‘Today was the final straw’ rages Kroger shopper as ‘ridiculous’ price hikes are ‘beyond gouging’ – and vows to boycott

A FUMING shopper has called out a popular grocery retailer for increasing the prices of their produce.

The shopper blasted Kroger on a public forum, saying they would boycott the retailer for price-gouging.

"Today was the final straw," they tweeted. "The prices here r ridiculous Kroger brands up as much as 3x in the last yr."

"All while the CEO racks up outrageous Bonuses. This is beyond gouging. I’ll just go to Lowe’s or Food lion," they added.

A virtual representative from Kroger replied to the complaint.

"Hello! Thank you for sharing your concerns with us," they responded.

"We understand how frustrating rising prices can be, especially when it impacts your everyday shopping. We strive to offer quality products at fair prices, but we know there's always room for improvement."

They also said they would be sharing the complaint with Kroger's management team as they continue to evaluate their "pricing strategies."

INFLATED PRICES

As more shoppers feel the effects of inflation, many are concerned about a spike in grocery prices.

A 2024 report revealed that food prices varied depending on whether it was purchased for consumption at home or away from home, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

The department understands these trends using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) – a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for goods and services.

Specifically, the food-at-home (grocery store or supermarket food purchases) CPI was unchanged from April 2024 to May 2024.

However, the food-away-from-home (restaurant purchases) increased 0.4 percent in May 2024 and was 4.0 percent higher than in May 2023.

In February, Kroger shared how it lowered prices in previous mergers and hopes for a similar effect following its proposed merger with Albertsons.

"We believe the way to be America's best grocer is to provide great value by consistently lowering prices and offering more choices," said Rodney McMullen, chairman and CEO of Kroger.

"We know this model works because we've been doing it successfully for many years, and this is exactly what this merger will bring customers – lower prices and more fresh, affordable choices," he added.

Today was the final straw. The prices here r ridiculous Kroger brands up as much as 3x in the last yr. All while the CEO racks up outrageous Bonuses. This is beyond gouging. I’ll just go to Lowe’s or Food lion.

In the press release, the retailer said it has consistently tried to lower prices since 2003.

Not only that, the grocery retailer said it's still committed to lowering prices and has reduced its gross margin by 5%.

The retailer slammed other companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Dollar General who have increased gross margins during the same period.

Still, consumers have struggled to find groceries and other necessities at an affordable price point.

Meanwhile, shoppers at Kroger have cried out after a checkout issue caused long wait times and lines.

And Kroger shoppers call the new rotisserie chicken changes ‘unacceptable’ and beg the chain to bring back the old way.