Kroger History & Sister Stores

Per the history section of the their website, Kroger “began in 1883 when Barney Kroger invested his life savings of $372 to open a single grocery store at 66 Pearl Street in downtown Cincinnati.” Since then Kroger has expanded across the United States.

As the nation’s largest grocer, Kroger owns “nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states operating under 28 different names.” Those names include Fred Meyer, King Soopers, QFC, Dillons, Mariano’s, Fry’s, Harris Teeter, Food4Less, Ralph’s, Smith’s, and more. They also own Vitacost.

Where are Kroger Stores Located?

Operating in 35 states, I almost feel it’s easier to ask where they’re NOT located. Ironically, there are no Kroger stores on the west side of Michigan. (I believe this is due to the presence of 80+ SpartanNash stores.) To find a Kroger store near you, use their Store Locator.

Kroger Digital Coupons & Manufacturer Coupons

Like Meijer, Kroger supports their own digital coupons. Once you create a digital account, you can clip them through the app or their website. I often get “Just for You” digital coupons for products I often buy. Kroger also accepts manufacturers coupons.

One of my favorite deal options on the Kroger website is their “Use 5 x” digital coupons. They often include deals on ground beef, chicken, cheese and many other products. I make sure to stock up on those items. Each Friday they offer a 4x Fuel Points digital coupon.

How to Search the Kroger Website for GF Items

I LOVE the Kroger app. In my opinion, it’s so much more helpful than the Meijer app. In my experience, the Kroger app senses which store I’m in, and updates the app automatically.

Kroger offers a unique search portal to help customers look for gluten free groceries. Use their portal to find gluten free essentials like bread, pasta, and more.

Does Kroger Offer a Gluten Free Section?

It depends on what store you are in. Recently, Kroger has moved away from its Nature’s Market section, which stocked gluten free and organic products. In turn, they’ve spread gluten free items out through out the store. Now, most sections have a “healthy” sub-section, which is where you’ll often find gluten free products.

Does Kroger Have Gluten Free Tags On Shelves?

Yes. Store shelves feature purple GF tags for gluten free products. However, it may not always be consistent. Certified gluten free products may have no GF tag, while store brands may have a GF tag.

Does Kroger Offer Store Brand Gluten Free Items?

Yes. Many store brand items are under the Simple Truth product line. This includes gluten free cookies, crackers, pizza, waffles, bread, pasta, baking mixes and more. HOWEVER, please know that NOT all Simple Truth products are gluten free.

Does Kroger Test for Gluten in Their Own Products?

I asked Kroger staff the following two questions, and below is their response.

• Does Kroger test for the presence of gluten in their store brand/ private label items that are labeled gluten free?
  • Kroger does have a Gluten Free Claim policy in place for products that carry this claim. This policy requires the supplier/ vendor test for the presence of gluten and the required target is less than 20 ppm in the finished product.
  • Our production facilities and suppliers are obligated to follow appropriate protocols such as Good Manufacturing Practices and manage a comprehensive allergen and segregation policy to evaluate products and maintain segregation to prevent cross contact.

• Are any Kroger/ Simple Truth gluten free products certified gluten free, and if so, what certifying organization does Kroger use?
  • Yes. Any product with a Certified Gluten Free claim is managed by the manufacture/supplier and certifying organization may vary by supplier.

Other Ways Kroger Accommodates Those Who Eat Gluten Free

Laura Brown, Kroger’s Health Director of Nutrition, also mentioned other ways that Kroger works to meet the needs of those who eat gluten free.

“I should mention that Kroger Health has a team of registered dietitians that provide virtual nutrition care across 44 states (for a fee). Our dietitians are not just nutrition professionals, but also product experts, and are well versed in the gluten-free products available in our Kroger stores.

They can assist gluten-free shoppers both online and in-store, helping them find products that meet their specific dietary and personal needs. Additionally, we provide a dedicated gluten-free shopping experience on Kroger.com: https://www.kroger.com/f/gluten-free-groceries.”

In addition, Kroger offers a large collection of gluten free recipes on their website. Click the “Diet and Health” filter section on the left, and click on gluten free. You can also filter out other allergens, such as dairy, egg, soy and nuts.

How To Locate Products on Shelves

When searching for gluten free items on the Kroger website, it lists the aisle where the product is located. Unfortunately, it does not have a section number like the Meijer app does. However, the Kroger app does include a map function. This shows where a product is located.

Does Kroger Offer Scanning While You Shop?

Previously Kroger offered “Scan, Bag and Go” at their stores. However, this service is no longer available. The “Kroger Pay” on their app simply allows you to store a credit card. It does NOT allow you to scan all your groceries in store and automatically pay for them.

My Favorite Gluten Free Products at Kroger

Like most people, I must travel to a variety of stores to buy all the groceries I need. Some of my favorite gluten free Kroger finds include Kroger natural peanut butter, Barilla gluten free pasta, Milton’s gluten free pizza, Gilbert’s Chicken Sausages, Canyon Bakehouse bread, Antonina’s Gluten Free Cupcakes and much more.

Sales run from Wednesday to Tuesday. Each week I update my Gluten Free Grocery Sales post with Kroger sales and Meijer sales. While many items I share are specifically gluten free, I also share sales on meat and produce. Shopping gluten free is expensive, and we can use every savings we can get!

Shopping Gluten Free at Other Stores

Looking for more information about shopping gluten free? You can check out my articles about shopping gluten free at Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Meijer, Horrocks and Plum Market. My friend Sandi has excellent posts about shopping gluten free at Walmart and Costco.

What other questions do you have about shopping gluten free at Kroger? Drop them in the comments section and I’ll do my best to research them for you.

The post Shopping Gluten Free at Kroger appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.