Press Release

September 16, 2021
 
Media Contact: media@buysafeamerica.org
 

The Kroger Co. Joins Coalition to Protect Businesses and Consumers from Organized Retail Crime
 
The Kroger Co. Joins Buy Safe America Coalition in Effort to Curb Retail Crime Sprees

Washington, DC – Today, the Buy Safe America Coalition, a diverse group of retailers, consumer groups, manufacturers and law enforcement who support efforts to combat organized retail crime and protect consumers and communities from the sale of counterfeit and stolen goods, announced that The Kroger Co., America’s largest grocery retailer, is joining the coalition as a new member.

“As retailers nationwide continue to battle organized retail crime, Kroger looks forward to partnering with the Buy Safe America Coalition to put an end to this public safety risk,” said Mark Stinde, Kroger’s vice president of asset protection. “We are proud to support the coalition’s efforts to pass the INFORM Consumers Act, which will bring much-needed accountability to online marketplaces filled with goods stolen from store shelves.”

Organized retail crime has plagued the country in recent years, and the losses from these large-scale thefts are costing American businesses billions of dollars annually. The stolen goods are frequently sold on online e-commerce platforms, where there is minimal verification of seller identities. Store employees have also been put at serious risk as organized retail crime rings become increasingly violent and brazen. The surges have spurred businesses to take swift action to protect both employees and customers.

Kroger has been at the forefront of efforts to stop organized retail crime, and has a designated crime unit dedicated to preventing these sprees. Kroger has initiated over 2,000 ORC cases, and trains hundreds of thousands of its associates to better understand and recognize instances of organized retail crime.

Kroger joins a growing list of companies that are members of the Buy Safe America Coalition, including 3M, The Home Depot, HP, GSK, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.

Visit BuySafeAmerica.org for more information about the growing threat of stolen and counterfeit goods and solutions to better protect consumers and businesses.
  
About Kroger
At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are Fresh for Everyone™ and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit®. We are, across our family of companies, nearly half a million associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through a seamless shopping experience under a variety of banner names. We are committed to creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site. 

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The Buy Safe America Coalition represents a diverse group of responsible retailers, consumer groups, manufacturers, intellectual property advocates and law enforcement officials who support efforts at all levels of government to protect consumers and communities from the sale of counterfeit and stolen goods.