By George Anderson
Kroger plans to introduce its Marketplace concept to the Cincinnati area by the end of the summer, reports The Enquirer.
The larger multi-department concept, with stores running in the 80,000 to 105,00 square-foot range, dedicates up to 40 percent of its floor space to general merchandise including furniture, housewares, outdoor living products, consumer electronics and toys.
The newest Marketplace locations will not have Fred Meyer jewelry stores like other multi-department stores in Ohio.
"Fred Meyer doesn't make sense for every location," said Art Wulfeck, a spokesperson for Kroger.
Jerry Vogt, Marketplace district manager, said the company is actively scouting for available space to expand the concept in the Cincinnati-Dayton-Northern Kentucky region.
"We need flexibility to get large, and in some places we can't do that because of physical limitations," he said.
Mr. Vogt said Marketplace stores in other areas have been well received by consumers.
"We have two Marketplace stores up and running in Columbus. They are doing pretty good," he said.
The Marketplace concept, he told The Enquirer, is not about responding to Wal-Mart or any other competitor.
"Our motivation is to see how we could take one-stop shopping to the next level," he said. "But this is an internal initiative rather than responding to any mass merchandiser."
Moderator's Comment: What is your assessment of the Kroger (Fry's and Smith's) Marketplace concept? What is your assessment of Kroger from a corporate point-of-view? - George Anderson - Moderator