
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 11, 1991                   TAG: 9104110286
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

KROGER EXPECTS LOWER EARNINGS

The Kroger Co., a Cincinnati-based supermarket chain with regional operations, a warehouse and retail stores in the Roanoke Valley, said Wednesday it expects its first-quarter earnings to be lowered by a $5.4 million extraordinary charge due to its repurchase of high-yield debt securities. The charge reflects $139.9 million the company spent to retire subordinated debt. Despite that charge, Kroger said its first-quarter earnings, to be released in mid-April, are likely to show sales approximately 7.5 percent ahead of $4.6 billion reported in 1990's first quarter. Comparable store sales are expected to be 5 percent ahead of the 1990 quarter, Kroger said. - Staff report

by CNB