Kroger's 2022 payroll system rollout resulted in approximately 47,000 employees receiving missed, late, or incorrect paychecks for months, and the company settled four resulting class actions for $20.8 million. Kroger also agreed to pay up to $1.2 billion over 11 years in 2023 to settle claims over its role in the opioid crisis through its pharmacy operations.

Why should I avoid Kroger?

The FTC and nine state attorneys general sued to block Kroger's proposed $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons on grounds it would reduce competition and raise prices. Kroger also pledged in 2018 to eliminate single-use plastic bags from all stores by 2025 but had followed through at only about 700 of its 2,750 stores by end of 2024.

What are the best ethical alternatives to Kroger?

Local food co-ops near you are member-owned with community governance and often lower prices for members. Thrive Market is a B Corp certified online grocery with organic products at wholesale prices. Independent grocery stores in your area keep money circulating in the local economy.

Kroger

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Kroger is the largest traditional grocery chain in the United States, operating nearly 2,800 stores under two dozen regional banner names including Ralphs, Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer, and King Soopers.

Last updated June 12, 2026

Reasons to avoid

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The EEOC filed a second disability discrimination lawsuit against Kroger in March 2026, this time over a Houston store where new management revoked a walker accommodation that had been in place for three years for an employee with neuropathy. The worker had successfully performed her job using the accommodation until her access was stripped without process, after which she was fired.eeoc.gov2026-03-30
Kroger's rollout of a new payroll system in 2022 resulted in approximately 47,000 employees receiving missed, late, or incorrect paychecks for months, with some workers going weeks without any pay at all. The company settled four resulting class action lawsuits for $20.8 million in 2025 without admitting wrongdoing.bloomberglaw.com2025-06-10
In September 2023, Kroger agreed to pay up to $1.2 billion to settle claims by states, subdivisions, and Native American tribes over its role in the opioid crisis through its pharmacy operations. The settlement, spread over 11 years, was one of the largest opioid-related agreements reached by a grocery chain.sec.gov2023-09-08
The FTC and nine state attorneys general sued to block Kroger's proposed $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons, arguing the merger would eliminate competition and raise prices for millions of grocery shoppers. A federal judge granted the injunction in December 2024, and Kroger abandoned the deal.ftc.gov2024-02-26
In 2018, Kroger pledged to eliminate single-use plastic bags from all of its stores by 2025, which it said would remove 123 million pounds of plastic waste annually. By the end of 2024, only around 700 of its 2,750 stores had followed through, while smaller chains like Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and Aldi had already completed the same transition.modernretail.co2025-01-13
The EEOC sued Kroger in January 2025 over an Atlanta store that stopped scheduling a breast cancer survivor after she requested permission to sit on a stool during her cashier shifts, which is a request supported by medical documentation for nerve damage caused by her cancer treatments. After she filed an internal complaint about the discrimination, the store continued to ignore her calls and left her without shifts or income.eeoc.gov2025-01-22

Ethical alternatives

Grocery Stores

Local Co-op Grocery

Find a member-owned food co-op near you — lower prices for members, community ownership, and no corporate extraction.

✊ Worker Owned📍 Local Business

Thrive Market

Online membership grocery with organic and ethical products at wholesale prices, with carbon-neutral shipping.

🌿 Organic♻️ Sustainable✅ B-Corp

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Local Independent Grocery

Find an independently owned grocery store in your area — money stays in your community.

📍 Local Business📍 Supports Locals

Pharmacy

Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs

Transparent prescription pricing with no middlemen — generic drugs at cost plus a small markup.

📊 Data Privacy

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Local Independent Pharmacy

Find a locally owned pharmacy that keeps your money in the community and offers personalized service.

📍 Local Business📍 Supports Locals

Common Questions

Is Kroger ethical?: Kroger's 2022 payroll system rollout resulted in approximately 47,000 employees receiving missed, late, or incorrect paychecks for months, and the company settled four resulting class actions for $20.8 million. Kroger also agreed to pay up to $1.2 billion over 11 years in 2023 to settle claims over its role in the opioid crisis through its pharmacy operations.
Why should I avoid Kroger?: The FTC and nine state attorneys general sued to block Kroger's proposed $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons on grounds it would reduce competition and raise prices. Kroger also pledged in 2018 to eliminate single-use plastic bags from all stores by 2025 but had followed through at only about 700 of its 2,750 stores by end of 2024.
What are the best ethical alternatives to Kroger?: Local food co-ops near you are member-owned with community governance and often lower prices for members. Thrive Market is a B Corp certified online grocery with organic products at wholesale prices. Independent grocery stores in your area keep money circulating in the local economy.