, clean living than on squeezing vendors for allowances. And they haven't screwed up their acquisitions."
-- Gary Giblen, director of research, CL King Associates, New York
"They're betting a bunch on loyalty data to strengthen their operations. They're the first supermarket chain in the U.S. to make a real commitment that way."
