Giant Eagle is not owned by Kroger. While both Giant Eagle and Kroger are grocery store chains, they are separate companies with different ownership structures.
Giant Eagle is a privately held company that was founded in 1931 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was started by three families – the Goldsteins, Porters, and Chaits – who built a small grocery company called Eagle Grocery. Through hard work and dedication, the business grew and expanded to 125 stores. However, in 1928, the families made the decision to sell Eagle Grocery to the Kroger Company.
On the other hand, Kroger is a publicly traded company that was founded in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It has grown to become one of the largest supermarket chains in the United States with over 2,700 stores nationwide. Kroger operates under various banners, including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, and many others.
While Kroger did acquire Eagle Grocery from the Goldstein, Porter, and Chait families in 1928, this acquisition was for the original Eagle Grocery stores, not for the Giant Eagle chain that exists today. After the sale, Kroger integrated the Eagle Grocery stores into its own operations and continued to operate them under the Kroger banner.
Giant Eagle, on the other hand, was founded several years later in 1931 and is a separate company from the original Eagle Grocery stores that were acquired by Kroger. Giant Eagle has grown to become a regional supermarket chain primarily operating in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland. It is still owned and operated by the families who founded it, including the Goldstein and Chait families.
While Kroger did acquire the original Eagle Grocery stores in 1928, Giant Eagle is not owned by Kroger. Giant Eagle is a separate and privately held company that was founded by the Goldstein, Porter, and Chait families and continues to be owned and operated by them.