FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY

Smith's Food & Drug Stores

CONTACT: Marsha Gilford

Vice President, Smith's Food & Drug Public Affairs

801-973-1700

marsha.gilford@sfdc.com

Deliver A Meal For Those In Need Without Leaving Your

Favorite Smith's Store Through "Gift Of Giving" Program

Salt Lake City, UT - October 24, 2005 – Smith’s Food & Drug stores is offering a convenient way for customers to donate tuna, rice, fresh oranges and other meal components (even a holiday turkey) to help their hungry neighbors during the holiday season. They may simply add it to their grocery order as they check out and Smith’s will deliver it for them.  

Smith’s “Gift of Giving” program includes two options for a food donation. First is a “gift bag” of delicious ingredients for $7.00 consisting of four boxes of macaroni and cheese, three cans of tuna, two pounds of rice, 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup, a jar of peanut butter and one of grape jelly, and 6 fresh navel oranges. The other option is a holiday turkey for $10.00. All items are being sold at or near Smith’s cost.

This is the second year the program is being offered in Utah, New Mexico and Nevada, while it is the first year in Montana, Wyoming, northern Arizona and southeastern Idaho.  “Gift of Giving” food sales are available in all Smith’s stores November 1-December 17, 2005.  Items will then be tallied and sent by case lots to the partner food banks from Smith’s warehouses in Layton, Utah and Tolleson, Arizona to arrive in time for Christmas.

“We will carry the good wishes from our generous customers along with turkeys and most-needed meal items when we reach the food banks,” said Marsha Gilford, Smith’s vice-president public affairs. “The turkeys will provide a festive meal while the other meal staples will help fill the shelves beyond December.”

Partner food banks in major market areas include Utah Food Bank (Utah stores), Roadrunner Food Bank (New Mexico stores), Food Bank of Northern Nevada (northern Nevada stores), Catholic Community Services (Las Vegas stores). They will disperse the food received to pantries throughout their service areas. Smith’s stores in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Arizona will select a local food bank to receive the “Gift of Giving” products purchased in their stores.

Smith’s is a division of the Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) one of the nation’s largest retailers. Smith’s currently operates a total of 127 stores in seven western states from its division offices in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information visit www.smithsfoodanddrug.com or www.kroger.com.

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