Kroger completed the purchase of all shares of Vitacost.com for $280 million, or $8 a share. With the purchase, the Cincinnati-based retailer takes another step into online grocery retail, where it has the potential to grow in South Florida.
When it comes to brick-and-mortar space, Kroger won't be able to snap up the spaces that stores like Publix, Winn-Dixie, Target and Wal-Mart have claimed. But the company may fair better virtually as Kroger has room to move into an online ordering and express lane pickup services role. The company is currently employing those services in Denver.
Kroger also acquired 212 stores of Charlotte-based company Harris Teeter in a $2.5 billion deal in addition to its online grocery ordering service in July 2013, which added to speculation that Kroger aimed to compete with online grocers.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: South Florida Business Journal
