Kroger Celebrates World Wish Day With Special Bakery Promotion to Benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation

CINCINNATI, April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Shoppers at The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) family of stores can celebrate World Wish Day by purchasing specially-marked sweet treats to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The products hit bakery shelves this week in Kroger-operated supermarkets in 31 states, including Kroger, Ralphs, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Smith's, Fry's, King Soopers, Dillons, QFC, City Market and Jay C stores. Participating items include Wish Chip Cookie, Lemon Ice Twinkles, Shooting Star Sugar Cookie, Toasting Waffle and Pearl Sugar Waffle.  

Generating a minimum contribution of $100,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the promotion will support World Wish Day on April 29, the Make-A-Wish Foundation's global celebration of wish granting. To honor the date that sparked a global wish-granting movement more than 30 years ago, the Make-A-Wish Foundation is granting wishes in 41 countries where it fulfills children's wishes. More than 250,000 children with life-threatening medical conditions around the world have received their fondest wishes through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

"We are delighted to have Kroger shoppers support World Wish Day and join our worldwide effort to make every qualified child's wish come true through this first-time collaboration," said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. "A wish experience brings increased happiness and self-confidence to children with life-threatening medical conditions, and Kroger will help us make that possible for even more kids across the country."

"Our family of stores is committed to helping parents take care of their families every day," said Lynn Marmer, Kroger's group vice president of Corporate Affairs. "We are pleased to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation provide additional support to those children and families facing extraordinary challenges."

About Kroger

Kroger, the nation's largest traditional grocery retailer, employs more than 338,000 associates who serve customers in 2,458 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's. The Company also operates 786 convenience stores, 361 fine jewelry stores, 1,014 supermarket fuel centers and 40 food processing plants in the U.S. Kroger, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, focuses its charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, health and wellness initiatives, and local organizations in the communities it serves. For more information about Kroger, please visit www.kroger.com.

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation®

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is one of the world's leading children's charities, with 64 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes in the United States. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®.

SOURCE The Kroger Co.