CINCINNATI, OH - Kroger and Walgreens are expanding the scope of their exploratory pilot, first launched in October of 2018. Following a successful first phase of the pilot, the two chains will be trialing Kroger Express and Kroger Pickup at 35 more Walgreens stores in Kentucky beginning this fall. The pilot will continue to bring Kroger’s Our Brands products like Simple Truth® and Home Chef meal solutions to more stores and markets.

"We continue to redefine the grocery customer experience and partner for customer value through our Restock Kroger transformation plan. Our growing relationship with Walgreens is just one more way Kroger is making life easier and better for even more customers—because everyone deserves to have affordable, easy-to-enjoy, fresh food," said Jeff Talbot, Kroger's Vice President of New Business Development. "Expanding our pilot to Knoxville demonstrates the ongoing success and future potential of bringing together the best of Kroger's food authority with Walgreens' global expertise in health and beauty."

According to a press release, launching the original pilot last year in Northern Kentucky allowed Kroger and Walgreens to test-and-learn in a retail setting and source customer feedback and insights, allowing the companies to create a more informed expansion decision. The next phase of the pilot is a continuation of this test-and-learn approach.

"Walgreens customers have responded very favorably to the Kroger Express pilot in Northern Kentucky. As a result, we're exploring more ways to offer customers an enhanced, more convenient shopping experience," said Richard Ashworth, Walgreens’ President of Operations. "Working with Kroger, we're continuing to re-invent our customer offer to meet shoppers' evolving needs, which includes offering private-label grocery and health products at a great value, through an integrated omnichannel experience."

Most of the Walgreens pilot stores will feature a full Kroger Express assortment, with 2,300 to 2,700 products lining store shelves. These products will also be available to shoppers with the convenience of Kroger Pickup.

Will Kroger and Walgreens's brick-and-mortar footprint eventually feature only hybrid stores, merging the two's goods and services for a more built out consumer experience? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.

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