Kroger to Talk Sustainability, E-Commerce at Expo West

The Kroger Co. will host a Town Hall at this week's Natural Products Expo West show in Anaheim, Calif.

About 500 individuals representing more that 270 suppliers will be present to hear details of the Restock Kroger plan, along with discussions about e-commerce and Kroger Precision Marketing powered by 84.51, and a panel focused on sustainable practices.

The Town Hall will also feature a celebrity chef tasting that spotlights Kroger’s Zero Hunger, Zero Waste initiative, which aims to end hunger in its communities and eliminate food waste in its company by 2025. The tasting will feature chefs Roy Choi, Phillip Frankland Lee and Chelsea’s Messy Apron.

“This is Kroger’s 16th year to participate in Expo West,” said Jill McIntosh, Kroger’s VP of natural foods, in a statement. “Through our exclusive First Pitch and Town Hall events, we are increasing our presence and accessibility at the Expo. This year is our biggest activation. We will have more than 40 Kroger representatives participate, ranging from buyers and category managers to merchandising executives.”

Kroger officials said the retailer expects a robust number of suppliers to engage with its representatives during the First Pitch event, which provides innovative, ready-to-go-to-market businesses with the opportunity to present their products.

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“Our customers’ appetite for better-for-you products continues to grow year-over-year. The natural foods category has become mainstream—it is no longer a niche market,” McIntosh said. 

Kroger will host its third Natural Foods Innovation Summit this June in Cincinnati.