The supermarket chain Kroger announced the closure of 60 stores in the United States over the next 18 months (a year and a half), as part of a strategy to adjust its operations and respond to market challenges.

This decision, recently announced by the Cincinnati, Ohio-based company, will affect approximately 5% of its Kroger-branded stores, which currently total 1,239 locations in 16 states.

Although the company has not publicly revealed which stores will cease to operate, it did confirm that a list of affected branches will not be released. This measure has generated uncertainty among customers and employees, especially in regions where the chain has a strong presence.

The announcement was released alongside its first-quarter financial report. In this period, Kroger reported revenues of $45.1 billion, a slight decrease compared to $45.3 billion in the same quarter last year. The company also reported a $100 million accounting charge resulting from the planned closure of these 60 stores.

As a result of these store closures, Kroger expects a modest financial benefit, the company states.

A key point in this process is human resource management. Kroger assured that all employees at the stores that will be closed will receive offers to continue working at other locations. This seeks to minimize the impact on employees and preserve talent within the organization.

In addition, the chain reported that the savings derived from this restructuring will be invested in improving the customer experience, although specific initiatives have not been detailed. This investment could include technological improvements, expanding digital services, or renovating existing facilities.