Kroger plans to lay off 3,000 corporate employees over the next three years as it expands its use of artificial intelligence, the supermarket company said Oct. 13. The Cincinnati-based company, which owns Fred Meyer and other grocery brands, said the cuts are part of an effort to streamline operations. CEO Greg Foran told employees in a memo that Kroger needs to adopt new technology, reduce duplicated work and reassess how tasks are handled. Kroger did not identify which corporate roles or locations will be affected. The announcement concerns corporate employees; it did not say that store-level jobs are included. Kroger employs about 409,000 people and operates more than 2,700 stores, including Fred Meyer, Ralphs, King Soopers and Smith’s. The company outlined an AI strategy last month, saying it aims to improve customer service, make work easier for employees and strengthen business performance. The workforce announcement comes as Kroger faces competition from Walmart, discount grocers Aldi and Lidl, and online retailers such as Amazon. Kroger’s proposed merger with Albertsons was blocked after federal regulators and the attorneys general of Washington and Colorado argued the deal could reduce competition, raise prices and weaken workers’ bargaining position. The companies’ merger agreement ended in 2024, and Albertsons later sued Kroger over the failed deal. Kroger shares fell 1.6% in morning trading Oct. 13, to $61.66.