Kroger Closes 39 Stores and Acquires Giant Eagle

The Kroger Company is restructuring its national footprint by closing approximately 60 stores that are not delivering sustainable results. As of August 2026, the company has shuttered 39 locations across 15 states, including sites in Illinois and Wisconsin. The closures primarily affect Kroger-branded stores, as well as Mariano's, Harris Teeter, and Pick ’n Save banners. In Illinois, closures occurred in Peoria, Buffalo Grove, Northbrook, and Bloomingdale, while Wisconsin closures included Glendale, Milwaukee, Oak Creek, and South Milwaukee.

To consolidate operations, Kroger is transitioning at least three of the closed sites into larger-format Kroger Marketplace locations. This store reduction follows a 2025 corporate restructuring in which the company eliminated nearly 1,000 administrative and corporate positions. While store employees are offered positions at other locations, the company continues to face scrutiny over its precision marketing division and the monetization of shopper data.

Simultaneously, the company is expanding through a $1.65 billion acquisition of regional chain Giant Eagle. This deal will add 11 pharmacies and 197 supermarkets across five states. The dual strategy of closing underperforming sites while acquiring regional competitors aims to simplify the business and prioritize areas of future growth.