Kroger Abandons Communities—9,000 Jobs Vanish as $112B Crime Wave Wins

[rangerrebew]

 
Kroger Abandons Communities—9,000 Jobs Vanish as $112B Crime Wave Wins
Story by Max Pierson • 1h •

In a move sending shockwaves through communities nationwide, grocery giant Kroger announced plans to close 60 stores over the next 18 months. The decision will result in the loss of up to 9,000 jobs across multiple states.

The closures affect communities from Georgia to Washington, signaling mounting pressures facing America's retail sector.

For many neighborhoods, the shuttered storefronts mean more than lost convenience—they represent a profound shift in how millions access food and employment.

Behind the Decision: Economics and Rising Theft
 
Kroger's leadership attributes multiple factors to the closures. Many affected stores have struggled with declining sales and aging infrastructure. This makes them less viable in a fiercely competitive market.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/kroger-abandons-communities-9-000-jobs-vanish-as-112b-crime-wave-wins/ar-AA1Q5oBj?ocid=widgetonlockscreen&cvid=6910966eee264572a3951daebd0ca15c&ei=25

[Smokin Joe]

Retail crime has escalated significantly. According to the National Retail Federation, U.S. retailers lost $112.1 billion to inventory shrinkage in 2022. Shrink includes all inventory losses—external theft (36%), employee theft (29%), and process errors (27%). External theft alone accounted for approximately $40 billion. These losses have forced companies like Kroger to rethink their presence in vulnerable areas.

As those stores age, so do the neighborhoods around them. Not all fall into decay, but those that do will likely suffer a demographic shift that is accompanied by an increase in crime; internal or external, it does not matter.
Losses are losses.

Cutting those losses keeps the rest more affordable for paying customers.

[Kamaji]

Cue the “racism” canard from the left.

[Smokin Joe]

Cue the “racism” canard from the left.

Want to stop that?
Tell people to stop stealing.
Sure seems the folks most visibly adamant about their 'right' to just take things have some similarities.
But, regardless, if the store has trouble making a profit, better to close it and open another somewhere a profit can be made.
Otherwise, move to NYC and stand in line at the 'Free' grocery stores.

[Kamaji]

Want to stop that?
Tell people to stop stealing.
Sure seems the folks most visibly adamant about their 'right' to just take things have some similarities.
But, regardless, if the store has trouble making a profit, better to close it and open another somewhere a profit can be made.
Otherwise, move to NYC and stand in line at the 'Free' grocery stores.

Of course, but that’s not what the left will claim; as they always claim, they’ll blame it on antediluvian racism on the part of the company’s management.

[Wingnut]

These stores get stolen blind by customers and employees.  When a Neighborhood goes south, so does the pool of the employables.  So what you have left to pick from is gypsies, tramps and thieves, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men....You know your basic democrat socialist. Members of the FSA.

[Smokin Joe]

Of course, but that’s not what the left will claim; as they always claim, they’ll blame it on antediluvian racism on the part of the company’s management.

Gripe in one hand, eat out of the other. They cannot order the company to keep a money losing store open.  Besides, there will be new places to steal groceries from, >ahem< go grocery shopping.

[Kamaji]

Gripe in one hand, eat out of the other. They cannot order the company to keep a money losing store open.  Besides, there will be new places to steal groceries from, >ahem< go grocery shopping.

They’re working themselves up to that point.  In the meantime they can condition permits to open new profitable stores on maintaining the old stores as well. 

[GtHawk]

As a kid growing up in Lynwood, Ca. A city pretty much surrounded by Watts, Southgate, Compton and Long Beach, I just don’t recall a lot of retail theft going on…oh there was some for sure but none of the retailers, other than jewelers, was locking up everyday goods. Now even in the good neighborhood I live in which is middle to upper middle class and wealthy Huntington Harbor just a mile away, they are locking every damn thing up, laundry soap, deodorants, etc., not just liquor and cigarettes……
Oddly the beer and wine is still easy pickings. I am tire of feeling like a criminal when I go shopping because some people decide to live on the five finger discount.

[Free Vulcan]

Another thing that wouldn't hurt is DA's that are tough on crime.

[Fishrrman]

Joe smokes us with:
"They cannot order the company to keep a money losing store open."

Comin' up:
Directive 10-289 ...

[IsailedawayfromFR]

As those stores age, so do the neighborhoods around them. Not all fall into decay, but those that do will likely suffer a demographic shift that is accompanied by an increase in crime; internal or external, it does not matter.
Losses are losses.

Cutting those losses keeps the rest more affordable for paying customers.

Not all stores closings suffer that crime problem as that is likely more in larger cities.  Some just cannot compete profitably.

My son lives with his family in the Black Hills in a town of less than 6,000 isolated from the nearest towns of similar size by an hour.  It is not exactly a crime-ridden town, just rural.

The local Safeway notified them a few weeks ago they are closing, so the only local grocery my son's family will be left with is Walmart.

It is just the way it goes in rural communities, especially when Walmart arrives and stays.

Another case I know about is near me in East Texas in town of about that same size which is worse for the community.  A Walmart moved in and it took just a couple of years for the local grocery and hardware stores to close down as they could not compete. 

Then Walmart closed after a few more years, leaving the community stranded with little local shopping presence.

Economics dictate, not crime or racist profiling.

[Wingnut]

Not all stores closings suffer that crime problem as that is likely more in larger cities.  Some just cannot compete profitably.

My son lives with his family in the Black Hills in a town of less than 6,000 isolated from the nearest towns of similar size by an hour.  It is not exactly a crime-ridden town, just rural.

The local Safeway notified them a few weeks ago they are closing, so the only local grocery my son's family will be left with is Walmart.

It is just the way it goes in rural communities, especially when Walmart arrives and stays.

Another case I know about is near me in East Texas in town of about that same size which is worse for the community.  A Walmart moved in and it took just a couple of years for the local grocery and hardware stores to close down as they could not compete. 

Then Walmart closed after a few more years, leaving the community stranded with little local shopping presence.

Economics dictate, not crime or racist profiling.

I bet he will see a DG MArket pop-up soon.  They are rolling across the southern small towns like kudzu.