PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) — Kroger, the parent company of Fred Meyer, announced a new round of layoffs that will impact administrative employees nationwide. In Portland, nearly 100 workers are expected to lose their jobs as part of the restructuring.
Nationwide Cuts Linked to Store Closures
The layoffs follow Kroger’s June announcement that it would shutter 60 stores across the country. Locally, the Gateway Fred Meyer in Portland is slated to close in September, while a Tacoma location has already shut its doors.
Company officials say the job reductions are part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and reshape its administrative structure.
Company Statement
In a statement, Kroger emphasized that the decision was difficult but necessary to position the company for long-term success:
“Kroger has been working toward simplifying our organization, shifting resources closer to customers and focusing on work that creates the most value. As part of this effort, today, we announced structural changes to our administrative teams across the U.S. that included a meaningful number of associate reductions. We plan to reinvest those savings in areas that benefit customers directly — in lower prices, new store growth, and more jobs in stores. These choices are never easy, but are necessary to set our organization up for continued success.”
Impact on Portland
The Portland administrative hub will see some of the steepest job losses, with nearly 100 positions eliminated. These employees are part of Kroger’s back-office operations, which the company says it is consolidating in order to “shift resources closer to customers.”
No additional details have been released about which departments or functions will be affected, or whether employees will be offered severance packages or relocation opportunities.
Broader Industry Challenges
Kroger’s move reflects broader challenges in the grocery industry, where retailers are balancing rising labor costs, inflation pressures, and increased competition from online and discount chains. The company says its long-term strategy is to reinvest in front-line operations, aiming to provide lower prices and expand store-level employment, even as corporate jobs are cut.
Industry analysts note that while administrative layoffs can create immediate cost savings, they also risk disrupting internal support systems. For Portland, the changes come at a time when many workers are already facing economic uncertainty.
What Comes Next
Kroger has not specified if additional layoffs or closures are expected beyond those already announced. For now, Portland-area Fred Meyer customers will continue to see stores operating as usual, aside from the Gateway location’s closure in September.
The company insists that the savings from these cuts will ultimately benefit customers through cheaper prices, new store growth, and expanded in-store hiring. Still, for nearly 100 Portland workers, the immediate impact is far more personal, marking the end of their roles with one of the region’s most prominent employers.
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