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Kroger, one of America's oldest grocery chain to layoff thousands; largest in its 143-year history, here's what CEO told employees at townhall. TOI Tech Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Oct 13, 2026, 08:10 IST America's oldest retail chain Kroger Co plans to eliminate roughly 3,000 corporate positions over the next three years, marking a sweeping workforce reduction as new Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran moves to overhaul the grocer's management structure. The cuts represent more than one-third of Kroger's approximately 8,200 corporate staff, making the restructuring one of the largest corporate employees' reductions in the supermarket chain's 143-year history. Foran, a former Walmart executive, who joined the retailer in February this year, detailed the turnaround strategy in a memo to employees following a companywide meeting on Monday, October 12. The restructuring comes as America's largest traditional grocer contends with slowing top-line growth, fierce retail competition, and persistent inflationary pressures impacting consumer spending. The memo outlined plans to eliminate redundant functions across departments while modernizing daily operations. Kroger is increasingly turning to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to automate workflows and drive efficiencies across its corporate network. What CEO Greg Foran told employees at townhall. The Cincinnati-based grocery giant announced the layoffs to its employees during an all-company call Monday, October 12. In the memo sent to Kroger employees obtained by the Business Courier, CEO Greg Foran wrote that the company's transformation will result in the company reducing its corporate workforce across multiple functions by about 3,000 roles. The moves would take Kroger from having about 8,200 corporate workforce employees to roughly 5,200. "As a company, we have made great progress on many fronts with our customers. We started reducing prices and improving our customer experience in stores and online, and we made investments in simplifying our associates' lives through technology," Foran wrote. "Our business is becoming leaner, more focused and more competitive. We are working to be more agile; more precise in our execution; and deliver benefits to our customers, associates and our shareholders. " CEO Foran reportedly said that the changes are intended to reduce duplicative work, lower prices and redirect investment toward store employees as the grocer integrates AI into workflows. Kroger expects to start sharing details about the affected roles in the coming months. The reductions will help the company put more resources toward cutting prices, improving shopping experience and investing in frontline employees, Foran wrote in the memo. Foran, who helped turn around Walmart's US business in the mid- to late 2010s, is implementing Kroger's biggest price cuts in years, while making service in stores friendlier and faster. The operator of Fred Meyer and Ralphs chains is also taking a more aggressive approach toward supplier negotiations. The company laid off nearly 1,000 corporate employees last year to cut costs. The three-year downsizing marks the latest decisive shift under Foran's leadership as Kroger works to defend its market share against deep-discount rivals and major big-box retailers. Albertsons wants Kroger to pay $9 billion over failed Kroger deal. Incidentally, the layoffs come at the same time when rival grocery chain Albertsons Cos is demanding that Kroger Co pay more than $9 billion for the collapse of the largest US grocery chain merger in history. Albertsons claims Kroger "willfully breached" its contractual commitments and should pay more than $9.3 billion, including a premium stockholders would have gotten and a $600 million termination fee. End of Article

BG Police respond to four shoplifting reports in 24 hours at Walmart. Bowling Green Police responded to four theft/shoplifting reports in a 24-hour period over the weekend at the Walmart store at 131 W. Gypsy Lane. On Saturday (Oct. 10) at 8:16 a.m., two Grand Rapids residents, ages 20 and 24, were cited for theft after reportedly using the handheld scanner at the self-checkout on items in their cart, then leaving without paying. The 13 items - food, pet supplies, automotive and personal care items - totaled $184.13. The couple reportedly have been using the same process at other WalMart stores in the area. They are suspects in a theft at the BG store on Aug. 23. On Saturday at 3:15 p.m., a 61-year-old woman from Rudolph was cited after scanning several alcohol and food items totaling $47.93. She reportedly scanned her SNAP card, which was denied due to lack of funds. She allegedly put a $5 bill in the self-checkout and left the store. On Sunday (Oct. 11) at 7:38 a.m., a 68-year-old Weston man was cited for theft after ringing up 17 food, pharmacy and pet supply items totaling $143.89, bagging them, and swiping a card with insufficient funds. He reportedly left the store without paying. The biggest theft occurred Saturday at 7:07 p.m., when a man left without paying for a Nintendo Switch gaming console. The man, Keon Dody, 27, of Southfield, Michigan, reportedly used a fake Spark order, the delivery service used by Walmart. He was taken to Wood County Jail.

Walmart brings back onn-branded Roku smart TVs to its stores. October 12, 2026 Walmart has moved forward with Onn-branded 4K UHD HDR smart televisions running Google TV software, placing limited quantities of these sets into select stores after a multi-year period dominated by Roku-powered Onn models followed by a pivot tied to the retailer's acquisition of Vizio. Years earlier, Onn televisions exclusively featured Roku software, delivering affordable 4K HDR LED sets that streamed content through a simple, channel-focused interface popular with budget shoppers. After Walmart completed its purchase of Vizio, the company reoriented most Onn offerings toward Vizio's operating system alongside an increasing number of Google TV devices. A Roku Onn Kids TV limited to HD resolution remained one of the few lingering Roku exceptions but was limited to online only, not in stores. Shoppers and observers have now reported Onn-branded Google TV smart TVs with 4K resolution appearing on shelves in certain locations. An 85-inch 4K LED model was noted at a local Walmart by Cord Cutters News, highlighting the return of large-format 4K options under the Onn name with the Google platform. Availability remains constrained at present. National shipping is not widely offered for every variant, leaving buyers dependent on local inventory that can vary sharply by store and region. One example is the Onn 85-inch 4K UHD HDR television listed at $598, though stock levels make acquisition a matter of timing and location rather than guaranteed online fulfillment. These Google TV-powered Onn sets build on the strong sales of Walmart's existing Onn streaming players that already use the same software. The platform organizes recommendations, supports major apps, and includes voice controls and casting features that many users already know from other Google devices. In parallel, Vizio-powered Onn 4K models continue to occupy significant shelf and online space, reflecting the retailer's ownership of that brand's software and hardware ecosystem. Higher-end Onn Google TV options, including lifestyle-oriented art-frame models, have also entered the lineup at competitive price points for their size classes. The broader strategy appears aimed at diversifying the Onn portfolio while maintaining aggressive pricing on large 4K HDR displays. An 85-inch 4K set under $600 undercuts many comparable screens from other brands and targets households seeking big-screen streaming without premium features such as higher refresh rates or advanced local dimming. Picture performance on entry-level Onn panels typically emphasizes basic 4K detail and HDR10 support over peak brightness or motion handling suited to bright rooms or competitive gaming. Connectivity generally includes multiple HDMI ports, Wi-Fi, and smart-home compatibility. For consumers, the current mix means checking both physical stores and Walmart.com for specific Onn models, as Roku-powered 4K Onn televisions have largely receded from in-store prominence while Google TV and Vizio variants expand. Residual Roku stock may still appear online or in isolated locations, but the dominant direction is toward the platforms Walmart now controls or has scaled through its streaming devices. Shoppers seeking the largest Onn screens should verify local availability promptly, as limited distribution can clear quickly once units reach the sales floor. This approach keeps the Onn brand positioned as a low-cost entry into 4K smart television while aligning software choices with Walmart's post-acquisition priorities. Please add Cord Cutters News as a source for your Google News feed HERE. Please follow Cord Cutters News on Facebook and X for more news, tips, and reviews. Need cord cutting tech support? Join its Cord Cutting Tech Support Facebook Group for help.