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Kroger Quits Florida: Online Hub Closes Jan 2026
22 Nov
Summary
- Kroger is closing its last Florida location, an online-only fulfillment center.
- The Groveland, Florida facility closure impacts 1,400 employees.
- This move ends Kroger's presence in Florida, which began in 1988.
Grocery giant Kroger is set to abandon Florida entirely, with plans to close its online-only fulfillment center in Groveland by January 2026. This move will impact approximately 1,400 employees at the facility. Kroger had previously closed all its physical stores in Florida in 1988 but continued to serve the state through this automated online grocery center.
The decision aligns with Kroger's strategy to "drive profitable sales growth," indicating a potential shift away from online grocery operations that may not be yielding sufficient profits. Retail experts note that Kroger's online-only model in Florida faced disadvantages against established players like Publix, which operates hundreds of stores in the state.
While closing facilities in Florida, Wisconsin, and Maryland, Kroger emphasizes that e-commerce remains crucial to its customer service strategy. The company is expanding partnerships with delivery services like Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats to enhance customer reach and delivery speed, aiming for profitable sales growth.
