The Kroger Co. · Cincinnati, OH United States ·(NYSE: KR)

Kroger is the nation's #1 pure grocery chain, but it still must watch out for falling prices; Wal-Mart has overtaken Kroger as the largest seller of groceries in the US. While Kroger has diversified through acquisitions, adding jewelry and general merchandise to its mix, food stores still account for about 85% of sales. The company operates about 3,550 stores, including some 2,480 supermarkets and multi-department stores, under two dozen banners, in about 30 states. It also runs 685 convenience stores under names such as Quik Stop and Kwik Shop. Kroger's Fred Meyer Stores subsidiary (acquired in 1999) operates about 125 supercenters, which offer groceries, general merchandise, and jewelry, in the western US. To read the full description, subscribe now.