Kroger Offers $800 Million for Roundy’s Grocery Chain

The Kroger Co., the nation’s largest food retailer, is buying another regional grocery chain.

Cincinnati-based Kroger said it will purchase Milwaukee-based Roundy’s Inc. for $800 million in cash and debt.

Roundy’s operates 151 stores and 101 pharmacies under the Copps, Pick ‘n Save, Metro Market and Mariano’s banners in Wisconsin and Illinois. The company has a fleet of 68 tractors and 336 trailers to distribute food and grocery products to stores from two distribution centers in Wisconsin.

Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen said he is excited about Roundy’s future growth.

“We admire what Bob Mariano has done with the Mariano’s banner in Chicago, where he has created an urban format that is resonating with customers, and we expect to apply Roundy’s experience to our stores in urban areas around the country.”

Kroger operates 2,623 supermarkets and department stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia, plus 781 convenience stores, 327 jewelry stores, 1,350 fuel centers and 37 processing plants in the United States. The company ranks No. 22 on the Transport Topics Top 100 Private Carriers list with a fleet of 1,474 tractors, 35 straight trucks and 5,386 trailers.

In 2014, Kroger acquired Harris Teeter Supermarkets, a company based in Matthews, North Carolina, that operated grocery stores in eight Southeastern states and the District of Columbia.