Fred Meyer Jewelers

CINCINNATI - The Kroger Co. has undergone a series of executive changes, including the retirement of 40-year company veteran Robert E. Zincke, e.v.p. of merchandising strategy, and the appointment of Mark Prestidge to v.p. of operations for Kroger's Houston-based Southwest Division.

CINCINNATI - Kroger announced plans to introduce Smith's Marketplace, a new store format offering full-service grocery, pharmacy and a full selection of general merchandise, in Utah in June.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Rite Aid Corp.'s chairman has won a severance dispute with his former employer, The Kroger Co., which has handed over a $6.1 million payment, the companies said.

CINCINNATI - The Kroger Co. on Friday announced that Donna Giordano has been promoted to president of Quality Food Centers, which operates 86 stores in Oregon and Washington.

CINCINNATI - The Kroger Co. has named four veteran executives to key management positions within the company, including Fred Meyer Stores.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Kroger division Fred Meyer and Green Mountain Coffee have joined forces to offer customers what they claim is the largest selection of Fair Trade and organic certified coffees of any major grocery retailer in the United States.

CINCINNATI - The Kroger Co. today announced it has reached an agreement to purchase 17 supermarkets and two vacant parcels of land located primarily in the Houston area from Albertson's Inc.

SALT LAKE CITY - Smith's Food & Drug Stores and Fred Meyer Stores have installed electronic shopping cart containment systems that create invisible "fences" around parking lot perimeters at their Salt Lake City stores.