Kroger Announces Retirement of Paul Bowen, President of Jay C and Ruler

CINCINNATI, May 23, 2017

Mr. Bowen began his career with Jay C in 1971 as a produce department manager before taking a military leave of absence to serve in the U.S. Army from 1972 to 1976. He returned to Jay C in 1976 and advanced to hold a number of leadership positions.  In 1988, Mr. Bowen was promoted to director of training and development for the division. He was instrumental in leading Jay C's merger with Kroger in 1999, spending two years as the transition project leader. In 2001, Mr. Bowen was named vice president of operations before being promoted to senior vice president in 2002. Mr. Bowen has held his current role since 2003, where he oversees 71 Jay C and Ruler stores operating in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee.

"For more than four decades, Paul's leadership, vision and passion has helped Jay C and Ruler create customer-first shopping environments that have shaped the way we do business across our business," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "I salute Paul for his years of service to our associates and customers as both a leader and veteran. The entire Kroger family wishes Paul and his family all the best in retirement."

Mr. Bowen and his wife, Margaret, look forward to traveling to new places and spending time with their two grandchildren.

Every day, the Kroger Family of Companies makes a difference in the lives of eight and a half million customers and 443,000 associates who shop or serve in 2,796 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Kroger and its subsidiaries operate an expanding ClickList offering – a personalized, order online, pick up at the store service – in addition to our 2,255 pharmacies, 784 convenience stores, 319 fine jewelry stores, 1,445 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants in the United States. Kroger is recognized as one of America's most generous companies for its support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations including schools. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable.

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