Kroger

=== SEC Form 4 — Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership === Document Type: 4 Period of Report: 2026-09-01 10b5-1 Pre-arranged Plan: No --- Issuer --- Name: KROGER CO (KR) CIK: 0000056873 --- Reporting Owner --- Name: Aufreiter Nora A CIK: 0001626845 Role: Director --- Derivative Transactions --- [Transaction #1] Security: Phantom Stock - Incentive Shares Date: 2026-09-01 | Code: A (Grant or award) Shares: +72.606 | Price: $57.94 Shares Owned After: 10,859.22 | Ownership: D (Direct) Footnotes: [F1] Each phantom share represents the right to receive one common share upon distribution from the deferred compensation account. [F2] Represents phantom stock acquired in dividend reinvestment transactions under a deferred compensation plan of The Kroger Co. [F3] Shares of phantom stock will be distributed following termination of the reporting person's services as an Independent Director of The Kroger Co. [F3] Shares of phantom stock will be distributed following termination of the reporting person's services as an Independent Director of The Kroger Co. --- Holdings --- [Holding #1] Security: Common Stock Ownership: D (Direct) --- Footnotes (Complete Index) --- F1: Each phantom share represents the right to receive one common share upon distribution from the deferred compensation account. F2: Represents phantom stock acquired in dividend reinvestment transactions under a deferred compensation plan of The Kroger Co. F3: Shares of phantom stock will be distributed following termination of the reporting person's services as an Independent Director of The Kroger Co. --- Signature --- /s/ /s/ Nora A. Aufreiter, by Stacey M. Heiser, Attorney-in-Fact (2026-09-02)