Kroger shoppers ‘hysterical’ after location changes hours leaving them with no options – store swears it was ‘oversight’

RESIDENTS of a small southern town are calling for accountability after their local Kroger has been closing 15 minutes early every night.

Those 15 minutes may not seem like a huge deal, but for those who live in West Louisville, Kentucky , this is only one of two local grocery stores available the area.

WAVE

WAVE

WAVE

Members of the Parkland city council told local NBC affiliate WAVE-TV this early closure has a major impact on residents who need access to healthy foods, calling their city a food desert.

The city council said this early closure has had major impacts on the neighborhood’s access to healthy food.

It also affects those who may not have adequate or consistent forms of tranportation.

Those who are stuck walking, biking, or relying on public transportation, are at a disadvantage and unable to get the other store on the other side of the community.

And for them, those 15 minutes could be the difference between eating dinner or not that night.

“We want [Kroger] to be here, we need them to be here, said Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins.

“We are asking for Kroger to be accountable, and to stay open until 9:00.”

Kroger explained in a statement that the store has been closing early due to a “service oversight.”

Kroger has since promised the community it will stay open until 9 pm.

There are also further discussions happening between city leadership and Kroger to expand business operations in that area to ensure more food security for the struggling community.

PART OF A LARGER ISSUE

Parkland, Kentucky’s population is majority Black, making up 90% of the city’s total population.

In America, communities of color are disproportionately affected by food insecurity, according to research by Feeding America.

For Black households, the rates of food insecurity are almost double the national average of 10.5%, with nearly 20% of Black homes experiencing lack of access to food, according to the National Library of Medicine .

One in five Black Americans experience food insecurity, according to Feeding America .

This is nearly 9 million people that do not have adequate access to enough food to lead a healthy life, according to the USDA .

Research from Feeding America found that in 2022, one in three Black children lived without reliable access to food.

Feeding America also points out that communities that are predominantly Black are more likely to be food deserts.

“Food insecurity stems from systemic issues,” Feeding America website says.

Despite the important work that Feeding America does throughout the country, the organization says the only real way to forward progress is to address policy issues, starting with housing and economic opportunities.