Kroger Touts Market Share Gains, Quarterly Sales Climb

CINCINNATI -- Kroger Co. here said yesterday its overall share in 44 major markets around the country rose 65 basis points in 2006. In 34 markets in which supercenters had a No. 3 market-share position, Kroger's position improved by 70 basis points, and in markets where Wal-Mart supercenters had a No. 3 share, Kroger's position climbed 75 basis points. “Those gains were even more impressive after the strong gains we had in 2005, where our overall share in the 44 major markets rose more than 35 basis points,” David Dillon, chairman and chief executive officer, said in a conference call with analysts. For the 13-week fourth quarter ended Feb. 3, net income rose 36.4% to $384.8 million, while sales rose 14.5% to $16.9 billion, and identical store sales, excluding fuel centers, rose 5.3%; adjusting for the extra week, sales rose 5.7%. For the 53-week year, net income jumped 16.4% to $1.1 billion, while sales rose 9.2% to $66.1 billion and ID's rose 5.6%, excluding fuel centers; adjusting for the extra week, the company said, sales increased 7%. -- Elliot Zwiebach