Kroger announces first-ever ‘mega-sales event’ hours after Target confirms circle week – and deals start at 99 cents

KROGER has announced its first-ever ''mega-sales event'' - and shoppers can bag deals from just 99 cents.

The popular retailer is running “Customer Appreciation Week” as it awaits a judge's decision in a legal battle over its multibillion-dollar plan to merge with Albertsons, reported Grocery Dive.

On Wednesday, the supermarket operator began a weeklong set of fantastic promotions the brand described “a mega-sales event honoring customers with the retailer’s hottest deals and digital coupons''.

Known as “Customer Appreciation Week,” Kroger's program - their first-ever - will run through October 1st and fans will indeed be spoilt for choice.

Shoppers visiting the the store will be able to get their hands on discounts on a broad range of private label and name-brand products.

Stuart Aitken, the retailer’s senior vice president and chief merchant and marketing officer, said Customer Appreciation Week is intended to show loyal fans Kroger is “so grateful for the trust” it receives from shoppers.

The marketing officer added that the supermarket wants to “show our sincere appreciation and say thank you for choosing Kroger''.

Customer Appreciation Week boasts a number of bargain deals that are too good to be slept on, with prices starting from just 99 cents.

Promotions include two half-gallons of Kroger orange juice for $5 and and a 24-ounce jar of Kroger pasta sauce for 99 cents - ideal for the perfect cosy dinner.

Another deal to look out for offers Kroger's customer two free 12-packs of certain kinds of refreshing soda if they purchase two.

The retailer added that people who belong to Kroger’s Boost membership program will also have access to additional savings during the program and can redeem those offers up to a whopping five times.

The cut-price event represents the first time the brand has run this type of sales program, a Kroger spokesperson said in a statement.

Kroger has made a point of drawing attention to its intention to slash prices if it is able to combine with Albertsons - however, the brand didn't link Customer Appreciation Week to the mega-merger proposal.

Earlier this summer, in August, Kroger company announced it would invest $1 billion in price cuts if it consummates its merger with Albertsons.

Kroger has long emphasized that merging with Albertsons would lead to more affordable prices for grocery shoppers.

In February, when the brand promised to cut prices following its proposed merger with Albertsons, Kroger claimed that the move is “not new” as it has lowered prices after the approval of previous mergers.

Eleven questions for Kroger

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bob Casey asked the CEO of Kroger to answer eleven questions about AI, labels, and Microsoft's EDGE technology:

1. How many Kroger grocery stores currently use EDGE or other ESL platforms?
2. How many customers are served by these stores?

1. Did any external entities advise Kroger to adopt EDGE and/or continue using EDGE?
2. If yes, who are those external entities?

1. Has Kroger prepared internal estimates regarding the potential to increase prices or profit margins by adopting dynamic pricing with EDGE?
2. How does Kroger establish dynamic prices using the EDGE system?
3. What factors does Kroger consider when changing prices? Please include a description of any time- or volume-based considerations.

1. How does Kroger inform customers of recent or upcoming price changes?
2. How far in advance does Kroger inform customers of price increases that will be implemented using the EDGE system?

1. For all items that have been subject to dynamic pricing using EDGE, what is the average percentage change in price of those items over the first six months of using the system?
2. For what percentage of items has the price increased over the first six months of using the system?

1. Has Kroger ever used EDGE to change the price of an item more than one time within the same day?
2. If not, does Kroger intend to do so in the future?
3. If yes, please list:

1. The locations at which Kroger has changed the price of an item more than once in a day.
2. The complete list of products for which Kroger has changed the price more than once in a day.

1. Will Kroger use customers’ data to institute personalized pricing on its ESL platforms?
2. Will customers have the option to opt out of the collection of personal data through ESL platforms?
3. What safeguards has Kroger put in place to protect against violations of consumer privacy related to ESL platforms?
4. How will Kroger ensure that it will not use customer data related to ESL platforms to discriminate based on protected classes, such as race, gender, or age, when offering personalized prices?

The senators requested that Kroger answer these questions by August 20.

Source: Letter from Sens. Warren and Casey

As well as friendlier and lower prices for customers, Korger has also pledged to expand employee resources and boost its local assortment.

However, despite the promises, The Sun previously reported that shoppers aren't too sure how they feel about the chain's plans to merge with Albertsons.

Antitrust concerns were detailed in the suit, with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) insisting that the proposed merger would cause higher prices for American consumers and lead to lower-quality products, as well as a lack of healthy competition in the industry.

"Direct competition between Kroger and Albertsons has brought grocery prices down and the quality of grocery products and services up," the FTC said.

"The proposed acquisition would destroy this."