Wal-Mart, Kroger, Supervalu Win Diversity Honors

SOUTHPORT, Conn. — Wal-Mart Stores, Kroger and Supervalu were each named to a list of top 50 businesses for multicultural business opportunities by Diversity Business here.

The “Div50” list recognizes top 50 corporate and organizational buyers of diversity products and services throughout the U.S. and is based on responses to questions sent to 1.2 million woman- and minority-owned U.S. businesses.

In the list published Sunday, Wal-Mart ranked second overall behind AT&T, Kroger ranked 15th and Supervalu 23rd.

"Kroger is honored to be selected as one of the top 50 companies for creating multicultural business opportunities," Reuben Shaffer, Kroger's chief diversity officer, said in a statement. "We are inspired daily to foster a diverse, respectful and inclusive business by the nearly 1,000 minority and women-owned businesses we work with. What makes this recognition so important to us is that the Div50 is directly selected by diversity business owners in the U.S."

Kroger said it spends more than $1 billion annually with diversity businesses.