Kroger partnership may provide healthy boost

The Kroger Co. is making a “meaningful” investment in specialty natural/organic grocery chain Lucky’s Market that could expand the supermarket giant’s product assortment.



Kroger did not disclose the size of its stake in Lucky’s, which is based in Boulder, Colorado, and operates 17 stores in 13 states throughout the Midwest and Southeast U.S. Lucky’s stores average 30,000-sq.-ft. and are laid out to resemble an indoor farmers market, and also offer an assortment of prepared foods.



This strategic partnership is designed to accelerate Lucky’s growth in new and existing markets. It is also intended to combine Kroger’s scale with Luck’s products, practices and techniques. On the Kroger’s end, this bodes well for the community-focused grocery store concept its affiliate Main and Vine recently launched in Gig Harbor, Washington.



In addition, Lucky’s store layout makes it sound like an ideal source for an expanded assortment of organic and natural goods for Kroger’s expanding ClickList click-and-collect service.