Kroger and Meijer are household names among grocery stores in the US. Both have an established chain of stores offering great deals and an outstanding shopping experience.
But how do the two stores compare? This guide will separate the two and give you an idea of the best one.
Contents
Is Meijer Owned by Kroger?
Meijer and Kroger are two different companies. While both compete in specific markets, they are not the same. Meijer is among the biggest privately-owned grocery retailers in America. Kroger is the leading grocery retail store in the US in sales.
About Kroger
Kroger is an American supermarket chain established by Bernard Kroger in 1883. The original parent company was incorporated in Cincinnati, Ohio, as The Kroger Company and later renamed Kroger in 1973.
It is the third-largest supermarket chain in the United States by revenue. The company is headquartered in Cincinnati and operates more than 2,600 stores in 35 states.
Recently, Kroger has begun to focus more on organic and natural foods. It has also increased its number of in-store pharmacies and specialty services like fuel stations and dry cleaning pickups.
About Meijer
Meijer started its operations in 1934 when its founder Hendrik Meijer opened its first store in Greenville, Michigan. The store was an early example of what came to be known as a hypermarket.
The current Meijer chain began to take shape in 1962. It opened its first supercenter during that year, a one-stop shopping location that combined grocery and non-food items under one roof. Today, Meijer is one of the nation’s leading stores, with more than 200 outlets throughout the midwest.
You can find Meijer supermarkets throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. Its outlets have evolved and are now a hybrid of grocery stores, department stores, discount stores, and convenience stores.
Kroger vs. Meijer – Feature Comparison
| Kroger | Meijer | |
| Founded | 1883 | 1934 |
| Headquarters | Cincinnati, Ohio | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| Number of stores | 2,742 (as of January 2021) | 258 (as of February 2022) |
| Number of states | 35 US states | 6 US states |
| Payment options accepted | Debit cards, Credit cards, Cash, Personal checks, WIC cards, EBT cards | Debit cards, Credit cards, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay,
Google Pay |
| Store hours | 6 am – 12 am from Monday -Sunday (although some stores operate for 24 hours) | 6 am – 12 am from Monday to Sunday |
| Delivery/pickup schemes | Instacart delivery and curbside pickup are available | Instacart delivery and curbside pickup are available |
| Online shopping or apps | Kroger.com or via the Kroger App | Meijer.com or the Meijer mobile app |
| Coupons and discounts | Offers digital coupons and discounts daily | Offers daily Meijer coupons, Meijer discounts, and promo codes |
| Store policies | Has a return policy, safety policy, and business ethics policy | Has a return and refund policy, safety policy, and business ethics policy |
| Which is cheaper | Kroger is cheaper | Meijer is a bit costly |
| Which has better produce | Has lower quality produce compared to Meijer | Has a higher quality produce than Kroger |
| Which has better meat | Has high quality meat | Has low quality meat |
| Checkout lines | Fast | Slow |
Kroger vs. Meijer Store Locations
Kroger has over 2,700 stores located in 35 states across the country. You will find a Kroger store in the following states.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Most Kroger stores are open between 6 am to 10 pm, or 6 am to 12 am. Others stores remain open 24 hours per day, throughout the week. To know your nearest Kroger store’s operating hours, log in to your account and search using your postal code, city, or state.
Map of Kroger store locations.
Meijer has over 200 store locations throughout six states in the US. Its stores are only available in the Midwest parts of the US. Currently, the company does not have plans to expand further because it wants to concentrate on its current stores before looking into new ones. You can find Meijer stores in;
- Michigan
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Illinois
- Wisconsin
All Meijer stores are open from 6 am to 12 am all through the week. Before, Meijer outlets operated up to 10 pm but adjusted the hours to accommodate increased customer traffic.
Kroger vs. Meijer: Store Items
Kroger stocks various grocery products like meats and seafood, bakery products, dairy products, deli foods, and frozen foods. You will also get health and beauty care products, pharmaceutical goods, floral products, pet foods and supplies, toys, and gifts.
Meijer stocks a variety of bakery products, fresh meat, seafood, fresh produce (fruits and vegetables) health, and beauty care products. It also has non-food items such as electronics, automotive parts, outdoor equipment, and clothing.
Kroger vs. Meijer: Price Comparison
Kroger is generally less expensive than Meijer, but this is not always the case. For instance, Meijer sometimes offers lower prices on produce and meat items. Both stores often have deals on pantry staples like cereal, pasta sauce, and peanut butter, so you can save money by looking through both weekly ads.
Both Kroger and Meijer offer extensive coupon programs to help shoppers save money. They have digital coupons that can be loaded into your store loyalty card online or using a smartphone app. Also, they accept manufacturer coupons from other stores and those issued by their stores.
Kroger vs. Meijer: Services
Kroger offers many services to their customers, such as online orders, deliveries, digital coupons, account troubleshooting, and more. In case of any issues, contact their customer service representative through phone, live chat, or an online form.
Similarly, Meijer offers online orders, curbside pickups, deliveries, coupons, and discounts. It also provides health screening services at its pharmacies and has a chain of barbershops, nail salons, etc. To contact Meijer’s customer service, fill out their online form or give them a call.
Kroger vs. Meijer: Employee Ratings
According to Payscale, the average annual salary of a Kroger employee is $69,158. The lowest-earning employee makes $40,495, and the highest makes $118,114 per year.
Meijer’s salaries range from $21,820 per year to $116,464 per year. The average pay is $38,156 per annum.
Both companies have no set timelines for salary reviews. Kroger employees are generally satisfied with their work environment. However, most employees state that their work-life balance is poor and don’t receive fair pay for their work. They also complain about bad treatment from their seniors and other employees.
Most of those who work at Meijer love the environment. That said, there are some issues at the workplace. Employees complain that they have bad management, inflexible schedules, low pay, and a poor work-life balance.
Which Grocery Store is Better; Kroger or Meijer?
Kroger has more stores than Meijer, making it an attractive option for some shoppers. With 2000 stores across the US, Kroger is very accessible to many people. Location is crucial for people who work long hours and look for a quick place to pick up groceries.
Although Meijer started as a grocery store, it has diversified into various businesses such as clothing, barbershops, nail salons, and electronics. This means that you can find a variety of products under one roof.
Kroger is better in the lower prices front while Meijer tops in variety.
FAQs
Are Kroger and Meijer affiliated?
Kroger and Meijer are not affiliates but separate companies that own and operate different stores. Kroger is a US company and owns many regional chains of grocery stores, including Ralphs and Harris Teeter. Meijer is a smaller midwestern chain that began in Michigan but has since expanded throughout the midwest into Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Can you use Meijer coupons at Kroger?
Yes, you can. Your coupon is only limited if it has the word “ONLY” printed on it. Even if your coupon was printed in another store or is a Meijer’s coupon, you can use it at Kroger.
Is Kroger bigger than Meijer?
Kroger is much bigger than Meijer as Kroger has more locations and triple the revenue. It is the largest supermarket chain in the US, with over 2,400 stores and over $130 billion in sales in 2020. On the other hand, Meijer is a Midwestern American supermarket chain with about 200 stores and $19.5 billion in revenue.
Is Meijer a good grocery store?
Meijer is a good grocery store for people who want to avoid the hassle of shopping. It is one of the country’s biggest supercenters, which means it has more products than just groceries and is more like a one-stop-shop.
Conclusion
Kroger is an excellent option for shoppers, offering everything you need at reasonable prices. In addition, they are constantly adding new services to make shopping more convenient and fun, such as curbside pickup and fuel coupons and rewards.
Meijer’s main advantage over Kroger is the broader selection of goods. Shopping for different items is fast and convenient with so many products under one roof.
If price is your primary factor when shopping for groceries, Kroger is your best choice. Still, if you are looking for a grocery store that offers a little more, then Meijer might be worth exploring.
I live in California and usually shop at Ralph’s: however I was just back in Okemos Michigan and shopped at Meijers and was very impressed with the selection of groceries they offered vs that of Ralph’s which is much smaller and crowded. If there were a Meijers in my location that would be my go to store in second.