Kroger Honored As A CIO 100 Winner For Technology Innovation

Cincinnati, OH /PRNewswire/ - The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced that the company's innovative electronic temperature monitoring project was named a winner of the 2015 CIO 100 Award by International Data Group's CIO Magazine.

"We are honored to be listed among the CIO 100," said Chris Hjelm, Kroger's chief information officer. "From our inventors and innovators in Kroger Technology to our Food Safety and Retail Operations groups, so many Kroger teams worked together to make electronic temperature monitoring a success and they all share in our appreciation."

Kroger's electronic temperature monitoring initiative, FAST (Food at Safe Temperature) Alerts, tracks cold and frozen food case temperatures and notifies store associates of temperature changes. Using interactive sensors that are connected through an in-store network, FAST Alerts helps ensure that fresh foods remain fresher, longer by making real-time temperature checks of produce, meat, deli and frozen food products. The technology also eliminates the need for manual temperature logs.

"FAST Alerts is a perfect example of the Customer 1st Innovation we strive for – it saves money and frees up time for our associates to engage with customers," said Hjelm. "Most importantly, this technology is helping to improve our already vigorous food safety efforts."

The program is the result of collaboration between Kroger's Facility Engineering, Food Safety, Technology, Pharmacy, Merchandising and Retail Operations departments, as well as store leaders and associates.

Kroger and other winning companies will be recognized at The CIO 100 Symposium & Awards Ceremony in August in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Kroger, one of the world's largest retailers, employs nearly 400,000 associates who serve customers in 2,625 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's. The company also operates 782 convenience stores, 326 fine jewelry stores, 1,330 supermarket fuel centers and 37 food processing plants in the U.S. Recognized by Forbes as the most generous company in America, Kroger supports hunger relief, breast cancer awareness, the military and their families, and more than 30,000 schools and community organizations. Kroger contributes food and funds equal to 200 million meals a year through more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber's Million Dollar Club.