KROGER CO — Director's Dealing 2004

May 7, 2004

SEC Form 3 — Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership

Issuer: KROGER CO (KR)
CIK: 0000056873
Period of Report: 2004-05-06

Reporting Person: Dougherty Kevin M (Group Vice President)

Holdings (Non-Derivative)

Security	Shares	Ownership
Common Stock	12515.0819	Direct

Holdings (Derivative)

Security	Exercise Price	Expiration	Underlying	Shares	Ownership
Non-Qualified Stock Option	$22.4500	2011-04-05	Common Stock (9000)		Direct
Non-Qualified Stock Option	$24.4300	2011-05-09	Common Stock (4500)		Direct
Non-Qualified Performance Stock Option	$24.4300	2011-05-09	Common Stock (4500)		Direct
Non-Qualified Stock Option	$22.9950	2012-05-09	Common Stock (4500)		Direct
Non-Qualified Performance Stock Option	$22.9950	2012-05-09	Common Stock (4500)		Direct
Non-Qualified Stock Option	$14.9250	2012-12-12	Common Stock (10000)		Direct

Footnotes

F1: The total amount of securities directly owned by the reporting person includes shares in the Company's employee benefit plans which are deemed to be 'tax-conditioned plans' pursuant to Rule 16b-3, to the extent disclosed on reports received from plan trustees.

F2: These options were granted under an option plan of The Kroger Co. and vest in equal annual installments in whole amounts over a five-year period, at the rate of 20% per year commencing one year from the date of grant.

F3: These options will vest during the first four years from the date of the grant only if the Company's stock price has achieved a 78% appreciation from the option price. Thereafter, the options vest only if the Company's stock price has achieved a minimum 15% appreciation per annum from the date of grant or 208% appreciation, whichever is less. The options vest nine years and six months after grant, if not sooner vested.

F4: These options will vest during the first four years from the date of the grant only if the Company's stock price has achieved a 55% appreciation from the option price. Thereafter, the options vest only if the Company's stock price has achieved a minimum 13% appreciation per annum from the date of grant or 185% appreciation, whichever is less. The options vest nine years and six months after grant, if not sooner vested.