News release from Kroger:
Kroger Celebrates Fort Wayne, Indiana Store Grand Reopening
- President honors longest-serving associate, Glenn Colburn, who has worked for Kroger since 1978 (37 years)
- Capital investment of $5.9 million will lead to additional jobs in Fort Wayne; part of more than $75 million in Indiana store investments planned for 2015, leading to hundreds of new jobs
- Includes $19,500 in donations to community organizations
(March 19, 2015) – Kroger Central Division leaders celebrated the grand reopening of the company’s Clinton Street store in Fort Wayne, Indiana at a celebration at 8:30 AM this morning. This follows the recent opening of a new Kroger fuel center at the same Clinton Street store.
The total economic investment in this store is $5.9 million. Kroger’s project was led by Project Manager Reggie Henderson. This investment strengthens Kroger’s economic and workforce commitment to the local Fort Wayne community and will create additional jobs over time.
At a time when many companies, particularly retail companies, have slowed or stopped their investments in facilities and job creation in Indiana, Kroger Central Division has accelerated their pace of investment. In 2014 alone, Kroger will invest more than $75 million in new stores and major remodels in Indiana.
According to President of Kroger Central Division Jeff Burt, “The grocery, pharmacy and fuel markets are very competitive in Indiana, but also very important for The Kroger Co. Our solid success in the marketplace allows us to make significant economic and work force investments in our Indiana stores. Our $5.9 million investment in Fort Wayne is a strong vote of confidence and allows us to continue providing quality products, competitive prices and outstanding customer service, while being a supportive community partner. This remodeled store focuses on giving our customers exactly what they want to see in their store. We are very proud of store manager Andy Kumfer and his team. Andy, who has 16 years of experience in the grocery business, did an exceptional job in keeping his store team focused on serving our customers during construction. All of us are very proud of his dedicated community service and leadership. I also am very honored to recognize the longest-serving associate in this Fort Wayne store, Glenn Colburn, who has worked for Kroger since 1978 (37 years). All of us are very proud of his dedicated service and leadership in mentoring newer associates.”
This store remodel offers Kroger customers:
- Gross retail space of 51,925 square feet
- Relocated entrance with new vestibule with additional bascart storage
- Bountiful décor with copper tone wraps
- New customer first bathrooms
- Relocated produce department with all new produce cases
- Natural Foods upgrades
- New floral cases and workstation
- Relocated meat and seafood preparation area
- Renovated deli & bakery departments with all new fixtures and finishes
- Expanded pharmacy with all new finishes for bountiful décor, new pharmacy shelving and cabinetry and new preparation equipment
- New self checkouts
- New customer service office
- New covered cart corrals
- New bascarts
The store’s management team includes:
- Co-manager: Angelina Williamson
- Co-manager: Nicole Fisher
- Meat/Seafood: Glenn Colburn
- Grocery: Tristan Young
- Frozen: Kenny Diegel
- Produce: Roger Green
- Floral: Jean Morgan
- Front End: Diana Hare
- Drug & General Merchandise: Rosie White
- Pharmacy: Deb Roos
- Fuel: Don Couey
- Community Ambassador: Regina Blanchette
- Administrative Manager: Lori Voght
- Cultural Council: Elaine Pope
During the grand reopening event, Kroger made the following donations: $1,000 to Mizpah Shrine, $1,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs, $5,000 to Project Reads, a program of the Allen County Education Partnership and $12,500 to Community Harvest Food Bank.
About the Kroger Co.
The Kroger Co. has been serving local communities for 132 years. The Kroger Central Division has 136 food stores, 114 pharmacies and 89 fuel centers operating under four banners; Kroger, Scott’s, Owen’s and Pay Less, with locations primarily in Indiana and Illinois, in addition to three stores in Missouri, one in Michigan and one in Ohio. Kroger Central Division is dedicated to supporting every local community it serves, contributing more than $13.5 million in 2014 to local organizations, primarily focusing on hunger relief, K-12 education, health causes and diversity. The Kroger Co. was once again named the most generous company in America in a Chronicle of Philanthropy listing detailed in Forbes Magazine. At Kroger we value: honesty, respect, inclusion, diversity, safety and integrity.
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