Kroger Health, along with Hy-Vee, convenes industry leaders to shape the future of health at Nourishing Change Conference. * June 2, 2026 As chronic disease, GLP-1 adoption, and food for health reshape American healthcare, Kroger Health gathers leaders to explore the grocery store's emerging role as America's most scaled health infrastructure DES MOINES, Iowa, June 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Kroger Health, the healthcare division of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), and founder of the Nourishing Change movement, is bringing together more than 1,200 leaders across science, retail, health systems, policy, technology and community to turn ideas into action and accelerate solutions that improve how people eat, access care and live healthier lives. Now in its third year, this convening is hosted in partnership with Hy-Vee and marks the first time another retailer has joined Kroger Health as a co-host, reflecting growing momentum behind cross-industry collaboration to improve health outcomes at scale. This year's event takes place amid important developments shaping the future of health in America. From the rising prevalence of chronic disease to the rapid adoption of GLP-1 therapies, organizations across healthcare, retail, food, pharmacy, and policy are confronting challenges and opportunities that extend far beyond any one industry. As conversations around prevention, nutrition, and healthcare access continue to evolve, Nourishing Change serves as a forum for leaders to align around practical solutions and collective action. Reflecting the breadth of those conversations, Nourishing Change gathers leaders from across the organizations shaping health every day. Speakers include Scott Honken of WeightWatchers and Sherry Frey of NielsenIQ, alongside more than 120 experts participating in 50+ sessions spanning retail health, clinical innovation, nutrition science, payer and employer strategy, and public policy. Together, attendees will explore the ideas, partnerships, and approaches needed to help people live healthier lives. "Improving health outcomes for all Americans takes all of us," said Colleen Lindholz, President of Kroger Health. "The greatest opportunities to improve health come when organizations work together toward a common goal. Kroger Health founded Nourishing Change to bring together the leaders willing to think beyond traditional industry boundaries. When organizations unite around a common purpose, they can help millions of people." This year's program focuses on three important developments influencing how health is experienced and delivered across the country: the central role of grocery and pharmacy as two of America's most accessible health touchpoints, the growing connection between retail and clinical care, and the impact of GLP-1 medications across food, pharmacy, and healthcare. "Retail health has an opportunity to make nutrition, pharmacy and care more accessible and meaningful for the communities we serve," said Jim Kirby, Chief Commercial Officer of Kroger Health. "With thousands of pharmacies and healthcare practitioners serving communities nationwide, we see firsthand the difference that can be made when food, pharmacy and clinical care work together." Nourishing Change is produced in collaboration with Advantage Solutions and a Steering Committee of cross-sector organizations committed to shared progress on health outcomes at scale. To learn more about the Nourishing Change Conference, please visit nourishingchange.com. About Kroger Health Kroger Health, the healthcare division of The Kroger Co., is one of America's leading retail healthcare organizations. Kroger Health and the Kroger Family of Pharmacies and clinics operate more than 2,200 pharmacies in 35 states and 220 clinics in nine states, serving more than 17 million customers annually. Its team of 24,000 healthcare practitioners, including pharmacists, nurse practitioners, dietitians and technicians, believe in practicing at the top of its licenses, enabling "food for health" to help prevent disease before it starts, and helping people live healthier lives. For more information, visit www.kroger.com/health. About Hy-Vee Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 560 business units across nine Midwestern states with sales of more than $14 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise and superior customer service. Hy-Vee was recently named one of the top grocery stores in America by USA TODAY. The company's more than 70,000 employees provide "A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle" to customers every day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com. SOURCE The Kroger Co.

Longtime Watertown Hy-Vee Store Director Shane Conger retiring. * ben dylla * mar 12, 2026. {KXLG - Watertown, SD} Shane Conger has been a fixture at the Watertown Hy-Vee for 15 years, but at the end of March, he will be stepping away from his duties as Store Director. Shane started bagging groceries at his local Hy-Vee in Davenport, Iowa, at the age of 16. Hy-Vee has been the only employer that Conger has ever had. Conger became a Store Director for the first time in 2007 in Albany, Missouri. Three years later, he moved with his family to Watertown to lead the newly remodeled Hy-Vee. Conger says the opportunity, along with his positive experiences with the company and what he heard about the Watertown community, helped shape their decision to make the move. Conger still credits Hy-Vee with the opportunity to have the success story, like he had of climbing the corporate ladder. Conger credits Hy-Vee's continued willingness to be a great place to be someone's first job. Whether that is stocking shelves or running a checkout, the younger employees at Hy-Vee continue to be one of Shane's favorite parts of being a Store Director. As a Store Director, Conger says you have to be flexible because no two days are alike. Managing 19 different departments can feel daunting at times, but he has tried to find a routine to help the store run as smoothly as possible. As Conger gets ready to start his new chapter of retirement, he wanted to pass along his thanks to the community of Watertown. Conger says he plans to stay busy in retirement. After missing many weekends and holidays while running the Hy-Vee store, he's looking forward to spending more time with his family. He also hopes to dust off the golf clubs and get back out on the course. Conger says he doesn't plan to sit still for long and may even pick up a part-time job, just one where he doesn't have to be the boss.

Hy-Vee, Harvesters partner with KCK school to launch first-of-its-kind on-campus pantry. Hy-Vee, Harvesters and KC Dream Center partner on first Feeding America-affiliated school pantry in Kansas. Published: Mar. 10, 2026 at 10:31 AM PDT KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - M.E. Pearson Elementary School has opened an on-site food pantry, giving all 560 students and their families access to groceries inside the building. The pantry, located in a converted science storage closet, is the first on-site school food pantry in Kansas opened by Hy-Vee in partnership with a Feeding America-affiliated food bank. One in four children in Wyandotte County face food insecurity, according to Harvesters- The Community Food Network. A $25,000 grant and a two-question application. The pantry was funded through a $25,000 grant from Hy-Vee. School social worker Jill Donahy said the process began when she responded to an email from Harvesters -The Community Food Network that included two questions: what obstacles do parents face getting food, and how can those obstacles be overcome. "It's teamwork, man," Donahy said. "We had so many people helping, not just the companies, but also staff, students, parents." Donahy said barriers identified in the application included limited pantry hours, lack of transportation, and parents working multiple jobs. From storage closet to stocked shelves. Principal Lori Cooper said the room previously served as a science storage closet before replacing the carpet with tile, repainting the walls, and installing store-style shelving. "We've got fresh produce. We've got dairy items, vegetables, spaghetti, quite an array. Cereal, peanut butter jelly," Cooper said. Cooper said the pantry held a soft opening before the official ribbon cutting, with 40 families stopping in on the first day. Partners and ongoing supply. Officials from Hy-Vee, Harvesters- The Community Food Network, and KC Dream Center participated in the ribbon-cutting. The pantry will operate on set weekly hours and will supplement twice-monthly Harvesters food drops already held at the school. A long-term commitment. Donahy said approximately 95% to 98% of M.E. Pearson's 560 pre-K through fifth-grade students qualify for free and reduced lunch. "So it's a definite need," Donahy said. Cooper said the pantry is intended as a long-term resource, not a one-time effort. "And that just leads to kids being fed and, you know, being able to focus on schoolwork when they're here because they're not hungry," Cooper said. Hy-Vee officials said the M.E. Pearson pantry will not be the last of its kind.